Shelter Design Guide
Find the right shelter for you.
Overview:
Single sided shelters are ideal for channels with wharfs, or when you only need single-sided coverage off a perpendicular pier. The double sided canopies provide coverage for watercraft on both sides of the pier, as well as shading over the pier itself. Double-sided systems are more cost effective when covering multiple watercraft. Double-sided systems also turn your entire pier into a “boat house” under a single large shelter providing more protection for you, your watercraft, and your pier.
Orientation:
Take sun angles into consideration when positioning your dock and shelter. For most northern US locations, the sun penetrates on the south side, while casting a shadow to the north, providing more extended shade out farther from the pier. For optimum sun and rain protection, position the higher watercraft (pontoons, deck/ski/fishing boats) on the south side or west side of the pier, and the lower watercraft (wave-runners, kayaks, paddle boats) on the north or east side.
Single or Double?
Look through our different shelter types, and select the shelter that’s best for you. If you’re looking to cover both a pontoon boat and a fishing boat you might be interested in a double-sided shelter (Dual, Wing, and Mega-Ports.) For one boat you may desire a single-sided shelter (Mono, Hemi, and Ramp-Ports.) If you’re planning on adding watercraft to your dock, or for visiting neighbors, consider going with a double-sided shelter. It will be filled before your know it.
Make your way to a product page and build your shelter. Don’t worry if it’s incomplete or inaccurate; after your selection and Design Deposit, we’ll help layout and confirm the perfect canopy. We’ll provide you with coupons for any applicable discounts before your final order. You can change your mind anytime until your order is finalized, and your deposit will be immediately refunded.
Step 1. Length.
Your length is usually determined by your longest boat. If you’d like to cover a 21′ pontoon, you may go with an 18′ canopy if your seating area leaves room at the bow and stern, or you may want a 24′ if the sun hits at low angles, or your winds bring driving rains. 21′ might be just right.
Step 2. Pick your color.
Our most popular colors, Forest Green, Royal Blue, and Charcoal are our standards. We make most of our tops in these colors to better control inventory. Green flows nicely with the water and trees, and is a popular choice among those who wish their canopy to “melt away” visually. Blue is bright and nautical, and matches many boats and accessories. Charcoal blends well with many piers and lake homes. The Level 2 upgrades ($300) shown below are our next most popular, and can be made more quickly from material we stock. Level 3 colors ($500) are custom and require our purchasing full rolls of material to fabricate. Shelter Colors
Forest Green
Royal Blue
Charcoal
Tan
Navy Blue
Red
Some customers like to match the canopy color to the upholstery of their boat, or to the house colors when seen from the water. Some are restricted in their choice by local homeowner’s regulations or zoning codes. To date we haven’t made an extreme color like white or black, and rarely see light colors, as they show more dirt. Note that the only color that may experience fading with time is red. The pigments used to make red simply are the least resistant to fading. With time, expect to see more of a “salmon” or “pink” hue to it.
Keep in mind that the colors on our website will appear differently on each of your screens. And even actual fabric from samples may arrive slightly different, as each roll we use may come from different lots or manufacturers and fluctuate. If an exact color match is critical, please let us know after submitting the Design Deposit and we’ll figure it out together.
Step 3. Side door(s) (for Mono-Ports and Slip-Ports only).
All of our boat shelters come with front and rear door flaps for wind protection and easy access. If you board your boat from the side, we offer optional door kits for any of the 3′ bays (except the first and last) on Mono-Ports and Slip-Ports. Don’t know your exact door boarding location? Don’t worry; the doors can usually be installed right on the pier, with your boat there for guidance.
Step 4. Tell us about your dock.
Understanding your dock is essential for us to help you select the correct brackets. Manufacturer, size, material? Floating or fixed? Seasonal or year round? Solid or shaky? Our lakebed anchors work wonders for shoring up an aging pier. In fact, if the pier lacks strength to attach our canopy, we can BYPASS the pier and mount directly into the lakebed. You can see all of our brackets under the Bracketing tab in the top menu, and can often tell us what type you might need. Don’t worry; we’ll confirm prior to completing your order and make sure the correct support system is included.
Step 5. Tell us about your lake.
The name of your lake helps us locate you. How deep is it at your shore, and how deep at the end of the pier? Muddy bottom or rocky? How much does the water level raise or lower on a daily/weekly/monthly/yearly basis? Include what information you can to insure you have the best product for your needs.
Step 6. Tell us your watercraft information.
If you can, provide the make, model, manufacturer, year, length and width of each watercraft you wish to cover. Is there a pulpit on the front and rear where the seating ends, that does not need covering? Any special features like ski towers we should accommodate?
Step 7. Installation option.
Our systems have been designed to install simply, with minimal tools. We like to think of ourselves as the IKEA of the waterfront; modular pieces that install easily from very clear visual instructions. And we’re always available to help, day or night. If you don’t have time or desire, no worries; we offer “white glove” installation straight from our factory or our dealer locations all around the US and Canada.