I build one similar to rellis1962's, but more like another picture that I saw on a thread here...may have been bobberboy's but not sure. It's nothing more than 3' of pvc in a 1' section of 4" x 4". At the top of the pvc is a "T" to run the rope through from bow to stern. The rope's nothing more than something to hold up the tarp so it angles downward shedding all the water.
I'll dig for some pics or just take a new one.
My biggest complaint is that I'd like something that looks cleaner than a tarp, but $10-15 twice a year for tarps at Harbor Freight (and that's the HD silver tarps! The AZ sun eats that plastic for breakfast.) beats the pants off a form-fitting $150 cover any day. What really sucks is that the 11'4" tarp is a little small for my 12' boat, and the 15' x 19' is too wide and has to have an accordion fold in the middle...makes for yuck with rain and tree leaves. Guess there's no glory in being cheap. :roll:
I told the wife I'd by a nice one eventually, after a canopy, new seats, probably some rod or reel (or two) that I'll want when the time comes...you know how this boat stuff/fishing gear works. :wink: