I’d like to hear from you guys that have the snap on boat covers. Likes, dislikes or anything you would change if you could do it over. Any problems running down the road? Any problems with the snap side on the boat getting dinged?
Seem to see more and more covers going snap rather than tie down.
-J.
A good friend of mine has a snap cover. He had problems with the snaps ripping away from the material untill he bought a little hand tool for unsnapping them. It works real easy and he hasn’t had one rip yet.
His only other complaint is where his snaps on the boat are located. He has a Lund and they are on the farthest outside edge of the boat. There’s a groove they slide in and if he’s not super careful while docking his boat they get messed up. He can slide them back into place but he said it can be a pain.
Here’s a pic of the hand tool.
There is only one problem i have with mine and that is that the snaps brake constantly and they cost a buck to fix. I bet i brake at least 1 snap every time i take it off. When it is cold it also is hard to get the last two or three snaps snapped. So it would be nice and tight.Other than that it is easy to put on and take off and rides really nice.
Jon, I have a factory snap-on cover on my fishhawk. I really like it. Good for rain and snow, as long as I brush it off in relatively short order.
Cold weather is tough on the snaps. I bet that my once-a-week Everts habit from November through March is responsible for nearly all of my broken snaps.
Having said that, my cover is ready to be replaced. It lasted 3+ seasons, and I’m ready to replace it with something more robust (but still in a snap-on).
I had a cover custom-made for my boat… good heavy-duty fabric and the guy put the snaps on the underside lip on the outside of the boat. This way, the snaps are not exposed to getting dinged if the boat bumps up to a dock or whatever and the cover then wraps around the edge of the boat – no water or whatever can get in there then, even when towing it at 70+ mph!
When you guys say broken snaps, are you talking the boat side or the cover side or both?
-J.
I’ve had snap covers on my past three boats, and have yet to have a snap pull through. I wouldn’t have any other type. These were all custom made by Wersinger’s (319/234-5416)in Dunkerton, Iowa, just outside of Waterloo. The covers clean easily, and do not billow out when traveling at highway speeds.
I bet that snap tool would help reduce broken snaps big time. I’ve used it on my buddy’s boat and they come undone really easy. 
I think he bought it at his boat dealer.
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When you guys say broken snaps, are you talking the boat side or the cover side or both?
-J.
Cover side for me. Pulled a couple clean through, left the silver botton on the cover or most….the gut stayed attached to the snap on the boat side.
I know a buddy of mine just had a custom snap on cover done up for him by a guy here in town, looks great, now I want one too. I can’t remember exactly how much he was charged, but how much are you guys paying for a 18 foot boat with a full windshield? That tool looks to be what he needs also, I know I’ve seen somebody use this or something like it.
Jon, I added a snap on cover to mine after I bought it. It took us a couple hours and a 12-pak to put it on. I really like it for traveling in wet or dry weather, especially long trips. No worries about anything blowing out, but thats probably the case with any cover. The tension rods keep it tight going down the road, but it does block your view quite a bit. It is pretty easy to put on and take off, a little more work in colder temps, but not impossible. My snaps are on the side just above the rub rail (??), so I dont have any concerns about damaging them. If you want I can take some pics and send to you. I am glad I shelled out the extra cash for it and would do so again.
td
I second Jason on this one the factory cover they sent me with my 1750 Fish Hawk is awsome by far the best cover I have owned!
Jon- I’ve had two custom covers over the last 12 years on two boats and they’ve been great. Lubricate the snaps with a rag and wd-40 a couple times a year and you should have no problem. Before you put a cover on your boat you should think it through as, Am I going to leave the trolling motor attached when traveling, Do I want to have back splash panels on? Or any other asscesories that will affect the cover down the road. Changes after the cover is made usually run about $100 or so. Love mine!
My Dad bought a custom snap cover from Canvas Craft 6 years ago. This boat does not leave the landing without a cover, so it gets a ton of use. It still fits like a glove and the snaps work perfectly. Two years ago the snaps on the top of the windshield were coming off from time to time when going down the road. Swung into the store on a Friday, they tightened every snap up, and we were back on the road in 15 minutes. I know a half dozen people that run these same covers and have had no complaints. The buttons themselves have never gotten in the way.
Spray silicone lubricant or WD 40 on the snaps and they will come unsnapped without breaking thru and no tools to fumble with. I too have factory tarps from Crestliner with the side slots and snaps. One guys takes less than 5 minutes to tarp the boat, best system i’ve ever used.
Snap on boat covers
I have one for my Fish Hawk. I always put it on by myself with no problems.
I’ve seen so many strap type covers going down the road just flapping in the wind. I would definetly get another snap on cover.
John, I had a custom cover made for my pro v from top gun I already had the ram mount for the trolling motor etc and I love the cover.
It fits nice a tight, haven’t busted a snap yet, going on three years. Now saying that I unsnap each one individually, I don’t get one loose and start yanking on the cover to unsnap a whole side.
It rides down the road great, keeps everything nice and clean and dry. If a snap moves out of place, they are easy to loosen with a screw driver and move back to where it should be.
Down falls, harder to put on when cold, doesn’t stretch as well, cost; i think my cover was around 500… So I make sure I take care of it.
Jami
I finally had a custom snap cover made for my 98 Fishhawk. LS canvas in Faribault did it. Tourned out great, reasonably priced. She uses Top Gun Material, and sews in a “nylon strap” around the perimeter, where the snaps get put into, not just using the cover material… Very nice. My side console windsheild is fixed, so I asked her to make a pocket in the cover, works great. She took a while longer to get it done, but I very happy with the results.
Jon,
Snap cover all the way…
I have had one one on my last three boats and never had a problem. Break some snaps once in a while, but they are a snap to fix…(hmmm 
) easy I mean.
Does anyone use a snap cover on a glass boat?
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Does anyone use a snap cover on a glass boat?
Yes I do, I would highly rec a snap cover
I agree with all the positive things mentioned about snap on covers, I’ve had one on my last two boats and no problems. Another nice thing I like about the snap on if your leaving your boat for a week in the water at a resort I snap the cover on every night to keep it dry and keep any wondering eyes from checking out 
whats inside when no ones around the dock.
Snap on here the only way to go. Look at the side of any boat that has straps for tie downs, the sides get beat up from the wind fluttering the straps going down the road.
One other thing I would not include the motor with a snap on tarp. With the tarp snapped down along the splash well it dosen`t suck rain and dirt back up under the cover and it won`t flutter or billow.
Edited to add… Make sure they put in vents to let air circulate through the boat to help dry out any moisture that gets trapped
Snap on cover for my 01 Fishhawk. Love it. No problems with it flapping around at highway speeds.
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I had a cover custom-made for my boat… good heavy-duty fabric and the guy put the snaps on the underside lip on the outside of the boat. This way, the snaps are not exposed to getting dinged if the boat bumps up to a dock or whatever and the cover then wraps around the edge of the boat – no water or whatever can get in there then, even when towing it at 70+ mph!
I’ve got the same set-up with the snaps under the lip. Works very well. The snap-cover has been on my boat for at least 7 years and it’s still in good shape.
CR
I have a snap on cover for my Lund. It covers the tip of the bow, but the trolling motor needs to be pulled off. It has a good fit in hot or cold weather, snap it on, and then pull the two vents up in the middle and the adjustable rods will be vertical to tighten the cover. The only thing I don’t like is the ropes on the motor covers, the ropes don’t slide easily through the cover when it gets tight. Other than that, whoever made this cover did a good job.
jon, i have a 98 pro v se with a wersinger snap cover. when i first got it i hated it. 76 snaps what a pain.. but i tow from omaha to northern mn twice a year. 75 all the way tight as a drum. when it rains makes a great mooring cover. i will contact wersinger for a replacement
Hey guys, I just wanted to throw some kudos out to Dave over at North Country Canvas in Robinsdale. He is a one-man shop so I had to get on the waiting list but it was really worth it. I am always commenting how it seems that nobody takes pride in their workmanship anymore but Dave has given me new hope. I have a fiberglass boat and decided to do a snap cover with the snaps under the rubrail. It turned out awesome and his workmanship was clearly evident. Wherever there needed to be reinforcement he added it. Wherever soft fabric underlayment needed to be, it’s there. Support poles, vents, etc, all at no extra charge. We decided on a new material from Marchem called Top Notch. It’s similiar to their Top Gun fabric with the benefit of the color being solution dyed as opposed to acrylic coated polyester. Which means it should wear like a polyester but have the color retention of an acrylic (Sunbrella). If you are considering canvas and in the metro area, you should definately give him a call.
I own a 20′ Lund Alaskan tiller. I paid $800 for a custom snap cover in 2005. I travel about 3000 miles per year with my snap cover. My comments:
1) Buy heavy fabric in lighter color to fight the sun damage over time.
2) Vents at each pole are key to let out moisture.
3) Install male side of snap outside the boat and on the underside of the gunwale. Prevents smashing snap at dockside.
4) Incorporate vents or holes of some sort at each place your boat has a rope tie-down. This allows you to install the cover at dockside and still have it roped to the dock.
5) Make cover snap along backside of transom splash-pan.
6) Do not incorporate motor cover into boat cover. Make a separate cover for motor due to ease of installing boat cover at dockside overnight.
7) Make sure your the guy you hire to make the cover measures the rig with chairs and gear installed in the rig or risk having a “conflict” with placement of support poles of cover with chairs, downriggers, GPS, sonar, cables, etc.
Tightlines,
PFG1
I also have a Wersinger cover. When you start to have problems getting the snaps off, allot of the time it is dirt. Take a bar of hand soap go around each snap on the boat. Works like a charm.
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