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Easy Cover™ Blog

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Made in Michigan: The Vision Marine Products Story

Sure, all states have lakes. But how many can claim shorelines with four of the five Great Lakes and over 11,000 inland lakes? Just one: Michigan. That’s why manufacturing boats, engines, trailers, and boat accessories in Michigan makes so much sense.

Where’s the proof? The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) ranked Michigan third in the country in boat sales in 2016. The state also had a 10.5 percent increase in boat, engine, trailers, and accessories since 2014. Those are stats that send a big message: The boat business is booming in Michigan.

Vision Marine Products visionary and Michigan native Bruce Jones understood this growing market and the distinct advantages Michigan offers for manufacturing products here. The more than 900,000 registered boats and nearly 1,500 marine businesses speak to the boating market being incredibly sustainable. Couple those facts with the number of lakes in Michigan and the innovation to think up a product that is virtually alone in its market and you just might have the recipe for success.

“Here at Vision Marine Products, llc. we are proud to manufacture our Easy Cover™ automatic pontoon cover in the state of Michigan,” said Jones. “As a manufacturer of pontoon boat accessories, we believe we are in the perfect location for our products. Our geographical location places us within a 100-mile radius of several of the largest pontoon manufacturers in the nation. Collectively, these manufacturers account for more than half the pontoon boats built in the U.S.”

Vision Marine Products seemed to have all its stars align when it came to competitive advantage in a local market. Jones, an engineer by trade, took his distaste of covering and uncovering his pontoon boat at his cottage and turned it into a sustainable and vertically integrated Michigan business with the invention of the Easy Cover™. The abundance of inland lakes coupled with the innovative design of the Easy Cover™ gave Vision Marine Products a unique advantage in the boat accessory market.

“Our location in Michigan also positions us in excellent proximity to a vast number of lakes that are the homes and cottages of ideal consumers of our product. Many of our lakes are located close enough to major metropolitan areas that the owners either live full-time at the lake and commute, or they are close enough to visit their cottages frequently,” said Jones. “These folks are at the lake often enough to realize that while they are ‘lake lovers,’ they are not ‘mooring cover lovers.’ We’re here to help them resolve the mooring cover hassle.”

The Easy Cover™ is a power pontoon boat cover that operates via a wireless key fob. It can go from fully covered to Bimini mode in the time it takes you to walk down to the lake. Jones designed, prototyped, manufactures, and markets the Easy Cover™ through his company, Vision Marine Products, LLC in the Devil’s Lake region of southeast Michigan. Seeing the obvious advantage of partnering with a local marina, Jones paired up with Mike and Pat Apling, owners of Devil’s Lake Water Sports. Jones and the Aplings are the business principals of Vision Marine Products.

In addition to the geographic and market benefits to starting a pontoon accessory manufacturing business in Michigan, Vision Marine Products has received marketing assistance from the state of Michigan through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and from Lenawee County through Lenawee Now, the County’s economic development organization. Vision Marine Products has also received significant assistance from South Central Michigan Works!, a workforce development system, to find and train their workforce.

“All in all, our location in Michigan is made to order for a business like ours,” said Jones.

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Protecting Your Investment with the Easy Cover™

When you decide to make a big-ticket purchase like a new boat, a lot of time and effort goes into researching the style, options, or engine size. Chances are, you’ll read reviews and ask for recommendations from other boat owners. You’ll consider whether you want a boat for fishing, water sports, or just leisurely rides around the lake. Other factors like safety, maintenance, and the life of the boat will also come into play.

Versatility is a big reason why many who are in the market for a new boat choose to go with a pontoon and it’s likely why pontoon sales continue to increase. Pontoons are stable, family-friendly vessels with longevity. Protecting your investment and getting maximum use from your boat were key factors when Vision Marine Products introduced the Easy Cover™ power pontoon boat cover in 2016. Since then, Easy Cover™ owners have been enjoying the convenience and protection it provides.

Joel and Lynn Bender of Vineyard Lake, in the Brooklyn, Michigan region have had their Easy Cover™ for one season and are thrilled with the increased amount of time they have used their pontoon this summer.

“What makes the Easy Cover™ so amazing is its convenience,” said Joel. “We probably use our pontoon boat three or four times more than we have in past years. And it’s simply because of the convenience of use. We can put it up and down in a matter of minutes, and there are no snaps! That is remarkable in and of itself.”

Once you have an Easy Cover™ installed onto your pontoon, you will want to take precautions to keep the power cover in proper working order and to clean and maintain it as you would with any other boating accessory.

Best Practices for Protecting for Your Easy Cover

Vision Marine Products, the manufacturers of the Easy Cover™, have developed some best practices to be followed to ensure its users get many years of enjoyment out of it.

  • When towing the pontoon on the road, the Easy Cover™ MUST be in the Cover position and the four tow straps MUST be installed and securely attached. Place two tow straps in the front of the boat and two in the back.
  • While your pontoon is docked and inclement weather is expected, place the four tow straps on the boat as you would if you were trailering it. The straps will protect the Easy Cover from wind up to 75 MPH.

When combined boat and wind speeds exceed 15 miles per hour protect your Easy Cover™ in each operating position as follows:

  • Single Bimini: Attach two tow straps, one for each side, to the loops in the Front Top of the cover and through the loops on the fence rails.
  • Double Bimini: Attach and pin the two double Bimini supports to the fence and the arms of the Easy Cover™. If the boat is equipped with Double Bimini position Loops in the Fence, also attach two tow straps, one for each side, to the loops in the Front Top of the cover and through the loops in the fence.
  • Bridge: Do not operate the boat in the Bridge position when combined boat and wind speeds exceed 15 MPH.
  • Keep the key fobs in a dry place.
  • Take a picture of the “Easy Cover™ Alarm Codes” document with your phone so you have a reference in the event of a problem.

Cleaning The Easy Cover Cover –

To clean the Easy Cover™, Safety Components, the manufacturer of WeatherMAX” recommends the following:

“WeatherMAX Fabrics may be spot washed by using a soapy solution of a mild detergent and lukewarm water. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove soap and allow to air dry. For mildew stains, prepare a solution of one (1) cup of bleach plus (1/2) cup of mild detergent per gallon of water. Spray on the entire area and allow soaking. Rinse with clean water and allow to air dry.

  • Be sure to fully rinse the bleach off of the fabric

  • Protect non-WeatherMAX areas such as sewing thread and reinforcements so the bleach does not come in contact as it may be deteriorate non-WeatherMAX components.

  • After cleaning, check the water repellency of the fabric to see if retreatment might be required.

Removing Oil

Oil can be effectively removed with an aerosol spot remover. We have found that Pull Out 2 by American Niagara works very well although there are other products available.

Retreating WeatherMAX

There are several well designed and effective aftermarket water repellent treatments available that work well with WeatherMAX. Follow the directions of the manufacturer.

  • Starbrite Waterproofing with PTFE
  • Formula 303 Fabric Guard
  • Rust-Oleum NeverWet Outdoor Fabric Spray
  • Marlen Aqua-tite • Kiwi Heavy Duty Water RepellentCover™ canvas.

Following Vision Marine Products’ best practices will ensure your Easy Cover™ will be kept in the best working order possible.

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Easy Steps to Winterize Your Pontoon

The evenings and mornings start to feel a bit cooler. Here and there, the leaves are fading from summer green to autumn oranges and reds. The sun begins to set just a little bit earlier. And while there are still plenty of days to take your pontoon out for a ride, eventually, the time comes to start thinking about winterizing and storing your boat.

While no one is ready for the boating season to end, here in Michigan, fall generally comes on pretty quickly. Of course, you will squeeze in as many cruises around the lake as possible, but then it’s time to change gears and get your boat out of the water.

There are many options for storing your boat in the wintertime and a lot of different variables to consider. Indoor storage has some great advantages. A lot of storage facilities are climate controlled so there is no need to do a full winterization of the boat. Additionally, keeping your boat completely out of the snow, sleet, and ice will keep it in the best condition possible. As dry-docking a boat in a climate controlled facility is going to be pricey, you may want to weigh your options.

Alternatively, storing your boat outdoors will have its pros and cons too. Opting for an outdoor storage yard is going to lower your costs for storing your boat for the winter. And storing your vessel outdoors on your own property is going to cost you even less. There is, however, more work to be done to protect your boat if you plan to store it outdoors. A full winterization of the boat will be necessary to prevent freezing and damage from sub-zero temperatures.

If you do decide to store your Easy Cover™-equipped pontoon outdoors during the winter months, Vision Marine Products recommends shrink wrapping your boat to provide maximum protection. But, to ensure that you prevent damage to the Easy Cover mechanism and/or parts, you’ll need to remove the Cover.

Removing The Cover

Step One

We recommend that the Cover be cleaned prior to storage (see the “Cleaning The Easy Cover Cover” page). Whether the Cover is cleaned or not, the Cover must be dry prior to storage.

Step Two

Disconnect the shock cords/bungees. To do this, use your Easy Cover™ key fob to lower the Top to a position where you can comfortably reach the spring cage connectors that are attached to the eyelets on the cover. As you detach each shock cord, tie it into a loose knot over the last Bow that the cord passes over on the Front Top. After you have disconnected the shock cords, lower the Easy Cover™ to the Cover position for storage. That way, when it’s time to get the boat out in the spring, all you will need to do is reconnect the shock cords to the eyelets and you will be ready to ride. If you do not remove the shock cords and they are left under tension throughout the winter, they will more than likely need to be replaced.

Step Three

Unzip the Sling and the Bow Pocket Zippers that are located on the underside of the Cover toward the center of the Boat. Unsnap all of the Snaps around the perimeter of the Cover.

Step Four

Move the Top to the Cover position (or any position you find comfortable to work) using your Easy Cover™ key fob. Starting at the Front of Boat, roll the Cover over each of the Bows working toward the back of the boat until you reach the Anchor Light. Detach the sides of the Velcro attached Water Management Flap which will allow the Cover to be slipped over the Anchor Light. Fold the Cover to a manageable size and place it in a dry place for storage.

After the Cover is removed, the shrink wrap structure of uprights can be installed and the boat can be shrink wrapped like any other pontoon. Just be careful not to apply to much heat to the shrink wrap near the composite mechanism Covers on the sides of the pontoon boat to avoid damage to the paint.

Finally, make sure to store the wireless key fobs in a warm, dry place.

By taking these precautions your pontoon will be protected throughout the winter months and the Easy Cover™ will be safely stored until spring rolls around again.

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Today’s Boating Trends

As technology continues to revolutionize nearly every market in the world, the boating industry is no different. Not unlike other industries, boats are now capable of incorporating flashy, high-tech accessories. These new tech gadgets are displayed at boat shows and in industry magazines, capturing the attention of and creating demand among boaters to have the next big thing in boating.

Economic conditions have continued to improve over the last few years and the market for a leisure industry like recreational boats has grown more favorable. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the improved housing market, higher employment rates, strong consumer confidence, and increased disposable income have contributed to not only more unit sales: dollar sales are on the rise as well.

Millennials are playing a big role in the growing boat industry and influencing the types of watercraft that are selling. Smaller, more versatile boats are what the next generation of boaters are looking for. These “crossover” boats are more affordable and can be used for just about any water activity or sport. It’s millennials too, that want to trick out their boats with the latest tech products. Here’s a look at some of the new techie accessories and other trends in recreational boating.

Intuitive Marine Technology

Boat accessory manufacturers are upping the ante when it comes to technology. One example the direction high-tech is going in the boating world is with intuitive technology. Joystick control is the next big thing in intuitive marine technology. It can be either an upgrade to a new outboard motor, such as the iDock system available for the Evinrude E-TEC G2 150 to 300 HP outboard motors, or retrofitted to older model outboard and inboard engines.

Crossover Boats

Another direction boating technology is seemingly headed is toward the crossover boat industry. With more and more millennials earning degrees and moving into professional careers with some disposable income, this group wants a boat that is best for ALL the activities they want to use if for. From wakeboarding and water skiing to fishing and just all around pleasure-cruising, crossover boats are designed to be more affordable and versatile for the next generation of boaters.

Power Boat Covers

New technology has proven to be instrumental in taking traditional products and services and making them faster and more efficient. This is the case with the wireless, automatic power boat covers which have grown in popularity over the last several years. The Easy Cover™ is the premier power pontoon boat cover available. The Easy Cover™ uses a wireless key fob to move to and from each of its four positions in just 45 seconds. The ease of the Easy Cover™ enables its users to spend more time on the water while still protecting their investment.

Wake Control Ballast System

Wakeboarders have been using ballast systems for years. Today’s technology gives wakeboarders and skiers the ability to control the ballast weight to get just the wave shape they’re looking for. Ballast weight and wave shape can be controlled from the digital dash display or from a wrist band worn by the rider.

Smart Boat Technology

Many new boats being sold today are fitted with integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technologies. If you’re looking for high-tech marine audio sound for your existing boat, these features are also available from aftermarket manufacturers.

As technology continues to get bigger and better the boating industry will keep coming up with new products that are in line with the rest of the tech world. Which new accessory does your boat need?

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It’s Easier Than Ever!

Pontoon and Deck Boat Magazine released an article this year explaining why the Easy Cover is perfect for boaters everywhere.

“So you have a pontoon! The greatest thing about it? Taking it out for a ride, obviously. The worst thing? Before you can even leave the dock, you have to unsnap the millions of snaps around the cover, find a storage spot for the tent poles and then wrestle with the cover. Oh, and after the ride you have to do it all over again.”

Read the article here.