| Boats and RV's are fun for summer use, but, | | | | the RV. A portable garage, on the other hand, |
| once the weather becomes cold, both need to be | | | | acts more like an RV carport, but the fabric of |
| stored for the next six or more months. While in | | | | either type of cover, regardless, must be |
| storage, however, a boat or an RV can be | | | | breathable and must protect against sunlight for |
| susceptible to mold, dry rot, and mildew, as well | | | | an RV to be protected. The benefit of using a |
| as sun exposure. What is the best way to | | | | portable garage for protection is that the RV can |
| protect your vehicle when not in use? A cover, | | | | be accessed during storage, in case repairs or any |
| whether a tarp or canopy, should be water | | | | other maintenance is needed. |
| resistant but breathable and UV treated. | | | | Although no portable garage or carport is |
| A canopy, or portable garage, can be an effective | | | | specifically designed for a boat or RV, like boat |
| way to cover a boat and protect it from weather | | | | tarps are, many carports and portable garages |
| damage. Until recently, outdoor storage canopies | | | | can fit a boat. Specifically for winter storage, a |
| were often crude structures made of metal poles | | | | garage with sidewall flaps will protect a boat best, |
| supporting a metal roof or a tarp. Outdoor | | | | as long as no moisture is inside the canopy. For an |
| storage buildings now involve a sturdy metal | | | | RV, the cover should be strong enough to hold |
| frame, often made from 100% steel, which | | | | snow and not tear or break. In windy areas, the |
| supports a polyethylene canopy or tarp to keep | | | | RV cover should also be anchored. But for all |
| out the sun and other elements. A boat cover or | | | | vehicles, the most efficient, all-purpose storage |
| canopy needs to, foremost, protect the boat | | | | unit has a peaked steel frame and a tarp or |
| from UV rays. UV rays can, specifically for a | | | | canopy stretched over two sides. Especially for |
| boat, damage on dull the gel coat finish on the | | | | winter, a plastic frame portable garage would not |
| fiberglass hull and breakdown plasticizers in the | | | | be sufficient enough protection for an entire |
| vinyl of the seats. Aside from UV rays, a boat | | | | season and could potentially break. |
| needs protection from rain, moisture buildup, dirt, | | | | Because no cover is one size fits all, the size of |
| and debris. | | | | the vehicle should be taken into account, as |
| Similarly, an RV needs to be protected from UV | | | | custom covers often fit better than universal. |
| rays, air pollutants, snow, dirt, and dust on the | | | | While a large boat could use a truck cover during |
| outside and from moisture buildup, mildew, and | | | | the winter, the RV's dimensions are not the only |
| dry-rot under the shelter. The typical cover, a | | | | factors to determine the size of the cover, |
| generic blue plastic tarp, however, is not | | | | however. Air conditioners on the roof, antennas, |
| breathable, and, although it may repel UV rays | | | | and other outside appendages should be taken |
| and water, it will keep moisture trapped inside, | | | | into account to find a proper-fitting cover. |
| which will lead to dry rot and mildew forming on | | | | |