New 2019 R3 Owner

[BobRae99]

Here you go an install video.

Thanks tg,

I located that video last night. I'm not sure I'd want to do that daily, but I can see how it would be a better storage or trailering cover. I wonder whether you get gel coat wear just under the rub rail if you trailer a lot. Anyway, I think I'll just start with the bow and cockpit covers. I can order a mooring (storage) cover any time.

B

[tgrace98]

Here you go an install video.

Thanks tg,

I located that video last night. I'm not sure I'd want to do that daily, but I can see how it would be a better storage or trailering cover. I wonder whether you get gel coat wear just under the rub rail if you trailer a lot. Anyway, I think I'll just start with the bow and cockpit covers. I can order a mooring (storage) cover any time.

B

yeah it takes about 10-15 minutes to get on. You can ratchet it down pretty tight. My boat is on a lift in a covered slip. So the cover comes off when I arrive for the weekend. Then it goes back on right before we go home 2-3 days later. If it is going to storm really bad I will throw it back on. But with having a 32ft slip and a 27ish foot boat I have 5 feet of empty space behind me. So it takes a pretty good storm and some wind to get the boat wet.

[BobRae99]

Here you go an install video.

Thanks tg,

I located that video last night. I'm not sure I'd want to do that daily, but I can see how it would be a better storage or trailering cover. I wonder whether you get gel coat wear just under the rub rail if you trailer a lot. Anyway, I think I'll just start with the bow and cockpit covers. I can order a mooring (storage) cover any time.

B

yeah it takes about 10-15 minutes to get on. You can ratchet it down pretty tight. My boat is on a lift in a covered slip. So the cover comes off when I arrive for the weekend. Then it goes back on right before we go home 2-3 days later. If it is going to storm really bad I will throw it back on. But with having a 32ft slip and a 27ish foot boat I have 5 feet of empty space behind me. So it takes a pretty good storm and some wind to get the boat wet.

My boat gets wet every time I put it in the water

[ajcampen]

Here you go an install video.

Thanks tg,

I located that video last night. I'm not sure I'd want to do that daily, but I can see how it would be a better storage or trailering cover. I wonder whether you get gel coat wear just under the rub rail if you trailer a lot. Anyway, I think I'll just start with the bow and cockpit covers. I can order a mooring (storage) cover any time.

B

yeah it takes about 10-15 minutes to get on. You can ratchet it down pretty tight. My boat is on a lift in a covered slip. So the cover comes off when I arrive for the weekend. Then it goes back on right before we go home 2-3 days later. If it is going to storm really bad I will throw it back on. But with having a 32ft slip and a 27ish foot boat I have 5 feet of empty space behind me. So it takes a pretty good storm and some wind to get the boat wet.

You’ll have that mooring cover time spent down to 5 min soon. Only part that takes additional time and annoyance is putting lines through the zipper holes. If your boat is in the water even more annoying

[tgrace98]

You’ll have that mooring cover time spent down to 5 min soon. Only part that takes additional time and annoyance is putting lines through the zipper holes. If your boat is in the water even more annoying

yeah the only problem that I have is I am in a 12ft wide slip and the mooring cover even fully loosen is really tight to get around the swim platform. I feel like I am going to fall in the lake. And with 54 degree water temps that would be one chilly swim lol.

[sailor55330]

I guess I'm in the minority. I have the mooring cover and love it vs the snap in tonneau covers. I can actually put my cover on by myself in the water in less than 10 mins and the effort is 1/2 of what I think the snap covers are. It's a little heavy, but much easier than crawling under to fasten snaps IMHO. You have to learn to zip the back carefully when in the water, but it's very manageable. From a trailering standpoint, it's a great cover. IT simply sucks down and does not move at all. My snap covers would not stay snapped at anything over 55 mph. I don't know if it was the snaps or the vortex of the towing vehicle, but it just wouldn't. I also had multiple snaps pull out when trailering. I trailer everywhere I go and after one season, no issues with the gel coat when moving and my boat is black. I thought maybe I saw a little "hazing" in the gel coat, but it cleaned up at the end of last year with some basic Meguairs show car polish and hand application. My boat has no choice but to sit outside during the summer and it definitely keeps the boat cleaner. It also covers the entire top of the boat, which I think protects the top of the gunwale better from UV fade. It also covers the swim platform completely which is where I always had water gather and leave dirt & stains.

[Tuscany]

I think each has its own Benefits.

In my boating years, I’ve never dealt with a snap cover coming undone on a highway. My cover snaps down as tight as the bark on a tree, and I would guess no wind could ever pull it off my R7, and it has my total trust in a hurricane. Personally I’m not one who thinks a mooring cover is a towable cover over distance. Just not the same overall securement, and the aerodynamic issues seem to happen in the rear, behind the windshield and out of site of towing mirrors.

But if I owned a slip? No question about it. I’d ditch the snaps in a second. You get much better protection from the mooring cover, and nothing can be more of a PITA than snap covers.

[akorcovelos]

Surprised by these comments as my experiences are the opposite. I HATE the one piece cover my boat came with, and unfortunately it's only 1 year old so I'm stuck with it for a few more years. I LOVED the two piece bow/cockpit covers I had made for my old boat, so much faster and easier to put on in the water.

[BobRae99]

Surprised by these comments as my experiences are the opposite. I HATE the one piece cover my boat came with, and unfortunately it's only 1 year old so I'm stuck with it for a few more years. I LOVED the two piece bow/cockpit covers I had made for my old boat, so much faster and easier to put on in the water.

I find the bow and cockpit covers pretty quick to install as well. Having said that, the snaps can be tight and sometimes difficult to press down or pull up. My last boat was a 2016 and must have been stored outside until sold new because in my first season with it, several buttons came off the bow and cockpit covers. I'm sort of torn. The mooring cover offers better protection but is heavy and bulky, so takes up storage space. The bow and cockpit covers are more compact for storage, but a bit of a hassle as well. What I really need is a boathouse like this.

IMG_1673.jpeg

[sailor55330]

I understand where you’re coming from Tusc but the mooring covers really do trailer great. I have always said something was off with my snap covers as even with the poles extended to well above the windshield it sagged like a big top circus tent. Going down the highway they would balloon up and pulled rear snaps out twice by the walkthrough when trailering. They are from Cobalt and they have an R3 tag sewn in them and all snaps line up but it never was right. The dealer said it was normal and surprisingly i couldn’t get anyone at Cobalt to talk to me about it so after 3 or 4 tries I gave up on them. It’s the most diasapointing thing about my boat to be honest

[AsLan7]

I understand where you’re coming from Tusc but the mooring covers really do trailer great. I have always said something was off with my snap covers as even with the poles extended to well above the windshield it sagged like a big top circus tent. Going down the highway they would balloon up and pulled rear snaps out twice by the walkthrough when trailering. They are from Cobalt and they have an R3 tag sewn in them and all snaps line up but it never was right. The dealer said it was normal and surprisingly i couldn’t get anyone at Cobalt to talk to me about it so after 3 or 4 tries I gave up on them. It’s the most diasapointing thing about my boat to be honest

.
S55, I had two almost identical hulls with almost identical cockpit covers. OEM Cobalt snap-on cover --both with the tent poles. With the first hull, the snaps never "blew" off (except for that time I lubricated them with candle wax to make them go on and off easier. ...that was shortlived) That cover was rock solid at any speed.

With the second hull, the front lip would start to unsnap at highway speed. Very strange. The only thing that rectified it was me inserting four more snaps up front spaced evenly at the base of the windshield. Problem solved....even with an 80mph highway test run with a 20 mph headwind. So I know I'm good for 100mph with the snap fix.

.

[sailor55330]

Thanks for the insight A7. It sounds like covers are just a hit/miss kind of thing. it's weird---every single snap lines up perfectly, but it's like it's been sewn extra wide. When I used it, it fit every corner and contour and the wear pads were in perfect place, but I had the poles extended at least 6 inches above the windshield and it still looked like a big top tent. I don't think it should extend that much above. If I took the poles out, it would nearly touch the cockpit floor--probably 6-8 inches above it. When it rained, water definitely pooled on it in a big way. Maybe when I get the boat back, I'll put the covers on and try to post a video showing the play.

As for the snaps, None of them were every "tight". they clicked in place, but it requires no effort to snap them and the actually can be "wiggled" once they are locked. It always pulls loose in the same front corner, so I wonder if it has to do with airflow over the towing vehicle causing a strange vortex. As for the snaps pulling of the back and completely out of the gelcoat twice...that just p*sses me off. Either way, I've written it off as mine simply doesn't trailer well.

And I guess if I'm venting---why wouldn't Cobalt make the dash lights 100% dimmable? They are so bright at night that I have to cover them with a towel or I can't see anything! LOL

[ajcampen]

Thanks for the insight A7. It sounds like covers are just a hit/miss kind of thing. it's weird---every single snap lines up perfectly, but it's like it's been sewn extra wide. When I used it, it fit every corner and contour and the wear pads were in perfect place, but I had the poles extended at least 6 inches above the windshield and it still looked like a big top tent. I don't think it should extend that much above. If I took the poles out, it would nearly touch the cockpit floor--probably 6-8 inches above it. When it rained, water definitely pooled on it in a big way. Maybe when I get the boat back, I'll put the covers on and try to post a video showing the play.

As for the snaps, None of them were every "tight". they clicked in place, but it requires no effort to snap them and the actually can be "wiggled" once they are locked. It always pulls loose in the same front corner, so I wonder if it has to do with airflow over the towing vehicle causing a strange vortex. As for the snaps pulling of the back and completely out of the gelcoat twice...that just p*sses me off. Either way, I've written it off as mine simply doesn't trailer well.

And I guess if I'm venting---why wouldn't Cobalt make the dash lights 100% dimmable? They are so bright at night that I have to cover them with a towel or I can't see anything! LOL

Hey, I think their is a dimmer dial under the helm (very bottom).

Have you thought about having a canvas shop alter your cover?

Also, get some shrink wrap tape and tape down the front of your cover or where it comes up when u tow

[AsLan7]

Thanks for the insight A7. It sounds like covers are just a hit/miss kind of thing. it's weird---every single snap lines up perfectly, but it's like it's been sewn extra wide. When I used it, it fit every corner and contour and the wear pads were in perfect place, but I had the poles extended at least 6 inches above the windshield and it still looked like a big top tent. I don't think it should extend that much above. If I took the poles out, it would nearly touch the cockpit floor--probably 6-8 inches above it. When it rained, water definitely pooled on it in a big way. Maybe when I get the boat back, I'll put the covers on and try to post a video showing the play.

As for the snaps, None of them were every "tight". they clicked in place, but it requires no effort to snap them and the actually can be "wiggled" once they are locked. It always pulls loose in the same front corner, so I wonder if it has to do with airflow over the towing vehicle causing a strange vortex. As for the snaps pulling of the back and completely out of the gelcoat twice...that just p*sses me off. Either way, I've written it off as mine simply doesn't trailer well.

And I guess if I'm venting---why wouldn't Cobalt make the dash lights 100% dimmable? They are so bright at night that I have to cover them with a towel or I can't see anything! LOL

Hey, I think their is a dimmer dial under the helm (very bottom).

Have you thought about having a canvas shop alter your cover?

Also, get some shrink wrap tape and tape down the front of your cover or where it comes up when u tow

.
+1....and that shrink wrap tape is what I used before I added the extra snaps. Great suggestion AJc.

.

[akorcovelos]

Thanks for the insight A7. It sounds like covers are just a hit/miss kind of thing. it's weird---every single snap lines up perfectly, but it's like it's been sewn extra wide. When I used it, it fit every corner and contour and the wear pads were in perfect place, but I had the poles extended at least 6 inches above the windshield and it still looked like a big top tent. I don't think it should extend that much above. If I took the poles out, it would nearly touch the cockpit floor--probably 6-8 inches above it. When it rained, water definitely pooled on it in a big way. Maybe when I get the boat back, I'll put the covers on and try to post a video showing the play.

As for the snaps, None of them were every "tight". they clicked in place, but it requires no effort to snap them and the actually can be "wiggled" once they are locked. It always pulls loose in the same front corner, so I wonder if it has to do with airflow over the towing vehicle causing a strange vortex. As for the snaps pulling of the back and completely out of the gelcoat twice...that just p*sses me off. Either way, I've written it off as mine simply doesn't trailer well.

And I guess if I'm venting---why wouldn't Cobalt make the dash lights 100% dimmable? They are so bright at night that I have to cover them with a towel or I can't see anything! LOL

Sounds like those cover were just made wrong. When I had my bow/cockpit cover made the front pole was maybe halfway up the windshield, and the rear pole was even with the windshield and there were tight as a drum. That boat sat in the water, unprotected through some nasty storms and they never polled water.

I'm going to swap my dash lights to red, and I believe mine are dimmable, so yours should be too. I never understood why boat manufactures use white lights for dash/courtesy lights, totally kills the captains night vision.