Automatic Pontoon Cover

Happy Gourmand · 01-13-2015, 02:41 PM

http://www.automaticpontooncover.com/

Has anybody ever seen anything like this? I asked about a dealer in the NH area and this is what I got back.

"Thanks for your interest in a Liberator,

At this time we are slowly transitioning away from custom boats and only handling new boats for dealers.

If you have interest in potentially purchasing a new boat with a Liberator attached I could put you in touch with one of our local dealers that has the shipping capabilities for a location such as New Hampshire."

AC2717 · 01-13-2015, 03:15 PM

something definitely worth looking into, tracking down
takes away a lot of canvas storage, putting the bimini top up and down, mooring cover taking on and off,

this looks like a awesome product and is definitely going to change the industry

AmericanBoatClub · 01-13-2015, 04:00 PM

That looks like a great product. We will definitely ask about this for the next pontoon.
My only comment would be they really need to work on the mechanism enclosure, get it on the inside of the rail. I know that would get hit in our club.It also seems strange to have what seems like a pretty complicated mechanism for such a simple movement, and have it still appear to have bungy cords to tension the Bimini. I guess that is more than one comment

I also wonder how hard it is to have it totally go down.

Other than it seems like it would make taking a quick trip on the lake a lot less of a hassle, great idea.

Happy Gourmand · 01-13-2015, 04:51 PM

Kurt, if I read and understand his response, you would have to buy the boat from a dealer in his vicinity and they would ship it here. Not sure how they could put the mechanism inside the rails

AmericanBoatClub · 01-13-2015, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

Kurt, if I read and understand his response, you would have to buy the boat from a dealer in his vicinity and they would ship it here. Not sure how they could put the mechanism inside the rails

O I read it like, they only work with dealers and have dealers they are already working with, and will be expanding. I guess I assumed the expansion part, I guess that is just how I think.

dave603 · 01-14-2015, 07:21 AM

Good idea, but it sort of looks like the rain would be just blown under it?

pjard · 01-14-2015, 07:51 AM

Very interesting but what do you on those days when you don't want any shade? This doesn't seem stowable.

SAMIAM · 01-14-2015, 07:55 AM

Pretty cool.....would save you 3K or so,instead of installing a boat lift cover

upthesaukee · 01-14-2015, 09:37 AM

I'd like a dollar for every time I have been putting up my full camper canvas and seen someone nearby doing the same thing, and either they or I would say "too bad we can't just push a button and have the canvas go up by itself.". Won't work on my bowrider, but maybe there is hope

.

Greene's Basin Girl · 01-14-2015, 01:17 PM

We had custom individual seat covers made for our pontoon boat by Ship Shape Marine Works in Gilford. They did a wonderful job and are great people. They even came to Moultonborough where our boat was stored and measured our boat since we do not have a trailer. Of course we did not order our pontoon boat with a carpet. We knew that was the way to go. The floor is very simple to clean so the entire boat does not need to be covered. We keep our boat at our house so we are leaving it at a marina.

ishoot308 · 01-14-2015, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

We had custom individual seat covers made for our pontoon boat by Ship Shape Marine Works in Gilford. They did a wonderful job and are great people. They even came to Moultonborough where our boat was stored and measured our boat since we do not have a trailer. Of course we did not order our pontoon boat with a carpet. We knew that was the way to go. The floor is very simple to clean so the entire boat does not need to be covered. We keep our boat at our house so we are leaving it at a marina.

Same here,... full seat and helm covers from the factory and non carpeted floor. The only time we take the seat covers off is when someone is using the seat. This also saves the seats from being beat up by the sun. The only time the mooring cover goes on is over the winter when stored.

Dan

trfour · 01-14-2015, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upthesaukee

I'd like a dollar for every time I have been putting up my full camper canvas and seen someone nearby doing the same thing, and either they or I would say "too bad we can't just push a button and have the canvas go up by itself.". Won't work on my bowrider, but maybe there is hope

.

If you didn't have something to keep you slim-and-Trim Dave, you'd have to get a bigger boat to carry all O that extra weight!..

Terry
_________________________________

Happy Gourmand · 01-14-2015, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Same here,... full seat and helm covers from the factory and non carpeted floor. The only time we take the seat covers off is when someone is using the seat. This also saves the seats from being beat up by the sun. The only time the mooring cover goes on is over the winter when stored.

Dan

Ya, I wouldn't order one with carpet again either. How do you keep rain/water out of your in floor locker? (assuming you have that option.)

ishoot308 · 01-14-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

Ya, I wouldn't order one with carpet again either. How do you keep rain/water out of your in floor locker? (assuming you have that option.)

It's self draining so water goes right out. Only items that can get wet are stored there like anchor and rope, etc, etc.

Happy Gourmand · 01-14-2015, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

It's self draining so water goes right out. Only items that can get wet are stored there like anchor and rope, etc, etc.

Drains into the middle pontoon, right? I think that's where in goes on my Premier.

ishoot308 · 01-14-2015, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

Drains into the middle pontoon, right? I think that's where in goes on my Premier.

The storage area in your middle pontoon on your Premier has a baffled drain area in the rear. Any water that gets in simply goes out this rear drain hole. It does not drain "into" the pontoon. You should check it occasionally to ensure drain is not blocked by leaves, pine needles and other similar debris.

Dan

Merrymeeting · 01-14-2015, 06:35 PM

I hope their device works better than their website

codeman671 · 01-15-2015, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

Drains into the middle pontoon, right? I think that's where in goes on my Premier.

If it drained into your pontoon you would be in tough shape...They always drain overboard.

Happy Gourmand · 01-15-2015, 09:44 AM

HMMM.. I had some water in my middle pontoon when it was winterized. I'll have to have it checked out in the spring.

ishoot308 · 01-15-2015, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Gourmand

HMMM.. I had some water in my middle pontoon when it was winterized. I'll have to have it checked out in the spring.

A small (less than a cup) is normal as condensation occurs over the summer months. Hopefully you drained it all out as any water left in will freeze and pop open welds.

Dan

Happy Gourmand · 01-15-2015, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

A small (less than a cup) is normal as condensation occurs over the summer months. Hopefully you drained it all out as any water left in will freeze and pop open welds.

Dan

Yes, drained and the plugs are out. (Hoping I don't have that "OH CHIT" moment when I relaunch)
A friend with a similar Premier also had some water in his middle pontoon. They found that the seal around the in floor locker was leaking somehow when water splashed up while underway. Not sure how this can happen as the bottom is all aluminum.
I'll have that checked when it's prepared for re launch.

01-13-2015, 02:41 PM	#1
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,025 Thanks: 187 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	Automatic Pontoon Cover http://www.automaticpontooncover.com/ Has anybody ever seen anything like this? I asked about a dealer in the NH area and this is what I got back. "Thanks for your interest in a Liberator, At this time we are slowly transitioning away from custom boats and only handling new boats for dealers. If you have interest in potentially purchasing a new boat with a Liberator attached I could put you in touch with one of our local dealers that has the shipping capabilities for a location such as New Hampshire."

01-13-2015, 03:15 PM	#2
AC2717 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Maynard, MA & Paugus Bay Posts: 2,521 Thanks: 747 Thanked 344 Times in 257 Posts	something definitely worth looking into, tracking down takes away a lot of canvas storage, putting the bimini top up and down, mooring cover taking on and off, this looks like a awesome product and is definitely going to change the industry __________________ Capt. of the "No Worries"

01-13-2015, 04:00 PM	#3
AmericanBoatClub Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Laconia Wiers Beach Posts: 76 Thanks: 21 Thanked 28 Times in 16 Posts	That looks like a great product. We will definitely ask about this for the next pontoon. My only comment would be they really need to work on the mechanism enclosure, get it on the inside of the rail. I know that would get hit in our club.It also seems strange to have what seems like a pretty complicated mechanism for such a simple movement, and have it still appear to have bungy cords to tension the Bimini. I guess that is more than one comment I also wonder how hard it is to have it totally go down. Other than it seems like it would make taking a quick trip on the lake a lot less of a hassle, great idea. __________________ https://www.akwamarina.com/american-boat-club

01-14-2015, 09:37 AM	#9
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,397 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	An answer to prayers... I'd like a dollar for every time I have been putting up my full camper canvas and seen someone nearby doing the same thing, and either they or I would say "too bad we can't just push a button and have the canvas go up by itself.". Won't work on my bowrider, but maybe there is hope . __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

01-13-2015, 04:51 PM	#4
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,025 Thanks: 187 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	Kurt, if I read and understand his response, you would have to buy the boat from a dealer in his vicinity and they would ship it here. Not sure how they could put the mechanism inside the rails

01-14-2015, 07:21 AM	#6
dave603 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Nashua/Winnisquam Posts: 282 Thanks: 106 Thanked 96 Times in 49 Posts	Good idea, but it sort of looks like the rain would be just blown under it?

01-14-2015, 07:51 AM	#7
pjard Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 626 Thanks: 453 Thanked 184 Times in 97 Posts	Very interesting but what do you on those days when you don't want any shade? This doesn't seem stowable.

01-14-2015, 07:55 AM	#8
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,836 Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts	Pretty cool.....would save you 3K or so,instead of installing a boat lift cover

01-14-2015, 01:17 PM	#10
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	We had custom individual seat covers made for our pontoon boat by Ship Shape Marine Works in Gilford. They did a wonderful job and are great people. They even came to Moultonborough where our boat was stored and measured our boat since we do not have a trailer. Of course we did not order our pontoon boat with a carpet. We knew that was the way to go. The floor is very simple to clean so the entire boat does not need to be covered. We keep our boat at our house so we are leaving it at a marina.

01-14-2015, 06:35 PM	#17
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,217 Thanks: 299 Thanked 795 Times in 365 Posts	I hope their device works better than their website

01-15-2015, 09:44 AM	#19
Happy Gourmand Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ruskin FL Posts: 1,025 Thanks: 187 Thanked 322 Times in 179 Posts	HMMM.. I had some water in my middle pontoon when it was winterized. I'll have to have it checked out in the spring.