It’s the time of the year again when being out on the water is the best place to be. In the heat of the summer sun, there’s really nothing like sitting on a pontoon boat to just drift on a calm lake or spend an entire afternoon fishing. Pontoon boats get a lot of attention during the summer months, and it’s only right to take preventative measures in order to keep the health of your boat in check. One of the easiest ways you can do this is by protecting the pontoon’s seats using seat covers. If you’re thinking about buying pontoon boat seat covers, here is a quick guide on what you should look for.
Material
Pontoon seat covers are made out of many different kinds of materials. The lowest end in the spectrum would be a simple plastic tarp. Although plastic tarps will do the job of covering your seats, they aren’t particularly durable. Plastic tarps are great alternative for quick-fix solutions, but they are not permanent options.
The next step up to plastic would be canvas tarps. Canvas tarps have long been used as a general cover-up material in boating. They are more durable than plastic in many ways. However, they are also more susceptible to mildew and mold. Canvas tarps today are most often referred to as marine vinyl. It’s still a good alternative if you prefer to use it, but canvas is also easy to stain. Either way, your canvas will definitely protect your pontoon boat seats, but they won’t last as long untreated. If you want your marine vinyl to last longer and protect your boat seats better, you can treat them a waterproof and/or UV spray. The best materials for pontoon seat covers are vinyl blends or polyester. These materials are highly durable and easy to take care of. They are also more resistant to the elements; therefore, they can protect your seats better. Most vinyl blends also offer some breathability factors, so mold and mildew won’t have much room to grow in—even in the most humid conditions.
Size
You might automatically think that larger is better when it comes to pontoon boat covers, but that’s not necessarily true. Although a larger size will allow you to cover more area, it’s important to measure fit more than anything. Since pontoon boats are exposed to the elements continually, a fitted seat cover will do a better job in protection. Any excess room caused by an unfitted cover will just be excess room for more water or air to enter and damage your pontoon seats.
This is why it’s important to measure your pontoon seats before you go out looking for seat covers. This article discusses how you can measure your seat covers properly. Once you have the dimensions written down, you can then continue shopping for pontoon seat covers. Make sure you check your dimensions against the size of the covers before you purchase. It also helps to read reviews regarding the size of the cover from those that have purchased the same product before. You can also get information from the manufacturer of both the seat cover and your pontoon boat seats.
Other things to look for
Apart from material and size to consider, you might want to also think about a few other things before you buy a pontoon seat cover. First, you might want to think about ease of use and storage. When you’re not using your pontoon seat covers, where are they going to go? Can they easily be folded up and stowed away someplace on your pontoon boat?
There are also seat covers that might utilize the use of zippers or elastic. Some people prefer seat covers that will just slip over your pontoon seats. But there are others that are so fitted; you’d have to zip them up in place. There are seat covers that come with enclosures and others that don’t. It might not matter to some people, but style and color matter to others. You might find that a lot of pontoon seat covers come in a white color, neutral, or blue color. Whites and neutral colors reflect the sunlight better than darker colors.
Pre-owned seat covers
You also might want to check the stitching quality of the product and examine any seams. This is particularly important especially if you’re buying pre-owned seat covers. Buying used can save you quite a bit of money, especially if you’re looking for something particularly that is difficult to find at the store. If you have pontoon boat seats that are custom-made, you might find that buying used is a good option. Just make sure that you’re able to examine the seat covers before you pay for them. You wouldn’t want to find flaws in the seat covers after you’ve paid for them.
There’s also the option of making your own seat covers. This article from Goneoutdoors.com sets out instructions on how you can sew your own boat seat covers. Before you dismiss the idea right away, consider the possibilities. If you opt to make your own pontoon boat seat covers, you’ll be able to get all the specifications you prefer. You won’t have to waste time finding a product that checks all the boxes for you. The best thing about it is you don’t even have to make them yourself. You can have custom-made pontoon boat seat covers made for you. But even if you opt to make them yourself, the task isn’t as daunting as it may initially seem. You’ll need just a little bit of creativity, a little bit of time, some materials, and a machine—and you’ll be on your way to having the best pontoon boat seat covers you can get your hands on.
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