Anyone using a canvas tarp, or regular tarp to keep the sun and rain off of their boat that sits outside? Mainly want it to cover the bow and sides. Been kicking around the idea, instead of giving my left nut for a custom cover that will cover the entire boat including sides.

Looks like a full semi custom cover for your boat is anywhere from $333 to $500. Personally, I would opt for the $333 one. The only real downside of using a regular tarp is that it doesnt breath and therefore you can end up with mold growing in the boat which you need to cleanup. Furthermore, they are a pain to put on and tiedown to the trailer after every use. Its better than nothing but IMO I would pay the $333 for a semi custom cover and it even comes with a 3 yr warranty.
http://www.boatcovers.com/product_in...roducts_id=411

I should explain a little better, I have the boat on a lift on a lake at all times. Not looking for the tarp to be the cover I have a road cover and also a cockpit cover. I was looking at just using the tarp as more of a canopy, when the the boats on the lift to keep rain and sun off of the fiberglass, so it won't haze up as bad or get so dirty. Was looking for something that I can put over the boat and will cover the entire top deck and also when I strap it down to the lift or dock, it will cover the sides to protect the color graphics from the sun. The semi custom cover and all the covers I find only go right past the rub rail and would work find for the top deck but I am wanting something to cover the sides all the way down to the running surface.

I have called some people, and for what I am wanting they are wanting around $1500. Just looking for something to drape over it and try to keep it clean and shiny.

with a regular tarp not breathing I had the concern of it growing crap, thats why I was opting to a canvas one, figured it would breathe enough with it not wrapped right around the bottom of the boat so the air could move thru it.

Ive never seen anyone put a tarp on a moored boat. That is going to be a REAL PAIN to put on and secure EVERYTIME and you better hope for limited wind (HA!!) because tarps will rip if wind gets underneath them.
IMO thats the price you pay for mooring a boat. They will get dirty, they will get some sun fading/oxidation. A full cover will help alot but at the end of the day I think you will have to do some maintenance (ie rubbing compound or an oxidation remover/wax on your gel coat at the end of the season to eliminate any fading or oxidation).

Your other choice of course is to not moor the boat which is what most guys choose to do if the boat is in mint condition.

FYI boat covers state they will make you a custom cover for $400-$700. Im not sure how custom but you might want to call them and inquire about a cover that covers the sides.

http://www.boatcovers.com/Baja_30_Ou...roducts_id=842

Shouldn't be to hard to put on, I have fingers on each side of my boat that are 36 ft long and have about a 2 ft clearance on each side from dock to boat. Just slide the boat in the slip, throw the canvas tarp over it, hit the lift switch and once up out of the water, strap the canvas tarp to the rails on the lift. Seems like alot but not much at all really. Yes you are right, will still need maintenance, but very little compared to being out all the time, and stays looking good thru the summer.

I'd spend the money on a nice cover. I don't see a tarp working well. sounds like a total PIA. won't breathe, wont stand up to rough weather, will be a pain to manage. A nice cover fits well, and stays put, and breathes. It would be nice to save the money, but a cheap fix is just a cheap fix.