Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Enhance the protection of your pontoon boat's helm station against the elements with this straightforward DIY cover! In this beginner-friendly video from Sailrite, you will learn how to pattern, cut, and sew a custom-fit cover utilizing durable marine-grade fabric and basic upholstery tools. This solution is ideal for boat owners seeking protective covers that can be swiftly deployed (less than a few minutes) and removed, in contrast to a traditional full boat cover, which typically requires 30 to 45 minutes for installation.
See other pontoon boat upholstery cover tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAbM539i4biUUWYgG_81u-7PkE1T93RNc&si=NFTKFl7P35RBiYRn
CHAPTER LIST:
Discussing Patterning and Taping - 0:36
Patterning - 3:32
Cutting Out Patterns - 12:29
Sewing Pleat - 17:24
Sewing Panels Together - 19:36
Sewing Webbing & Binding on Outside Edge - 25:03
Installing Snaps in Outside Edge - 29:22
Finishing Bottom Edge & Installing Snaps - 31:38
The helm station cover takes about 3 yards of 60-inch-wide fabric. We used Top Notch 7 fabric.
MATERIALS LIST:
Marine Grade Cover Fabric - We Used Top Notch 7® Charcoal - sailrite.com/shop/fabric/marine-fabric?facet_marine_uses=Boat+Covers&utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Filament Strapping Tape 3/4" (60 yds.) - SKU: 5643 - sailrite.com/3M-Filament-Strapping-Tape-3-4?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
SewReady™ Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (36 yds.) - SKU: 122064 - sailrite.com/Seamstick-3-8-Basting-Tape-for-Canvas-36-Yards?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material 74" - SKU: 103134 - sailrite.com/Dura-Skrim-2-Patterning-Material-74?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Tex 70 (V-69) Cadet Grey UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) - SKU: 106141 - sailrite.com/Thread-V-69-Cadet-Grey-Polyester-UV-4oz-1-350-Yds?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Bound™ Tex 90 Black UV Bonded Polyester Thread 1 oz. (275 yds.) - SKU: 126986 - sailrite.com/Bound-Tex-90-Black-UV-Bonded-Polyester-Thread-1-oz?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
TOOLS LIST:
Kai Stainless Steel Bent Handle 9" Scissors - SKU: 125661 - sailrite.com/Stainless-Steel-9-Bent-Handle-Scissors?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - SKU: 102400 - sailrite.com/Clear-Acrylic-Ruler-6-x-24?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set - SKU: 121669 - sailrite.com/Marking-Chalk-Cartridge-for-Fabrics?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sewing Gauge Ruler 6" - SKU: 102995 - sailrite.com/Sewing-Gauge-Ruler-6?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Glass Head Pins 1-7/8" (100 Pack) - SKU: 123125 - sailrite.com/Glass-Head-Pins-1-7-8-100-pack?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package - SKU: 122177 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Edge-Cordless-Hotknife-18V-Package?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Precision Cutting Blade & Foot for Edge Hotknife - SKU: 125495 - sailrite.com/Precision-Cutting-Blade-Foot-for-Hotknives?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) - SKU: 311602 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-LSZ-Walking-Foot-Sewing-Machine-110V?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table - SKU: 120934 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-Industrial-Sewing-Table?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Enhance the protection of your pontoon boat's helm station against the elements with this straightforward DIY cover! In this beginner-friendly video from Sailrite, you will learn how to pattern, cut, and sew a custom-fit cover utilizing durable marine-grade fabric and basic upholstery tools. This solution is ideal for boat owners seeking protective covers that can be swiftly deployed (less than a few minutes) and removed, in contrast to a traditional full boat cover, which typically requires 30 to 45 minutes for installation.
See other pontoon boat upholstery cover tutorials here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAbM539i4biUUWYgG_81u-7PkE1T93RNc&si=NFTKFl7P35RBiYRn
CHAPTER LIST:
Discussing Patterning and Taping - 0:36
Patterning - 3:32
Cutting Out Patterns - 12:29
Sewing Pleat - 17:24
Sewing Panels Together - 19:36
Sewing Webbing & Binding on Outside Edge - 25:03
Installing Snaps in Outside Edge - 29:22
Finishing Bottom Edge & Installing Snaps - 31:38
The helm station cover takes about 3 yards of 60-inch-wide fabric. We used Top Notch 7 fabric.
MATERIALS LIST:
Marine Grade Cover Fabric - We Used Top Notch 7® Charcoal - sailrite.com/shop/fabric/marine-fabric?facet_marine_uses=Boat+Covers&utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Filament Strapping Tape 3/4" (60 yds.) - SKU: 5643 - sailrite.com/3M-Filament-Strapping-Tape-3-4?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
SewReady™ Seamstick 3/8" Basting Tape for Canvas (36 yds.) - SKU: 122064 - sailrite.com/Seamstick-3-8-Basting-Tape-for-Canvas-36-Yards?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Dura-Skrim® Patterning Material 74" - SKU: 103134 - sailrite.com/Dura-Skrim-2-Patterning-Material-74?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Tex 70 (V-69) Cadet Grey UV Bonded Polyester Thread 4 oz. (1,350 yds.) - SKU: 106141 - sailrite.com/Thread-V-69-Cadet-Grey-Polyester-UV-4oz-1-350-Yds?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Bound™ Tex 90 Black UV Bonded Polyester Thread 1 oz. (275 yds.) - SKU: 126986 - sailrite.com/Bound-Tex-90-Black-UV-Bonded-Polyester-Thread-1-oz?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
TOOLS LIST:
Kai Stainless Steel Bent Handle 9" Scissors - SKU: 125661 - sailrite.com/Stainless-Steel-9-Bent-Handle-Scissors?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - SKU: 102400 - sailrite.com/Clear-Acrylic-Ruler-6-x-24?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set - SKU: 121669 - sailrite.com/Marking-Chalk-Cartridge-for-Fabrics?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sewing Gauge Ruler 6" - SKU: 102995 - sailrite.com/Sewing-Gauge-Ruler-6?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Glass Head Pins 1-7/8" (100 Pack) - SKU: 123125 - sailrite.com/Glass-Head-Pins-1-7-8-100-pack?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Edge Cordless Hotknife 18V Package - SKU: 122177 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Edge-Cordless-Hotknife-18V-Package?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Precision Cutting Blade & Foot for Edge Hotknife - SKU: 125495 - sailrite.com/Precision-Cutting-Blade-Foot-for-Hotknives?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® LSZ Walking Foot Sewing Machine (110V) - SKU: 311602 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-LSZ-Walking-Foot-Sewing-Machine-110V?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
Sailrite® Ultrafeed® Industrial Sewing Table - SKU: 120934 - sailrite.com/Sailrite-Ultrafeed-Industrial-Sewing-Table?utm_source=DIY&utm_medium=helm+cover
