OK, my wife tells me I'm crazy!!

[MPII]

So, when we bought our boat, the cover was tashed. We are lucky enough that my in laws have a bunch of pole barns (farm) and we can store it inside. We bought a chepo cover just to keep the dust off when its in the barn and dew off when we're at the lake.

What stinks is that if we leave it in the water over night (we go to State Park a lot so we have to pull it @ the end of the night), the chepo cover doesn't really stand up to the water. Its one of those trailer cover with the elastic tie downs, it doesn't snap and/or have poles.

I found the guy that made tops for my Dad's boat many years ago (a sport/cockpit cover, moring cover, and a camper top). He was pretty reasonable ( I think) he was going to charge around 600.00 for a cockpit 2-Piece cover. Well, a buddy and I were looking on ebay and saw this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/350386700803

Then we saw a commercial grade sewing maching for 200.00 SO - We split the cost of the machine and are going to try and make our own covers over the fall. Snap kits pretty cheap and I have existing snaps, just no cover to go with them. Yea, probably won't turn out the best, but, for 225 bucks versus 600.00 and the ability to then make other's (camper, full cover, sides, etc), I figured I'd give it a shot. I have the old covery I can use somewhat as guide.

Thoughts?

[E_]

Hmmm, if you get good at it make me a camper cover to go on the back of my convertible top. Oh and a backup cockpit cover would be nice too! lol

PS Welcome to the forum!

[katie]

MPII, I don't know you or your wife... but I agree with her!!

Some things you just leave to the pro's.. besides, keeps them in work as well. Unless it is a goal you need to accomplish, let them do it... spend the extra time with the fam

[$parechange]

It's a man thing. It is our job to try stuff we can't do then spend twice as much to get it done correct. This way we put a lot more money in the system.

[JabezBoy]

Please send photos of the first "fitting".

[crwky]

Sorry man I'm with your wife and I will try just about anything.

[Lock5]

Weeeellllllll, I'll just say this, I bought a 2003 Tracker Party barge with a bad interior for $7,000 last July. I bought a used sewing machine and recovered every cushion on the boat(24 in total), I spent just under $700 in materials + $250 on the sewing machine. I just traded the boat in at a dealer in Louisville and they allowed $9,700 in trade. I still have the machine and will be starting on a camping enclousure for the new boat that will be used at the Poker Run in 2 weeks.

I aint affraid of doing nothing, but I'm also not ashamed to say I can't do that, if I truely can't.

My Dad was very good at telling me that "can't never could" JMHO.

[katie]

Lock, that's a whole different ball game but glad you came out so well on it!

[Lock5]

Here are some before and after of the same boat.

[LC addict]

I would have to agree with your wife! Although I can't talk, I bought a sewing machine to make cornhole bags! lol. Those were some expensive cornhole bags!!!!

[MPII]

Well, here's what I figure. I'll have material I can use to at least make a nice bow cover, that's the easy part. The rear cover is the difficult one. We want one for cruising at night when its chilly, keeps air from coming under the windshield. My buddy and I split the cost of the machine, $120 a piece. The material was only 140.00 and will come in useful. I figure, what the heck, give it a shot. If it works, I'll save 450.00. If it doesn't I'm out roughly 200 but at least have a separate bow cover. Then, if needed, I can get one made by the pros. I will post photos!

I have to believe that had the wife said, yea, I think its a great idea, I would have just had one made.

Two winter's ago two of my friends, wives, and I were at our local pub enjoying some nectar. One commented that we should make a "curling" rink for the start of the winter Olympics. OUr wives all said, "you'll never do it." My comment back was, "OK Men, if we do nothing else for the rest of our lives, we will build and hold a curling tournament." We ended up doing it, had 13 teams, our local pub owner made the commencement speech, each team had to have a flag and a theme song, and I made the torch. It was a smash. We had the local tv crews come out, police department and fire department was hanging out, it was awesome.

Moral of the story - well, there isn't one. But, when I'm told I can't do it, I have to try it!!!!

[JabezBoy]

Love it! I concur MPII - I haven't done much in my life, but what little I have done usually has been because someone told me I can't! Carry on! (and don't forget the pics - pics of mid-stream changes and corrections, if any, would be fun too!)

[LC addict]

BTW, I have been wanting a full enclosure if you would like to practice on my boat before you tackle yours.

[MPII]

OK, so I have to revive this post. You may remember, RedNeckYachtClub and I were going to make our own covers. Well, we got started and then ran out of time. BUT - I have pictures of Redneck (my seamstress) using the machine. You will note his attempt to hide his face in embarrassment of learning how to sew. There were also a few adult beverages involved in the trial runs.....

We'll get em' done this Winter!

Cover 1.jpg (51.64 KiB) Viewed 6680 times

We took a 4x8 sheet of 3/4 particle wood and Redneck routed out a space for the machine (i.e., "THE DRESSMAKER") to run the canvas material. We broke a few needles trying to figure out how to run the Da** thing. We eventually had to get his mother to come out to the shop and set it up for us! We had fun though........

Cover 2.jpg (48.41 KiB) Viewed 6680 times

[E_]

lol, now share some pics of your all's last trip down.

[MPII]

Ok, One more, couldn't resist....

Cover 3.jpg (46.37 KiB) Viewed 6677 times

[E_]

Nevermind, jsut saw your other thread, AWESOME, BTW Waterhottie is a member here as well as of I think last week or two.



PS, keep those pics a comin, make the forums a LOT more fun!

[MPII]

lol, now share some pics of your all's last trip down.

Will Do!! I have to download them. Waterhottie has a bunch! I'll get on her to get them uploaded!

[MPII]

RedNeckYachtClub just sent me a Txt calling me an A**hole for putting these photos online! I love it!

[E_]

ROFLMAO!

[katie]

Ok, One more, couldn't resist....

Cover 3.jpg

MPII, is that traces of blood stains around the bottom of the machine, lol? Once you get the "hang" of it, you will probably be making all kinds of things...

[redneckyachtclub]

You all can kiss my white A$$ I will have covers and a camper top this winter and MPII is on his own.

[MPII]

You all can kiss my white A$$ I will have covers and a camper top this winter and MPII is on his own.

I own 1/2 half of that machine buddy. Don't make me file a lawsuit.