Is a Dinghy Cover Worth it ?

[S/V Alchemy]

I had a PVC Zodiac Cadet C310 RIB with a cover, but it went black and gooey in spite of my disciplined covering. So I cut the tubes off and will rebuild it in Hypalon, because PVC is for chumps as far as I'm concerned. If it went rotten at 43 N, I can't imagine it would last two seasons in the Caribbean.

[Chkm8]

Use real light or white material for chaps and good old $2.99 space blanket for liner inside chaps stays cool and lasts till you wear out the material and no hot tubes to sit on ... Cheers Paul

[jeremiason]

My wife made our dinghy chaps for our Hypolon dinghy about 12 months ago. They are made from Sunbrella and are holding up well.

They really made a difference in the Sea of Cortez... No hot tubes to sit on.

Also judging from the black scuff marks that occasionally pop up on the chaps, they do provide protection against docks, rocks, davits and other things bouncing against your tubes.

In Mexico, other cruisers were paying locals from $350 to $500 for Sunbrella Dinghy Chaps.

In my opinion, a small price to pay to protect your investment.

Tom