Shetland Black Prince Boat Cover Guide: Sizes, Materials & Prices

Introduction: Why Your Shetland Black Prince Deserves a Bespoke Cover

Welcome, fellow boating enthusiasts and proud owners of the venerable Shetland Black Prince! Your 20ft vessel, with its comfortable 7ft 6in beam, is perfectly designed for leisurely cruises across the UK's picturesque canals, tranquil rivers, and expansive Broads. To truly safeguard your cherished boat from the elements, ensuring its longevity and maintaining its pristine condition, a high-quality, bespoke boat cover is not just an accessory but an absolute necessity. Generic covers simply won't offer the precise protection your Black Prince demands. At UK Boat Covers, a family-run business based in Carterton, Oxfordshire, we specialise in crafting custom covers that fit like a second skin. For your Shetland Black Prince, our bespoke covers start from just £814 for durable PVC, or £924 for premium acrylic fabric, offering unparalleled protection tailored specifically for your pride and joy.

Why Choose a Bespoke Cover for the Shetland Black Prince?

The Shetland Black Prince, with its distinctive cabin cruiser design and specific 7ft 6in beam, requires more than a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. Its unique hull shape, combined with various deck fittings, windscreen configuration, and cockpit layout, means that universal covers will inevitably sag, chafe, or fail to protect critical areas, leading to water ingress, mildew, and accelerated wear. A bespoke cover from UK Boat Covers is meticulously tailored to every curve and contour of your Black Prince, eliminating stress points and ensuring complete weather protection. Our innovative postal copy service allows us to replicate the exact dimensions of your existing cover, guaranteeing a perfect fit without the need for us to even see your boat. This precision engineering means superior defence against rain, UV, and debris, preserving your Black Prince for years of enjoyment on the waterways.

See our Shetland Black Prince model page for full specifications and cover options.

Cover Types Available for the Shetland Black Prince

For your Shetland Black Prince, a range of cover types can significantly enhance your boating experience and protect your investment, especially when navigating or mooring on canals, rivers, and the Broads. A full canopy cover offers comprehensive protection for the entire cockpit and cabin entry, ideal for long-term mooring or winter storage, ensuring your interior remains dry and free from environmental damage. Tonneau covers are perfect for day-to-day use, quickly snapping over the cockpit to protect against rain and sun during short stops or overnight stays. Cockpit covers focus solely on the helm and seating area, often used in conjunction with a spray hood which offers protection from splashes and wind while underway. Winter covers, often full-boat enclosures, provide the ultimate defence against harsh UK winters, ensuring your Black Prince remains pristine until spring.

• Full Boat Canopy - Complete weather protection
• Tonneau Cover - Cockpit and deck coverage
• Cockpit Cover - Targeted cockpit protection
• Spray Hood - Windscreen and helm shield
• - Seasonal protection

Best Materials for Shetland Black Prince Covers

Choosing the right material for your Shetland Black Prince cover is crucial for optimal protection and longevity, particularly for its typical use on inland waterways. We offer two primary options: PVC marine fabric and Acrylic canvas. Our high-grade PVC is exceptionally robust, fully waterproof, and highly durable, making it an excellent choice for covers exposed to constant moisture and UV on canals and rivers. It offers superior resistance to rot and mildew, a common concern in damp environments. Acrylic fabric, while slightly more expensive at £924, provides a more breathable solution, reducing condensation and offering excellent fade resistance from UV. Both materials are designed for marine use, but acrylic’s breathability is often preferred for long-term storage where air circulation is paramount, contributing to a longer lifespan and better interior air quality. PVC covers typically last 5-7 years, while acrylic can last 8-10+ years with proper care.

Compare materials in detail: Our fabrics page | Material comparison guide

Measuring Your Shetland Black Prince for a New Cover

Accurate sizing is fundamental to creating a perfect fitting cover for your Shetland Black Prince, a crucial step we simplify for you. While the boat has a standard 20ft length and 7ft 6in beam, variations can exist, making precise measurements vital. To measure, identify the longest point from bow to stern, typically over any pulpits, and the widest point, usually across the beam, accounting for any grab rails or fittings that protrude. However, the easiest and most accurate method, completely eliminating the risk of measurement errors, is our bespoke postal copy service. Simply send us your existing, old cover, and we will use it as a precise template to craft your new, perfectly fitting cover. This ensures every curve, snap, and strap position is replicated exactly, guaranteeing a flawless fit tailored specifically to your Black Prince’s unique dimensions and features.

Need help? See our size guide or use our postal copy service to skip measuring entirely.

Shetland Black Prince Cover Prices

Investing in a bespoke cover for your Shetland Black Prince is an investment in its future, with transparent pricing designed to offer exceptional value. Our high-quality PVC covers for your 20ft Black Prince start from an accessible £814, while our premium, breathable Acrylic covers begin at £924. These prices reflect the meticulous craftsmanship, marine-grade materials, and tailored fit that generic covers simply cannot provide. A significant advantage when choosing UK Boat Covers is that, as a family-run business, we don't charge VAT, effectively saving you a substantial 20% compared to competitors who often add this onto their quoted prices. This means you receive a superior product for a genuinely competitive price, with the added benefit of our speedy 6-day turnaround and the convenience of our precise postal copy service, ensuring unmatched value for your Black Prince.

View full price list | Request a personalised quote

How to Fit a Cover on Your Shetland Black Prince

Properly fitting your new cover on the Shetland Black Prince is crucial for its effectiveness and longevity. Begin by identifying the bow and stern sections, ensuring the cover aligns correctly with your boat's 20ft length. For the Black Prince, pay particular attention to the windscreen position; the cover should sit snugly over it, not just behind. Secure all straps and buckles, starting from the centre and working outwards, ensuring even tension around the 7ft 6in beam. Utilise any existing grab rails or cockpit fixtures to anchor tie-downs, preventing wind uplift. To prevent water pooling, particularly important on canals and rivers where rain is common, use support poles or strategically placed inflatable cushions to create a dome effect, allowing water to run off cleanly. Always ensure adequate ventilation to prevent mildew, especially important during longer storage periods.

Caring for Your Shetland Black Prince Cover

Maintaining your bespoke Shetland Black Prince boat cover is key to maximising its lifespan and ensuring continued protection, especially given its exposure to varied conditions on canals and rivers. Regularly clean your cover with a mild soap and water solution, gently scrubbing away any algae, bird droppings, or general grime that accumulates. For optimal UV protection, which can degrade fabric over time even on inland waterways, consider applying a marine-grade UV protectant annually. During winter storage, ensure the cover is completely dry before fitting to prevent mildew. Periodically inspect for any minor tears or loose stitching; prompt repairs can prevent small issues from becoming larger, costly problems. With proper care, your PVC cover can last 5-7 years, and an Acrylic cover 8-10+ years, safeguarding your Black Prince for countless adventures.

More tips: Cleaning guide |

Our Postal Copy Service for Shetland Black Prince Owners

Our unique postal copy service offers Shetland Black Prince owners an incredibly convenient and accurate way to get a new custom cover without the hassle of bringing your boat to us. The process is simple and highly effective: you securely package your existing, old cover – regardless of its condition – and post it directly to our workshop in Carterton, Oxfordshire. Once received, our skilled team uses your old cover as the definitive template, precisely copying every stitch, seam, and fastening point into your new, marine-grade PVC or Acrylic fabric. This guarantees a perfect, bespoke fit for your 20ft Black Prince, mirroring its exact dimensions and features. We then meticulously craft and dispatch your brand-new cover, typically within just 6 working days, ensuring you receive a flawless, ready-to-fit cover without any measuring guesswork or travel required.

1. Post your old cover to UK Boat Covers, Carterton, Oxfordshire
2. We create a perfect copy using your old cover as a template
3. Choose PVC or Acrylic marine-grade fabric
4. Receive within 6 days via tracked UK delivery

Learn more about our postal service