Rib Cover when Mooring

[Stevec66]

All - new to the forum - can you please give some guidance? - i have been living abroad for a while, now back to Skye and finally bought myself a Rib a small 4.2m Zodiac - when moored would you advise using a cover? and if so could you advise the best cover type to use - Thanks in advance SC

[Ferryman]

IMO, if the boat’s kept outside/on a mooring it should be covered.
Especially on a mooring it needs a proper cover, there’s basically 2 options - either get one from the manufacturer or what I did a few years ago and find a local company.
I chose a fabric,trailered the boat around to their workshop and they designed and made the cover in a day. I can’t remember what it cost but it was reasonable and protected the rib outside for years. It probably still is!
There must be specialist companies on or around Skye.

[lakelandterrier]

If keeping on mooring, especially for a small RIB, think
how bulky will it be?
Where will I put it when using the boat?
How is it designed to fit / secure as you leave the boat -not the same as putting a cover on when ashore?

Factor these into the remit for the cover maker

Not cover related, but will you be ant-ifouling the hull as well?

[Maximus]

Outside storage..a quality cover is a must!
But One of The advantage of a smallish Rig is the ease of launching and recovery...
A lot will depend on location ...
But Sky is not the place for LONG periods mooring of a small craft if you can possibly avoid it. (with or without a cover)IMO.
I've seen biggish un-covered RIBs soon fill with water when Bilges have failed in Highland storms which can lead to all sorts of problems ...including capsize!
ESPECIALLY if the wind gets up too!
As with so much in the Highlands ...so much depends on the weather forecast
If you're talking about holiday periods of a week or two ...and the forecast is good day to day ..AND you're confident you're Auto Bilge is good (I have two).
And provideing you can inspect the Boat every day then there is no need to cover. ...It's what we do.
In other circumstances personally I'd recover the RIB each time.

[Stevec66]

All - many thanks for your replies - i will likely just drop it in and out as needed now reading you replies - there are dozens of slipways here and it will give us more scope to see more of the Islands etc - cover is on order - thanks again - Steve