Boat Cover Buying Guide
Complete guide to choosing a boat cover. Cover types, materials, measuring your boat and ordering explained. No VAT, 6-day turnaround from UK Boat Covers.
Why Choose UK Boat Covers?
- No VAT - save 20% compared to VAT-registered competitors
- 6-day turnaround from booking
- Marine-grade PVC and Acrylic fabrics
- Postal copy service - post your old cover, we copy it exactly
- UK-wide service - we deliver anywhere in the United Kingdom
- Family-run business with personal service
- 4.9/5 customer rating from 127+ reviews
Our Services
- Full boat canopy - from £495
- Tonneau cover - from £289
- Cockpit cover - from £263
- Cratch cover - from £329
- Repairs - from £90
Popular Boat Models
We make bespoke covers for 170+ boat models including:
Get a Free Quote
Contact Ryan at UK Boat Covers for a free, no-obligation quote. We serve boat owners across the entire United Kingdom via our postal copy service.
Get a free quote | View our prices | Learn about our postal service
How to Choose the Right Boat Cover
Choosing a boat cover involves four decisions: type, material, how it will be made, and who makes it. Getting each of these right means your cover will last longer, protect your boat better, and be more practical to use day-to-day.
Step 1: Decide on Cover Type
A tonneau cover is the right choice if you need basic cockpit protection while moored and you don't need to use the boat from under cover. A full canopy is the right choice if you want to shelter while moored or need side protection in addition to overhead cover. For narrowboats, see our narrowboat covers guide.
Step 2: Choose Your Fabric
Marine PVC (850gsm) is fully waterproof and best for exposed moorings, trailering, and long lay-up periods. Acrylic canvas is breathable and best for covered moorings and regular-use boats. Read our full comparison.
Step 3: Bespoke or Universal?
Universal covers are sized to a range and rarely fit any individual boat well. Bespoke covers — cut from your existing cover as a pattern — fit perfectly, last longer, and protect better. The price difference is smaller than most people expect, particularly when you account for the superior lifespan of a properly fitting cover.
Step 4: The Postal Copy Service
Post your existing cover to us in Carterton, Oxfordshire. We pattern from it and return a new cover within six working days. No measurements, no site visits. This is the simplest way to get a perfectly fitting replacement. Read more or contact us for a quote. No VAT.
Ready to Order?
UK Boat Covers provides free quotes on all covers. To request yours, contact us with your boat's make, model, and the type of cover you need. If you have an existing cover to copy, use our postal copy service: remove your cover, post it to our Carterton, Oxfordshire workshop, and we'll return a new one in your chosen material within six working days. Your original is returned in the same parcel. No VAT is charged on any order.
We are a family-run business with over ten years of experience making bespoke covers for UK boat owners on rivers, canals, lakes, and coastal waters. All covers carry our guarantee of accurate fit and quality marine-grade workmanship. View our full price guide or browse covers for specific boat types at our boat types page.
