Whether it’s for mooring, trailering, or seasonal storage, a reliable, practical, and effective boat cover is essential to ensuring your boat remains in good shape, water-worthy, and protected against the various factors that might otherwise impact its performance and appearance: harsh weather, UV light, mildew, dust and debris, and/or intruders of both the animal and the human variety. If you choose not to go down the often very expensive route of purchasing a custom-fitted cover for your boat, however, then finding the best model available for your fishing boat, runabout, or pontoon can often be a tricky business. Knowing the difficulties that can ensue when surveying the vast array of options out there, in this article we aim to assist you in your search by introducing you to our pick of the top 25 boat covers on the market by category.
We reviewed dozens of boat covers to determine which ones were the best of the best. We examined a wide range of factors, including material, shape, size, fit, weather resistance, cost, and average customer reviews.
Having considered a large number of boat covers, we chose the Classic Accessories Storm Pro Boat Cover as our top pick. Ideal for boats with a center console and of various sizes, this cover offers the perfect blend of durability, ease of use, weather resistance, ruggedness, and fuss-free functionality.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Boat Covers
| Editor’s Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Classic Accessories StormPro Boat Cover | 4.4 |
| Runner Up | Amazon Basics V-Hull Runabouts and Bass Boat Cover | 4.5 |
| Best Budget Buy | PrimeShield Waterproof Boat Cover | 4.2 |
| Best Fishing Boat Cover | Leader Accessories Boat Cover | 4.0 |
| Best Pontoon Boat Cover | EmpireCovers Aqua Armor Pontoon Boat Cover | 4.2 |
Our Top Pick: Classic Accessories Storm Pro Boat Cover
After careful consideration, our favorite boat cover out there is the Classic Accessories Storm Pro Boat Cover. This cover is as well-adapted to long-term storage as it is hauling on the highway or mooring on the lake and offers the perfect balance between easy fitting, all-weather protection, and long-term durability. Costing around $170, it also represents excellent value for money.
Using 600-denier, highly durable and waterproof polyester fabric, this cover is just about as tough and weather-resistant as they come and, as such, offers a lot more peace of mind than many of its flimsier and less robust competitors. It fits snugly over your boat with the aid of an elasticated hem and a very simple, easy-to-use strap and buckle system that cinches down tightly to prevent any unwanted intruders—liquid, human, animal, or otherwise—from breaching its protection.
To top it all off, the CA StormPro comes with a 5-year warranty and excellent post-sale customer service.
Classic Accessories Storm Pro Boat Cover Key Features:
- Durable 600D fabric
- Excellent weather resistance
- Integrated strap-and-buckle fitting system
- 5-year warranty
Our Runner Up Pick: Amazon Basics V-Hull Runabout and Bass Boat Cover
As ideal for long-term storage as it is for transportation between boating locations, the sleek, well-made Amazon Basics V-Hull Runabout and Bass Boat Cover merits its place on the shortlist of any V-hull runabout or bass boat owner looking for a boat cover that strikes the optimal balance between performance and user friendliness.
Using extremely robust, durable, 100% woven polyester fabric, this cover not only offers almost impregnable protection against the elements and all other potential threats to your boat’s appearance and performance, but is also built to last and far more rugged than other models of boat cover in its price range.
The one-year warranty might fall short of some of its competitors, granted, but the quality of this cover’s construction is such that we doubt you’ll ever have to use it!
Amazon Basics V-Hull Runabout and Bass Boat Cover Key Features:
- 100% woven polyester fabric
- Waterproof
- Trailerable
- 1-year warranty
Best Budget Pick: PrimeShield Waterproof Boat Cover
Normally, buying outdoor accessories in the “budget” price range means having to compromise on a few notable features and accept a degree of drop in quality, but with the very favorably priced PrimeShield Waterproof Boat Cover, gladly, this is categorically not the case.
This highly versatile boat cover comes in an array of sizes and boasts the kind of construction and performance we’d expect to find in far pricier models. Made with 600-denier, PU-coated polyester, the PrimeShield is fully waterproof, durable, and rugged enough to deal with a little bit of rough treatment while in storage, moored out on the water, or in transit between your home and the lake.
It’s also UV resistant, cold resistant down to -68 Fahrenheit, and uses double-stitched, interlocked seams for extra durability. All in all, this cover ticks all the boxes that need ticking and is a great choice for those who want robust, reliable protection for their boat without having to break the bank.
PrimeShield Waterproof Boat Cover Key Features:
- Double-stitched seams
- Tough, durable, 600D fabric
- Waterproof
- Cold-resistant down to -68 Fahrenheit
- Available in a variety of sizes
Best Fishing Boat Cover: Leader Accessories Boat Cover
Affordable, trailerable, and available in a wide selection of sizes and colors, there’s a lot to love about the Leader Accessories Boat Cover.
In terms of protection, this cover is up there with the best of them, using ShoreMaster 7.25 oz., 600D, marine-grade polyester fabric with a urethane coating for water repellency, UV and mildew resistance, and double-stitched seams to enhance durability in this common point of weakness. It also features reinforced panels in key areas (the rear corners and bow) and bolsters its seams with a 1 inch poly-web straps for further resistance to wear and tear.
Other nice touches featured in this boat cover are the elasticated hem, which provides for a snug fit, the quick-release buckle-and-strap fitting system, and the rear air vents which allow any interior moisture to escape rather than become a source of mildew or damp when your boat’s in storage for the long term.
To top it all off, Leader Accessories offer a three-year warranty with this product and excellent pre- and post-sale customer service.
Leader Accessories Boat Cover Key Features: Vortex Direct 20-Foot Boat Cover
- 600d fabric
- Double-stitched seams
- Reinforced panels at corners and front of boat
- 3-year warranty
Best Pontoon Boat Cover: EmpireCovers Aqua Armor Pontoon Boat Cover
It may not be the cheapest model of boat cover out there, but the EmpireCovers Aqua Armor Pontoon Boat Cover offers a whole lot more “bang” for your buck than many of its budget-priced competitors and is a great choice for those who are prepared to pay just a little bit extra to ensure they provide their boat with the maximum care and protection.
This cover uses incredibly robust, burly, 1200-denier material, which in itself represents a twofold upgrade on most of its competitors and translates into superior ruggedness and durability whether your boat’s in long-term storage, docked on the lake, or being hauled along the highway.
In addition to its confidence-inspiring materials, this cover is fully waterproof, UV-resistant, breathable enough to protect against mildew, dampness and musty odors, fits snugly over your boat using a simple shock-cord system, and comes with a very reassuring 5-year warranty.
EmpireCovers Aqua Armor Pontoon Boat Cover Key Features:
- 1200d fabric
- Waterproof
- Various sizes available (17-20′ to 24-28′)
- 5-year warranty
Who Should Buy a Boat Cover
In short, anyone who owns a boat and is keen to increase the boat’s longevity should seriously consider getting their hands on a reliable, well-made boat cover. Not only will a boat cover protect your boat from any damage that might be caused by the elements – UV rays, snow, rain, frost – but also safeguard it from any animal intruders, provide a deterrent against human intruders, and help to keep out dirt, debris, dust, and other pollutants that might damage the boat’s interior while hauling, mooring, or keeping it in long-term storage in the off season. You’ve spent a lot of money on your boat and any improvements you’ve made, such as new boat seats, any engine upgrades, marine speakers, and more. A boat cover will help protect and secure your investment.
Important Features to Consider
A boat cover should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a boat cover for your boat:
- Material. The materials used in your boat cover will largely determine its durability and ruggedness. At the lower end of the scale, models that use 150 or 300-denier fabric will probably be adequate if storing your boat in a garage or shed, but are unlikely to withstand the test of time if your boat spends a lot of time exposed to the elements when mooring or in transit between your home and boating location. At the higher end of the scale, burlier models in the 800 to 1200-denier range usually offer far superior weather-resistance and protection. While this can translate into added peace of mind for the boat owner, however, it may well be overkill if you only tend to make a couple of boating trips per year in fair weather and have a safe, covered storage location for your boat in the off season.
- Weather resistance. Exposure to the elements can cause serious damage to your boat’s performance and appearance. While most boat covers offer some degree of weather resistance, the pick of the bunch are those that use a UV-resistant, waterproof (as opposed to merely water-resistant) finish that repels moisture, such as a hydrophobic PU or urethane coating.
- Size and fit. While this may seem like a given, it’s well worth double-checking the dimensions of your boat to ensure your prospective cover will (excuse the pun) have you covered, particularly if your boat has a center console or other accessories like bow rails or running lights.
- Ease of use. This refers to how easily a boat cover can be mounted, dismounted, and cleaned. The easiest models to mount and dismount, generally speaking, are those which use a buckle-and-strap fitting system in combination with an elasticated hem, while the easiest to clean usually feature a PU exterior coating which can be wiped clean in a matter of seconds with a sponge or cloth and warm water. When buying, also look for quick-release buckles in the fitting straps and, to protect from scratches, choose a model that uses plastic D-rings or buckles as opposed to metal grommets.
- Warranty. While a long warranty period isn’t a guarantee of any boat cover’s quality and durability, it does tend to indicate the manufacturer’s confidence in their product and in turn, thereby, give us—the buyer—a fair impression of how we can expect the cover to hold out in the longer term. As a bare minimum, we’d only recommend buying covers that offer at least a 1-year warranty.
- Trailing compatibility. Most manufacturers will claim that their boat covers are “trailerable” or trailer-compatible, but would-be buyers should be aware that there are varying degrees of “trailerability.” The most trailerable models of boat cover out there feature an elasticated hem that can be fitted snugly over your boat and also a buckle-and-strap fitting system that allows you to fasten the fabric tightly over the boat to reduce aerodynamic drag when hauling. When buying, check that the fitting system is included in the price to avoid any nasty surprises when your package arrives in the post.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a boat cover?
A boat cover is a protective cover which can be placed over and fastened to your boat to protect it from damage caused by the elements, animals, dirt, debris, and dust when the boat is in mooring, long-term storage, or being hauled behind your vehicle between locations. Most boat covers are made with polyester or a poly-cotton blend and can also provide a deterrent against theft.
What is the best material for boat covers?
Generally speaking, the best materials for boat covers are polyester or poly-cotton blends, which offer reliable UV, abrasion, and water-resistance, breathability, durability, and the best value for money. While some acrylic boat covers offer superior breathability and fade resistance, these often cost more than double the price of polyester models and could well be overkill for those not using their boat in salt water or particularly harsh conditions.
In addition to the type of material used, buyers should also pay attention to the weight of the material. Many cheaper models of boat cover are made with thin, 3 or 4-ounce cloth that is unlikely to provide adequate protection unless you store your boat indoors. If you envision storing your boat outdoors or spending a lot of time on the road between boating destinations, we’d recommend opting for more robust, durable fabrics in the 6 to 9-ounce per square yard range.
What size of boat cover do I need?
When buying your boat cover, it’s crucial to have accurate measurements of your boat’s dimensions before you start weighing up the options. Purchasing a cover that is even slightly ill-fitting can lead to a handful of performance and durability-related issues, including bagging, sagging, ballooning while trailering, premature wear, or simply losing the cover altogether in high winds.
To determine the size of boat cover required for your boat, the most important factors to consider when buying are boat type, centerline length, and beam width.
How do you measure a boat’s centerline length?
The centerline length of your boat can be taken by measuring from the tip of the bow to the center of the stern. Be sure to include in the measurement any extensions to your boat such as swim platforms, a bow pulpit, transom bracket, bow rails, or a jack plate.
How do you measure a boat’s beam width?
The beam width of your boat refers to the flat width of the boat at its widest point, which is usually just past mid-ship but can vary from one boat to another.
Other Boat Covers We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other boat covers. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best boat covers list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option your boat. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Budget Boat Covers
Classic Accessories Stellex Boat Cover
A strong, lightweight cover for fishing or utility boats that uses tough, durable, shrink-resistant Stellex fabric to provide reliable weather protection and plenty of breathability.
Key Features:
- UV and mildew resistant
- Water-resistant
- Storage bag and tie-down straps included
- 4-year warranty
Cost: $41.57
A frill-free cover for 16 to 18-foot boats that is easy to use and offers robust, reliable protection against the elements, dust, dirt, and debris thanks to its 600D Oxford fabric and a hydrophobic PVC coating.
Key Features:
- 600D Oxford fabric
- PVC coating
- Quick-release buckle-and-strap fitting system
Cost: $53.99
A highly versatile boat cover that fits V-hull runabouts, Tri-hulls, many models of fishing boat, and offers solid, marine-grade protection for long-term storage, mooring, and highway travel.
Key Features:
- Trailerable
- 600D poly-canvas fabric
- Double PU coating
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $ 89
Leader Accessories 300D Boat Cover
The more slender version of the Leader Accessories 600D Boat Cover featured in our top-5 list, this cover is ideal for indoor storage and tough enough to provide all the protection needed for outdoor storage in more clement conditions.
Key Features:
- Lightweight
- 300D fabric
- Water resistant
- Trailerable
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $ 66.98
Using 210D ripstop polyester fabric, a waterproof PU coating, and taped seams, this very affordable boat cover offers protection comparable to that provided by most of its much pricier competitors.
Key Features:
- Ripstop fabric
- Double PU waterproof coating
- Taped seams
- Straps and storage bag included
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $49.99
MSC 300D Waterproof Boat Cover
This lightweight version of the 600D model listed above offers a little less in the way of ruggedness compared its beefier sibling but still provides excellent protection from the elements in all but the harshest of conditions.
Key Features:
- 300D polyester, marine-grade fabric
- Double PU coating
- Straps and storage bag included
- 1-year warranty
Cost: $57.99
Covers for smaller fishing boats don’t come much more effective or favorably priced than the Goodsman 150D Boat Cover. This lightweight cover might have a lower denier count than its competitors but still offers solid weather resistance and durability thanks to reinforced fabric inserts at the bow and stern and double-stitched seams.
Key Features:
- 150D fabric
- Water resistant
- Straps included
Cost: $39.99
Fishing Boat Covers
Seamander Trailerable Boat Cover
A tough, easy-to-use cover that fits snugly over fishing boats of varying sizes and uses 600D, marine-grade, woven poly-canvas material, a PU coating, and interlocking double-stitched seams to provide your boat with the maximum protection.
Key Features:
- Waterproof
- 12 adjustable straps and mesh storage bag included
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $ 102.99
Classic Accessories DryGuard Cover for Fishing/Utility Boats
This marine-grade cover uses reinforced panels, DryGuard fabric, waterproof lamination, and taped seams to provide the ultimate in all-weather protection, durability, tear-resistance, and breathability.
Key Features:
- Waterproof
- UV, abrasion, and mildew resistant
- Taped seams
- Trailerable
- 4-year warranty
Cost: $114
Short of buying a custom-made cover for your boat, it’s very hard to get your hands on a product that offers more protection than the RV Masking 800D Boat Cover. This cover’s three-layer design is built to withstand the very worst the weather can throw at it, all while offering ample breathability and scoring high on user-friendly convenience.
Key Features:
- 800D polyester fabric
- Double-stitched seams
- PU coated
- 4,000 mm hydrostatic head waterproof rating
- 5-year warranty
Cost: $147.99
Using 600D, waterproof-breathable, UV-resistant polyester fabric in combination with a QuikSnap fitting system and heavy-duty shock-cord hem, this boat cover offers the perfect balance between protection and ease of use at a very palatable price point.
Key Features:
- 600D polyester fabric
- Waterproof and breathable
- Straps and storage bag included
Cost: $71.99
A versatile cover that fits varying sizes of fishing boat and is made with lightweight, 210D Oxford fabric that is waterproof, reasonably durable, and also tear, fade, and UV-resistant.
Key Features:
- 210D Oxford fabric
- Waterproof
- Storage bag and straps included
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $55.99
Classic Accessories Lunex RS-1 Bass Boat Cover
This marine-grade cover takes your boat’s protection to the next level with the use of Lunex RS ripstop fabric, which offers an upgrade in terms of durability, resistance to wear and tear, and weatherproofing on the fabrics used in most other models in its price range.
Key Features:
- Ripstop fabric
- Waterproof
- Trailerable
- 1-year warranty
Cost: $60.12
This lighter-weight version of the 800D model featured above offers ample protection for all but the harshest of outdoor storage or mooring locations and boasts all the same features as its beefier sibling, including tough polyester fabric, impressive weather resistance, and heavy-duty fitting straps.
Key Features:
- 600D polyester fabric
- Waterproof and UV resistant
- Straps and mesh storage bag included
- 5-year warranty
Pontoon Boat Covers
Classic Accessories Stellex Pontoon Boat Cover
Made to fit pontoon boats measuring 21-24 feet long by 102″” wide, this tough, marine-grade cover offers a lightweight but high-performing alternative to similarly priced models in its size range.
Key Features:
- Lightweight Stellex polyester fabric
- Water and UV resistant
- 4-year warranty
Cost: $208.36
Leader Accessories Trailerable Pontoon Boat Cover
Made to fit boats up to 28′ in length and using 300D, urethane-coated polyester fabric with double-stitched seams, this cover offers robust, reliable protection for even the largest of pontoons.
Key Features:
- 300D polyester fabric
- Waterproof urethane coating
- UV-resistant
- Storage bag and straps included
Cost: $129.98
Vortex Pontoon 600D Boat Cover
If customer service, a longer-term warranty, and a high-quality build are high on your list of priorities, then this boat cover deserves a place on your shortlist of potential purchases for your pontoon. The Vortex 600D is also very hard-wearing, waterproof, and comes with 12 heavy-duty straps to ensure a snug fit for mooring, trailering, and long-term storage.
Key Features:
- 600D fabric
- Waterproof
- Excellent customer service
- 5-year warranty
Cost: $168
Vortex 1200D Pontoon Boat Cover
With a 7-year warranty and incredibly burly, highly durable, 1200D waterproof fabric, this cover represents an upgrade on the 600D model listed above and offers pretty much the best protection you can get for your pontoon short of sending it to the Federal Reserve for safekeeping(!).
Key Features:
- 1200D fabric
- Waterproof and UV resistant
- 12 fitting straps included
- 7-year warranty
Cost: $259
For pontoon owners working on a tighter budget or looking for a boat cover for indoor storage, trailering, and mooring in less harsh conditions, the Brightent Pontoon Boat Cover is just about ideal. It might not provide the same level of protection as some of its beefier competitors, but it also comes in at a fraction of the price and will be perfectly adequate for the needs of most occasional pontoon users.
Key Features:
- 240D woven polyester fabric
- PU coating
- Water and UV resistant
- Belts and storage bag included
Cost: $38.87
This cover is made to fit pontoons up to 28′ in length and uses a full cut to allow room for accessories such as bow rails and running lights. It also scores high in the protection and durability stakes, too, using tough, 300D polyester Hurricane™ fabric, double-stitched seams, and an adjustable transom flap and elasticated hem to ensure a tight, custom fit over your boat.
Key Features:
- 300D polyester fabric
- Non-scratch D-rings on fitting straps
- Storage bag and straps included
- 2-year warranty
Cost: $119.99
