How Long Is Your Playpen?

[guy48065]

Jeff I hope you like it. Their (Taylor Made) website isn't much help--esp. the photos of uncovered boats cruising on the water. Why won't they show what THE COVER looks like installed?

[taylorjm]

So I got my playpen cover. The one I got is:

ZNAT-26017OG Pontoon Playpen Only 18'1" to 19'0" Max 102" Beam
https://www.wholesalemarine.com/pontoon ... 78521.html

I haven't put it on yet because it's raining like crazy today, but I got it out in the garage and took some measurements. It's basically a rectangle that's 102"x19" and is about 30" high. That's it from what I can see. I think it will work well for me because my playpen area is about 18'3"x102 and about 30" high. It has an elastic cord around the bottom that is open at the front and back to tighten it up. It has clips for webbing strap every couple feet along the bottom, like the pic I attached. It included a roll of 80' of strap. I think what I'm going to do is mark where the clips go around the playpen, and figure a way to easily reach over the playpen, and loop them onto some kind of hook to hold the cover down securely around the edges. Then put some support poles in the middle. Once the rain stops tomorrow I'll see what I can figure out and post some pics.

I think the smallest playpen cover they make would measure 96"x16'. Your playpen is only 13'3" I think. So I'm not sure how well this would work for you, but it might be as close as you could get. Not sure why mine was $199 and the smaller one is $244 though.

[guy48065]

That looks like a good compromise Jeff. The generic cover that came with my used pontoon is about the weight of a bedsheet, reaches all the way to cover the entire deck and outboard, and if stretched will overlap 1/2 the logs. It's ridiculous.

I've been in contact with a mfr that will make me a semi-custom mooring cover to my measurements, out of coated heavyweight marine material that will only reach down to the 2nd rail--with snaps in a bag so I can install to match mine. With flaps cut to wrap around the bimini frame mounts. At a quoted price of $599 it's in between the price of a custom-shop cover & a typical generic cover. I'm probably going to have to go with that but he's also got model-specific covers made from their own patterns for $400 or even less. THAT'S what I was hoping to get lucky on--finding a model pontoon with the same playpen dimensions but for a make/model that someone already has patterns for.

[taylorjm]

Here's how mine fits right now. I'm pretty happy with the fit. It's tied down because I'm still thinking about how I want to attach it. I have snaps on the boat. What if I turn some extra material underneath, so it's double layered, and install snaps. Do you think it will hold up? I know just putting snaps on it would probably rip off, but I could double layer, or even turn it under enough so the hemmed edge holds the snaps. What's the opinion of how that would hold up? If I really wanted it to look good, I should cut out for the bimini top and velcro it back around the supports and keep the top up a notch....but not sure I'm that ambitious, and my sewing skills aren't that great, so I put movers blankets over the metal supports so the edges don't want to poke through.

Jeff

[guy48065]

I think I would mark a chalk line all the way around at the snap rail. Cut the top several inches too long, then create a hem by folding nylon webbing into it. Then the strain from the snaps is distributed along a reinforced hem.

Sewing isn't my thing but I've read that you don't need an industrial machine if you have an old cast iron machine from post-war thru the 70's. The newer plastic ones aren't rugged enough.

[Drago]

If you want to pay a lot but get something really custom, contact
http://tumacscovers.com/site/
They make a lot of original pontoon covers.