By: Olivia Hudak on March 24th, 2022

How to Cover a Pontoon Boat (Quickly)

For those of us who don’t park our pontoon boat in a boat lift, we know the frustrations that come with having to cover the boat after each use. This tedious process sucks the fun out of the air and is the last thing you want to be struggling with after a long day on the water. 

Covering your pontoon boat can be one of the most time-consuming tasks involved with boating. It always seems that no matter how you prepare, it never goes correctly. At least that’s how I used to feel before I was taught an easier way. 

In this article, I’m going to give you a few simple tricks that can cut the amount of time you spend covering your pontoon in half. I’ve got one simple tip that will keep you from spending a ridiculous amount of time figuring out whether or not the cover is backward or sideways or maybe even upside down.

STEP 1: Unload the Boat

The first step that you should always take before putting your cover on is to get all the trash out of the boat. When trash starts to rot, it can cause mold to grow inside of your boat. It can also make the boat smell bad which is never fun to find when you uncover it for the next cruise. 

Maybe worst of all, leaving trash from food and beverage items behind can attract unwanted pests. Raccoons love to make their nests in boat furniture which will be detrimental to your boating season. For those reasons, take the trash out of your boat before putting the cover on.

You’ll also want to get any coolers, clothes, towels, and wet items off the boat. This stuff will get gross and smelly if it sits on the boat for too long. It’s always best to get anything off the boat before putting the cover on. A covered boat sitting in the heat essentially turns into a greenhouse.

That’s why it’s so important to make sure anything left behind and the boat itself is clean and as dry as possible. Remember, the cover is water-resistant, not fully water-proof. So if there’s anything that absolutely cannot get wet on board, take that off too. 

STEP 2: Bimini Storage

This essential step is sometimes overlooked but you’ll want to be sure you don’t miss it. Store your bimini as if you are getting ready to travel. Your bimini can be damaged just like the rest of your boat. This is why you want to take the proper steps to protect it.

To do this, first, you’ll want to lower your bimini into the travel position. This makes it so that the canvas is folded up and you’ll have easy access to putting the boot on. Next, secure the boot which is the bimini cover by zipping each side so that the canvas is tucked away and the boot is sealed completely.

Some biminis will have buttons or straps that secure the boot even further so make sure to take those extra steps. Keeping the canvas as dry as possible will keep it looking like or a long time.

STEP 3: Unfold the Cover

Now that all the trash is out of your boat and the bimini boot is on, you’re ready to start covering your pontoon. At this point, you’ll only want to unfold the mooring cover, but don’t get too ahead of yourself on this step. I recommend unfolding your cover in the boat. Unfolding your cover while inside the boat will save you the hassle of moving it while it’s all unfolded and harder to carry. 

If you take anything away from this article, it should be this next step. Having a clear starting point will make this process quicker. After you get the cover completely unfolded, there are two different starting points that I recommend. You can either look for the gate zipper or look for the front of the cover that lines up with the front of the boat. Most of the time, the gate zipper will line up directly over the port gate. 

Since the zipper lines up with the port side door, this is a quick way to know which direction the cover should be sitting before you start snapping it on. If you start at the front of the boat, make sure you have the correct spot on the cover lined up. Sometimes it can be difficult if you don’t know what the correct spot is. Although if you do, it is also a great way to start covering your boat. Whichever method you prefer, they will both get you to the finish line in no time.

STEP 4: Set the Poles Aside

Next, make sure the poles are accessible and out of your way. It’s never ideal when you get the entire boat covered just to realize your poles are stored underneath one of the seats. To avoid this, make sure you have them out and ready to go before you start snapping the cover into place.

I like to lay mine down on the floor in the order that they should be put up in. Some boaters like to take this a step further and leave a piece of tape on the pole where it should be set to. This way, there’s no guessing how far extended each pole should be.

STEP 5: Snap the Cover On

Now it’s time to secure the cover to the boat. There are two ways to go about this depending on whether you are starting at the front or at the port side gate. If you start at the front, I recommend clipping or buttoning in evenly on both sides as you move towards the stern of the boat. 

By working evenly, you will be able to put the poles up as you work so that you don’t have to worry about crawling around under the cover later. Work your way backward until you have the entire boat covered. 

Now if you started at the port side door, I recommend a slightly different approach. For this, I recommend clipping or buttoning in all the clips on the port side of the boat. After you have that whole side snapped in, move back to the front of the boat and snap a few up there.

You can now work your way toward the stern of the boat, clipping or buttoning only the starboard side in. As you work your way back, you’ll be able to set the poles up as well. Again, this will save you from having to crawl under the cover to set the poles up.

Clipping Versus Buttoning

Some pontoon manufacturers offer covers with clips instead of buttons. There are still plenty of covers out there that use all buttons but clips are becoming more popular as they’re easier to use. 

Barletta has only ever offered clip fasteners but others have gravitated to this system in more recent years in place of buttons.  It makes the overall task of covering the boat easier. Both types of covers, those which use clips and those which use buttons, are equally secure and capable of keeping the boat protected from the elements.   

STEP 6: Make sure Everything is Secured

Now that the cover is completely on you just have to check out a few more things. First, I’d make sure the poles are standing up straight. If any are lopsided, adjust them so that they are upright. You’ll also want to make sure the entire cover is taut. This will keep water from puddling on top of your cover and ending up inside your boat. 

Fasten any velcro that goes around the bimini to protect your boat the best you can. Walk around your boat once to make sure all the snaps are secured and all the velcro is closed. 

Covering Made Easy

Covering your pontoon boat should be a piece of cake from here on out. It can be made easier by having the same starting point each time. No longer will you have to worry about spending hours attempting to get your cover on correctly.

More time out on the water and less time spent wrestling with the cover is a win-win. This is why I highly recommend using one of the two methods listed above to get your boat covered quickly. 

Pro tip, take a sharpie and write on the tag of the cover whether it’s the front or the back of the boat. If the cover gets tangled up, this will help you know what end is what.