Made to Measure Cratch Covers in Chester

Covers for Unusual and Vintage Boats in Chester

The River Dee and Shropshire Union Canal near Chester are home to a number of older and individually built boats for which standard off-the-shelf covers simply don't exist. Our postal copy service is particularly well suited to these boats: we work from your existing cover as a cutting pattern, so the profile of a 1970s river cruiser or a one-off wooden launch is replicated just as accurately as a modern production boat.

We've made cratch covers for vintage river cruisers, wooden launches, and custom-built narrowboats from across North West. As long as your existing cover is broadly intact — even if worn or patched — we can use it as a template. If the original cover is too damaged to use, we can also work from a paper tracing or a careful measurement sheet. Contact Ryan to discuss your specific boat before posting.

Marine Fabrics & Materials

Cratch covers are exposed to the elements year-round at the bow of the boat. We use heavy-duty marine PVC or breathable acrylic canvas with welded or sewn window panels, UV-resistant thread, and heavy-duty YKK zips. All materials are chosen to handle both the wet of canal spray and the internal condensation that builds up in a lived-in cratch. We can add ventilation panels on request.

For Chester boats mooring year-round on the River Dee, the choice between PVC and acrylic usually comes down to whether breathability (acrylic) or maximum waterproofing (PVC) is the priority — Ryan is happy to advise based on your specific mooring and how frequently you use the boat.

Read more about our fabric and materials choices, including which options work best for river conditions like those on the River Dee near Chester.

How to Order Cratch Covers from Chester

Our postal copy service means Chester boat owners don't need to visit our workshop in person. Here is how it works:

1. Step 1 — Post your cover: Post your existing cratch cover to our Carterton, Oxfordshire workshop. We use it as an exact template — no measuring from your boat is needed.
2. Step 2 — We make your cover: We build a bespoke copy using your old cover as a precise pattern, replacing any worn windows, broken zips, or failed fixings. You can request fabric colour changes at this stage.
3. Step 3 — Receive your cover: Your new cratch cover is dispatched by tracked courier within 6 working days, ready to fit back onto your cratch frame without any modifications.

Learn more about the postal copy service

Cratch Covers Prices for Chester Boat Owners

Cratch covers start from £329 — no VAT charged. The price depends on the size of the cratch frame, the number of windows and ventilation panels, and whether you need a door section. We can also repair existing cratch covers — window replacements start from £89 and zip repairs from £49. All new covers include UK-wide tracked delivery.

For Chester boat owners mooring on the River Dee, our no-VAT pricing represents a saving of at least £66 on a starting-price cratch cover compared to a VAT-registered supplier — and often considerably more on larger or more complex covers.

View the full price list or contact Ryan for a personalised quote for your River Dee boat — most quotes are turned around within one working day.

Frequently Asked Questions