How to Make a Quick Winter Boat Cover

X-HT-300729

Are you looking for a quick, easy way to cover your boat over the winter? This is the perfect DIY project for you. What makes this process faster and easier than making a traditional winter boat cover? Instead of making boots for a better seal at all obstacles, such as stanchions, a simple slit is made in the fabric to allow for obstacles to protrude. And instead of making zipper flaps as you would with a traditional cover design, zippers are sewn alongside the fabric's edge. Binding is sewn over the fabric edges for a clean look. Ready to sew your own boat cover? Let's jump into this beginner sewing project.

Video Chapters:

Intro — 0:00 min.
Measuring & Using Fabric Calculator — 1:32 min.
Pattering Boat — 6:06 min.
Sewing Fabric Panels Together — 27:36 min.
Pattering Fabric — 37:19 min.
Cutting Cover Fabric — 45:14 min.
Creating Pleats — 47:06 min.
Cutting Zipper Opening at Stern — 52:02 min.
Creating Skirt — 56:54 min.
Sewing Webbing Loops on Skirt — 1:03:04 min.
Sewing Skirt on Cover — 1:05:34 min.
Cutting Slits for Obstacles — 1:09:30 min.
Sewing Binding on Slits — 1:13:24 min.
Creating Mast Boot for Bow Cover — 1:17:31 min.
Adding Zippers on Bow Cover — 1:23:45 min.
Sewing Mast Boot & Zippers on Aft Cover — 1:31:05 min.
Adding Webbing Closure on Boot — 1:34:32 min.
Sewing Zipper Opening at Transom — 1:35:14 min.
Installing Cover — 1:37:02 min.

Materials List:

Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material 74" — SKU: 103134
Filament Strapping Tape 3/4" — SKU: 5643
Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (50 yds.) — SKU: 129
SureRite® 60" Fabric — we used SKU: 125612
Tex 90 (V-92) UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. — we used SKU: 105430
Tape Shelter-Rite® 18 oz. White 3" (Not Adhesive Backed) — SKU: 104223
Leech Line Dacron® 1/8" White — SKU: 21209
1" White Polyester Webbing — SKU: 100PLLWWH-FT
Snap Clip for Flags - Nylon 3/8" Black — SKU: 93825
Top Notch® 9 Polyester Bias Binding Tape — we used SKU: 120935
Lenzip® #10 White Separating Molded Tooth Zipper (Delrin® Single Pull Slider) — SKU: 123744
Seamstick 1/4" Basting Tape for Canvas & Upholstery (36 yds.) — SKU: 122065
YKK® 1" White Side Release Buckle Heavy Duty — SKU: 123456
Lenzip® #10 White Separating Molded Tooth Zipper (Delrin® Double Pull Slider) — SKU: 123746

Tools List:

Gingher® Scissors Right Hand Lightweight 8" — SKU: 101017
Spring Clamp — SKU: 50211
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set — SKU: 121669
Sailrite® Canvas Patterning Ruler — SKU: 107040
Deluxe 5-1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide — SKU: 103597
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) — SKU: 311602
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table — SKU: 120934
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package — SKU: 122177
Precision Cutting Blade & Foot for Edge Hotknife — SKU: 125495
Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" — SKU: 102400
Sailrite® Tempered Cutting Glass — SKU: 121915
Seam Ripper Deluxe — SKU: 18104
Sailrite® 1" Swing-Away Binder — SKU: 100103
Left Zipper Foot for Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ — SKU: 896
Deluxe Tape Measure 120" — SKU: 123120
Flexible Curve 20" With Ruler — SKU: 123117
Tape Measure, Marker, Packing Tape, Office Clamps, Straight Edge, Office Stapler

Even if you're a new sewer, you'll be able to follow along with our step-by-step video instructions and successfully make a durable, well-fitting boat cover. Here are just a few of the skills you'll learn over the course of this tutorial:

How to create the cover template on your boat using patterning material.
How to create pleats and add zippers.
How to sew webbing loops.
How to bind fabric edges.
And so much more!

(PS. If you're interested in making a traditional winter boat cover, we have a how-to video for that project as well. Search #300229XHT on the Sailrite website to find the blog.)

Now that you know what you'll learn throughout the video, let's talk about marine cover fabrics. There are plenty of options for boat cover fabrics. You want a fabric that is highly abrasion, UV and water resistant. You also want to look for a breathable fabric. Or, if you want to use a vinyl topping fabric, you'll need to vent the cover with boat vents, which we also stock.

We chose SureRite™ for our boat cover. This all-weather fabric is woven from 100% solution-dyed polyester for excellent UV resistance. It features a polyurethane coating on one side for water resistance. At 7.5 ounces per square yard, SureRite makes for a lightweight cover that is easy to install and remove.

Interested in more marine DIY projects? Be sure to check out our hundreds of free how-to videos and blogs. Sailrite is your fabric and sewing supply store. We're your one-stop shop for fabric, foam, sewing machines, hardware tools and all the supplies you need to tackle any project. Plus, our hundreds of video tutorials will teach you everything you need to know to DIY for your boat, home, vehicle and beyond. Plus, our hundreds of video tutorials will teach you everything you need to know to DIY.