Rankin Covers Group buy

wasabiskier wrote: Anybody interested in talking to Rankin about another round before spring?

Dont count on it happening- we were lucky to sneak the group buy in before the boat show season. Rankin told me they would be fairly busy completing orders for new boat dealers after the first of the year.

Your best bet would be to try and organize something for next fall when things slow down again.

I just got a call from pat at Rankin. He explained that this time of year his supplier always runs low on material due to inventory. He apologized for the delay. No big deal, I don't need it 'till spring anyway.

Thanks again Tim

Just a follow up to the Rankin cover post-

I was rearranging the garage the other day and took some time to play with the Rankin cover a bit. I think I figured out the rear strap ratchet system- from what I can tell it would seem that the webbing goes zig-zagging through two sets of D rings, essentially reducing the amount of force needed to get the drawstring nice and tight (like a block and tackle). I still can't figure out what to do with the D rings on the 5 top straps.

I'll also say that the cover has stretched out a bit and is looking and fitting better than ever. It looks like the boat is shrink-wrapped! What a great investment.

Randy- sorry I didnt see your post earlier. This will be the last chance to get this pricing on the Rankins. We timed this buy perfectly and snuck it in before their busy boat show season.

Shoot me an email if you want to get in.

Thanks!

Tate, Im not sure. I would think there is some serious work involved in making a good template- but it doesnt hurt to ask. Give Rankin a call and see what they say: (425) 483-9266.

To anyone who is interested: I will be submitting the last group of orders to Rankin on Monday morning, 12/11/06. If you would like to participate in this group buy, please make sure you get me your order form by this weekend at the latest!

Thank you!

More pics- this cover could not fit more perfectly.

OH, I couldn't be happier with the cover. It's excellent. I was trying to convey that the whole time. It's amazing. Did it sound negative? The D ring can be seen clearly on the one strap on the port side transom that is not connected to anything.

Hollywood wrote: But hey, flushed the DSL down the toilet and rockin' this new cable modem is giving me a semi.

LOL.

Maybe the drawstring goes through the D rings, but then you'd have the D rings rubbing the gel, which can't be good. I donno.

Edit- Any negativity in this post is purely a literary effect known as "sarcasm", due to the BAC of the reviewer and some specific requests for sarcasm my other CCFAN members. Bottom line is, this cover is amazing. Buy one.
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Ok, I'm not 6 deep, but I am on my way. Put it this way- it's 25 degrees right now, and I just spent the last 20 minutes fitting the boat cover on in the garage. I figure for an 800.00 (retail) cover, I had to see this thing on the boat, soon. I'm hoping this cover gets me 200 RPM more WOT and maybe 2-5MPH on the top end. My testing plan was as follows:

1. Put the cover on the boat

So, here we go:

Initial thoughts-
The cover comes in a nice Sunbrella tote bag with a drawstring, which I thought was a nice touch. Right upon opening the box and seeing this tote bag put me well on my way to feeling much less crazy for dropping this kind of money on a... boat cover. No, not a new Monza. Not a day long ski clinic with Parrish. Not a year of car insurance. Not approximately 53 cases of Miller Lite or 8 bottles of Dom. A boat cover. The cover is also marked on all the various cut sections with my name and boat year/model, so it's clear that these are made to order AND that they've sewn together a Malibu VLX cover with a SN cover at some point in the past- they obviously don't want to take any chances with pieces of fabric floating around the shop. Again, Kudos. Nice. We're obviously talking about a serious peice of merchandise here, and I haven't even put it on the boat yet.

The fitting-
I bundled up for the cold and threw the cover over the bow of the boat. After several sessions of pulling the cover over one side, then it falling in on the other side, walking over, doing the same, repeating, etc. I finally got it over the transom. Once I unrolled the rearmost portion of the cover, I discovered a myriad of straps. We're talking no less than 5 straps on the back, plus a drawstring, with another strap. Here's the bonus kicker- the drawstring does not need to be tied. Oh, no- when you drop the 800 on the cover (600 for us, but for the purposes of impact, I'm using the retail price throughout this post), you get a ratcheting strap for the drawstring, WITH a small padded pouch to hold the excess webbing. With a velcro flap. Now, I'll be honest here- I consider myself a fairly intelligent individual, but I have no idea where A) the two most outboard straps connect- the platform? B) what the metal "D" ring on all the straps is for, and C) How the ratcheting drawstring-strap contraption works. I'll note there is no instruction manual included. The back of this thing looks like some crazy S & M getup. If anyone knows how to actually put this cover on, hit me with some info.

The fit-

"Like a drum" is a pretty good description. "Like a glove" would also work but I suppose the boat with a cover on it is more drum-esque. These pics are WITHOUT 2 straps even connected, and the other straps/drawstring totally connected wrong. Observe:

M3Fan wrote: I suppose you mean I should kill a 6 pack, then type it up. No problem.

It should come out looking like something '79 typed up during one of his rants.

By 6 deep, I suppose you mean I should kill a 6 pack, then type it up. No problem.

Just got my cover today. I haven't mustered up enough boat-geek-ness to actually fit it on the boat in the freezing garage tonight, but I will this weekend. The cover looks pretty good sitting on the floor. Full report to follow shortly.

Tim,

Do you need a job as a salesman? That seems to be a pretty sweet discount you worked out. Good job.

I am late to the party on this one...has the group buy happened yet? If not, I am in for a cover for my '93 SN.