Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Just bought a new pontoon (Qwest) and instead of a mooring cover it came with individual seat covers and a helm cover. Easier to put on and I prefer it to a traditional whole boat mooring cover. I live in the midwest and will be storing my boat over the winters in a warehouse. But during the summer I am wondering if the vinyl floor will hold up to the elements stored on trailer outside or if I should pay to store it in an indoor storage space? How durable are the vinyll floors against sun/rain?

Demon - I bought my Sweetwater new in May '15. It came with the seat covers but also the mooring cover. I use the seat covers on the weekend when we go up to the camper and boat.

My vinyl floor holds up nice in the weather but again I use the mooring cover when we're not there. Cleans up easy too.

I would have to believe that a mooring cover would be somewhat less expensive than inside storage. Maybe you could have worked that into the deal.

Pretty simple Question do you want to protect your investment or not it is out of the elements in the winter so why not cover it in summer.

Year after year after year, your boat will look better as it ages if it has protection from direct sunlight. Just a fact of life.

I'm in a covered slip and unless I'm coming back the next day, I snap my cover on. Takes about 10 more minutes, longer if others try and help.

zoom650 wrote:Takes about 10 more minutes, longer if others try and help.

Ha! Ain't that the truth.

After you've done it a few times, you will figure out the most efficient strategy to put the cover on. I always roll it up the same way. That way, I always know where to start unrolling it. Then I always work my way around the boat in the same pattern.

I've taught my wife and son how to roll it up in case they take the cover off, but seems like there is always something a little different about it if they do it.

And back to the original question, I agree with those above. Your vinyl will last longer and look better if you regularly use the mooring cover. And it will be cleaner, too. The floor always looks dingy if it's been rained on.

Again we are very picky on how clean ours is I tuck it has high as I can under canopy on lift no cover but lift covers it . It will get whip down just about every time . About every two weeks or so It gets out side panels whip down with Wizards Mist n Shine I just shake my head how many people spend that much on a new boat and are to lazy to protect it from the elements!

I also use seat covers, but also bought a cheap, UV resistant cover. Easy to throw on. I always have it covered.

ron nh wrote:I also use seat covers, but also bought a cheap, UV resistant cover. Easy to throw on. I always have it covered.

Where did you get a cheap uv Cover? I think that might be the way to go for me. The qwest seat covers seem really good quality and I am not worried about the seats with those covers on its just the floor I am worried about. I dont want the vinyll floor aging prematurely from sun. Im not really worried about dirt as I wash the boat friday night before I take it home for the weekend and sunday before putting it up for the weekend. Googling anything about the longevity of pontoon vinyll flooring just pulls up adds for flooring and people talking about switching to vjnyll from carpeting. How is your Qwest pontoon holding up? Any brand specific tips? Just got mine last weekend and loving it.

Demonshaker wrote:

ron nh wrote:I also use seat covers, but also bought a cheap, UV resistant cover. Easy to throw on. I always have it covered.

Where did you get a cheap uv Cover? I think that might be the way to go for me. The qwest seat covers seem really good quality and I am not worried about the seats with those covers on its just the floor I am worried about. I dont want the vinyll floor aging prematurely from sun. Im not really worried about dirt as I wash the boat friday night before I take it home for the weekend and sunday before putting it up for the weekend. Googling anything about the longevity of pontoon vinyll flooring just pulls up adds for flooring and people talking about switching to vjnyll from carpeting. How is your Qwest pontoon holding up? Any brand specific tips? Just got mine last weekend and loving it.

I got it last may, Haven't had a single issue.Only brand tip I can offer is, If you buy anything that has to hang from the railings standard size won't fit. IE; fender hangers, grill brackets. There's are I believe 1" where I think all larger boat builders are 1 1/4"? bought the cover from Overtons, They and Amazon have many to choose from.

zoom650 wrote:
I'm in a covered slip and unless I'm coming back the next day, I snap my cover on. Takes about 10 more minutes, longer if others try and help.

Boy ain't that the damned truth!! I have got it down to being able to get on or off in about 5 minutes . Took me awhile to figure out the best way to insure it went back on and was oriented the same way as when I took it off. I do mine while it's on the lift . Much easier.
As far as help, my crew seems to get the dazed, retard look in their eyes when it comes to snapping it down. Did learn that putting a dab of Vaseline on the snaps every so often really makes the snaps go on much easier.
In case I ever get the cover turned around , I marked the front center snap with red paint.