Customer on a Really Tight Budget

[jojo]

Hi guys, I need some opinions. I have a customer who needs both a cover and her seats done on a pontoon. She thinks she can only do one or the other, so she's thinking of getting the seats done and using giant tarps (the boat's at her house) to cover it for the winter. I don't predict this will be successful, as last winter we got tons of snow.
What is the absolute cheapest fabric on the market that would be appropriate for a cover? I'm going to really try to give her a good price on both because she's a super nice lady.
I know it doesn't make the best business sense to do people favors, but I'm making an exception just this once.
Thanks!

[Mike8560]

Is there nobody that doese shinkwrap there depending on boat silze maybe a few hundred dollars 

[Mike8560]

 don't know where your at but here some info
http://www.longlevelmarina.com/winter.htm

[BigJohn]

Shrink wrapping a pontoon here in Wisconsin goes for between $265 and $375 approx.. and inside storage costs about the same $13.50 a foot . This still doesn't do any good for the customer that wants a cover for protection during the boating season also.

[JuneC]

Do you have an account at TriVantage?  They occasionally do closeouts at $3 to $4 a yard for seconds.  Most Aqualon or Sunbrella seconds would work just fine for a cheap cover.  They may have weave errors (thick spots in the fiber) or color issues (off color spots).   But on a tight budget, so what...  Also, for you to produce, rather than fitted, you could make a less-fitted cover using sand-bags to hold the sides down since it's stored out of water. 

June

[Mike8560]

Shrink wrapping a pontoon here in Wisconsin goes for between $265 and $375 approx.. and inside storage costs about the same $13.50 a foot . This still doesn't do any good for the customer that wants a cover for protection during the boating season also.

Well they could do the upholstery store It  for the winter and save up for covers in the spring

[Peppy]

I always tell people with pontoon boats who want upholstery that they should trow out the rotten stuff and replace it with lawn furniture. Then you could build one seat with enough storage fit all the loose cushions you'd make for the furniture (or recover the big seat at the back.) No need for a tarp.

Nobody has ever gone for it.

[Mike8560]

Peppy alt had plywood deck and carpet I'd want to protect it from rot

[jojo]

Hahaha! Lawn furniture it is! Thanks Peppy.   :-\

[Mojo]

JoJo:

I hate even mentioning their name here but..... Rochford usually has close outs on cover fabric. I have picked it up in the past from them for 2 bucks a yard. I have some of it that has faded over time but is still holding up after a few years.

You might want to take a peek at their website and see if they have any on close out.

Chris

[jojo]

Thanks Chris, I forgot all about this; anyone ever try this Aqua-gun fabric? It's pretty cheap.

[BigJohn]

jojo:
     If you try that Aqua Gun fabric let me know what you think of it, I've been threatening to do a cover for my own pontoon and since it would be a first time thing I don't want to waste expensive fabric if I screw it up!

[Peppy]

Peppy alt had plywood deck and carpet I'd want to protect it from rot

So would I, but they let it rot once.... To buy a boat and not buy a cover is total silliness if you ask me. To spend any labour on cheap fabric is silly to me too. Not only do you waste the fabric, but also the time spent building the tarp.

Thanks Chris, I forgot all about this; anyone ever try this Aqua-gun fabric? It's pretty cheap.

Never heard of it. You pays your nickel, you takes your chances.

[Mike8560]

Just did about 3 cushions today for a toon. Dealer boat   
The other day I agree to do my neighbors toon  seas I xo t like to work for neighbors  but I agreed. Probly going to want a cover when I'm done.