Does anyone have any ideas for keeping the boat tarp from sagging and filling up with rain water. I have an aluminum boat and have contemplated making or trying to find something that is bowed that I can stick in the groves on each side of the boat running from one side to the other in a concave shape that will keep the tarp up. I was thinking maybe put 5 or so going down the boat, but couldn't come up with a good material or the easiest way to do this.

Any ideas or better designs?

Take some 1-1/2" PVC and some PVC 'T's" make a long run with 4 legs...then stretch tarp over it....

hula hoops cut in half. Just kidding.

I have a custom cover and it came with two rods that snap onto the underside of the cover. One goes on the front deck just behind the hole for the seat pedestal and the other goes on the back deck just in front of the pedestal hole. Once strapped down securely, water runs right off the cover. You might try something like that with a couple two by fours.

I use 1/2" PVC plastic pipe and a couple of "Tee's" then add extentions in to the tee to make a base. It turns into a wide "H" pattern. Cheep. Also you can use beach balls. Blow them up and put them inside the boat on top of the seats. Install tarp over...... ta-da. instant tent.

+1 That's what I do too.

I dropped a couple of 5 gallon buckets upside down on my floor and set a boat cushion on top of them. My cover is tight and it seemed to do the trick.

I left my butt seat in up front on the short pole and left my back seat in with out a pole then ran a rope over the seats from my troling motor to the eyelets on the back of the boat.

I tried the PVC route and after a little time, the heat under the cover warps it really bad and makes it about useless. Now I just leave my fishing seats mounted, pull the tarp tight and have no problems

lawn chairs work too.

Wish we had that problem here! Normally a rope ran tight down the middle with support toward the center works.

I put a tube in the floor of my boat on its side. It sticks up about 6" above the windshield and makes the tarp tight.

Move to Graham and you won't have to worry about it...It never rains

Johnny

I followed nascardriver's plan and it worked really good. Thanks for everybody's input.

I made up two stands from 1"x4" boards cut to length to clear you equipment in boat then attached a piece of EMT to one end and cut a vee in the other end, the EMT fits into the seat pedestal sockets. I then place a section of top rail for chain link fence that is slightly longer than the boat and motor into the groove at top of stand. Throw tarp over top and secure sides to the trailer with some bungies or just use trotline chord and you're good to go. b