My cover is rubbing on my windshield frame.

(mike3500) · (mike3500) **Join Date: Jun 2008** 03-17-2009, 9:19 AM

So, we bought a new cover last year, and it is rubbing the paint off of the top of my windshield frame. To fix this temporarily, I used some pipe insulation and threw it over the windshield frame.

I have a few questions:
#1 - I guess I just sand it down, and repaint the frame?
#2 - Is there any kind of clear protective sticker or something I can place over the newly painted frame, so this doesn't happen again?
#3 - Maybe I can find some kind of soft material I can put on the cover so that it won't rub the paint off?

Has this happened to any of you? I'm about to detail the boat for the spring, and it looks terrible the way it is.

(rbeckei) · (rbeckei) **Join Date: May 2007** 03-17-2009, 10:24 AM

Mike- #2-- Go to a car detail place or a car accessory shop and get pieces of 3M Clear rock deflector tape that they put on the hoods of cars and trucks.

(mike3500) · (mike3500) **Join Date: Jun 2008** 03-17-2009, 11:16 AM

Great idea. Thanks a lot Rob.

(dhcomp) · (dhcomp) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 03-17-2009, 5:31 PM

I would fix the issue on the cover, not the windshield. Go to a good upholstery place, and get them to sew in a nice reinforcing soft padding piece. Like the ones on rankin covers.

Or get a rankin.

(deltaboy) · (deltaboy) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 03-17-2009, 5:57 PM

I'd get a large portion of the underside of the cover lined with flannel. That's what we had to do all around the boat where the cover touches the gel coat and it works great no blemishes or scratches.

(allen) · (allen) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 03-18-2009, 8:12 AM

You might just put some pipe insulation on the frame before you put the cover on. Then when you take the cover off just roll the insulation up in the cover so its there next time you need it.

(mike3500) · (mike3500) **Join Date: Jun 2008** 03-18-2009, 10:21 AM

Thanks guys. All good ideas. I think I'll be heading out to the fabric store soon, but I think I'm gonna go with either spray adhesive, or double sided tape, instead of taking the cover to an upholstery shop.

CIE, the pipe insulation is my temp fix right now, but once I repair the frame, I would rather not mess with the insulation.

(ttuclint) · (ttuclint) **Join Date: Sep 2003** 03-18-2009, 10:23 AM

neither of those options (spray, tape) will last long at all.

(mike3500) · (mike3500) **Join Date: Jun 2008** 03-18-2009, 12:56 PM

i was just thinking of that. Sitting under the sun all day long, the heat would probably loosen both of those right off.

(lakeski) · (lakeski) **Join Date: Dec 2006** 03-18-2009, 7:50 PM

I've got a Rankin cover and it doesn't prevent this problem. It is a great cover, though.

(sidekicknicholas)

I just use a swim noodle cut in half over the windshield...keeps it up and away.

(mike3500) · (mike3500) **Join Date: Jun 2008** 03-19-2009, 8:54 AM

You know what's funny, this didn't happen with the stock cover Malibu gave me when I bought the boat. Maybe it has something to do with a tight fitting cover?? The cover Malibu gave me did not fit as tight as my new cover.

(jhgsupra) · (jhgsupra) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 03-20-2009, 4:15 AM

My cover from Evolution Covers is doing the same thing. It's a great cover, tight and very water proof but the rub is rubbing me the wrong way ...

. it already has a pad sewn in so the noodle option may be the way to go...