When you invest in a quality boat cover, you’re investing in the long-term protection of your boat. A properly installed cover helps shield your upholstery, electronics, and finishes from the elements while reducing the amount of cleaning and maintenance your boat requires.
While our boat covers are designed to withstand years of outdoor use, many of the repairs we see aren’t the result of defective materials – they’re caused by preventable installation mistakes, overlooked hardware, or using the cover in ways it wasn’t designed for.
Understanding the biggest causes of boat cover damage is one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your cover. Here are some of the most common causes of boat cover damage and the simple steps you can take to prevent them.
Sharp Hardware Can Wear Through Your Cover
One of the most common causes of punctures and tears is sharp hardware along the boat’s rub rail. Loose screw heads, exposed fasteners, and other protruding hardware can slowly wear through the fabric every time the cover moves with the wind.
Before installing your cover, take a few minutes to run your hand along the rub rail and other contact points. Tighten any loose screws you find, and remove or address any hardware with sharp edges whenever possible. If there are areas that can’t be modified, placing a folded towel or blanket over the hardware before installing the cover provides an extra layer of protection and can help prevent unnecessary wear.
Proper Installation Makes All the Difference
Even the best boat cover can’t perform properly if it isn’t installed correctly.
One of the biggest issues caused by improper installation is water pooling. Instead of allowing rainwater to run off the cover, an incorrectly installed cover can create low spots where water collects. Over time, the additional weight places stress on the fabric and seams, increasing the likelihood of stretching, tearing or premature wear.
Following the recommended installation process ensures the cover maintains the proper runoff angles so water naturally sheds from the surface instead of sitting on it. If you’re unsure about any part of the installation, our step-by-step installation videos are available to guide you, and our support team is always happy to help answer questions.
T-Top Boat Cover Install on a Life
T-Top Boat Cover Install on a Trailer
Customer Support: support@laporteproducts.com
The Wrong Cleaning Products Can Damage Your Fabric
Your boat cover works hard to protect your boat, but it also deserves proper care.
Using harsh chemical cleaners on your boat can transfer residue onto the cover, potentially damaging the fabric over time. We recommend using marine grade cleaners when cleaning your boat or upholstery. It’s also important to allow your boat to dry completely before reinstalling the cover, since trapping moisture underneath can create additional issues.
When it’s time to clean the cover itself, always follow the recommended cleaning instructions. Proper cleaning helps preserve both the appearance and performance of the materials for years to come.
You can view clean instructions here at timestamp 2:12 or on our FAQ page.
Remove Your Trolling Motor Before Installing the Cover
Our boat covers are not designed to be installed with a trolling motor attached to the boat.
Attempting to force the cover over a trolling motor can create an overly tight fit that places excessive stress on the fabric, seams, and zippers. It can also prevent the cover from fitting the way it was designed, increasing the risk of punctures, tears, or zipper damage.
For the best fit, remove the trolling motor before installing the cover. For added protection, you can place a pool noodle, towel or blanket over the mounting bracket to prevent abrasion.
Motor Position Matters More Than You Think
It’s easy to overlook the position of your motors during installation, but leaving them trimmed up can create a low point at the rear of the cover.
This often causes water to pool around the aft section instead of running off naturally. As the weight of standing water increases, so does the stress placed on the fabric.
Following the installation instructions and trimming the motors down helps maintain the proper shape of the cover and allows water to drain as intended. If you’re unsure about the correct positioning, our installation videos demonstrate the proper setup.
T-Top Boat Cover Install on a Lift
T-Top Boat Cover Install on a Trailer
Customer Support: support@laporteproducts.com
Never Trailer Your Boat with the Cover Installed
One of the quickest ways to damage a storage cover is by towing your boat with it installed.
Our Boat Covers are designed a storage covers – not travel covers. Wind forces generated while trailering place enormous stress on the fabric, straps, and seams, which can quickly lead to rips, tears, or other damage. Trailering with the cover installed will also void the warranty.
Before transporting your boat, always remove the cover and store it safely until you reach your destination.
Avoid Over-tightening the Collar Straps
Many boat owners assume tighter is better, but that’s actually not the case.
The collar straps surrounding the T-Top frame are designed to hold the cover approximately six to eight inches below the T-Top. This gap is intentional. It creates the ventilation system that allows air to circulate beneath the cover while also maintaining the proper water runoff angle.
Over-tightening these straps flattens the cover against the T-Top, reducing airflow and eliminating the slope needed for rainwater to drain properly. The result is often standing water, stretched fabric, or premature wear.
More Straps Aren’t Always Better
The same principle applies to the optional 10ft Tie Down Straps and Sandbags.
Using a strap through every hem loop or creating “belly straps” underneath the boat can flatten the cover and reduce the runoff angle, increasing the chance of water pooling. Overusing sandbags can have the same effect.
The cinch rope is already designed to secure the cover around the boat. If you want additional security while the boat is sitting on a trailer, we recommend attaching straps to the trailer framework – not underneath the boat – and using only a portion of the available hem loops rather than every one. For boats stored on lifts, six to eight sandbags are typically sufficient depending on the size of the boat. Proper placement provides the added security you want without compromising the cover’s performance.
Remove Your Cover Before Severe Storms
Our boat covers are built to handle everyday weather conditions, but no storage cover is designed to remain installed during tropical storms or hurricanes.
Leaving your cover on during wind speeds that exceed the conditions outlined in our warranty can result in rips, tears, or other damage that is not covered under warranty. If severe weather is forecast, the safest approach is to remove the cover before the storm arrives. Taking a few extra minutes beforehand can prevent costly damage and help extend the life of your cover.
A Little Prevention Goes a Long Way
Most boat cover damage isn’t caused by normal use – it’s caused by small issues that are easy to overlook. Taking a few minutes to inspect your hardware, following the recommended installation instructions, using proper cleaning methods, and avoiding situations the cover wasn’t designed for can dramatically extend its lifespan.
At LaPorte Products, we’ve spent decades refining our boat covers to provide dependable protection season after season. With proper installation, routine inspections, and a little preventative maintenance, your cover can continue protecting your investment for years to come.
