Large full-coverage tarpaulins and winter covers must withstand wind, abrasion and prolonged exposure to the elements. At the same time, they should be easy to manoeuvre and stow away during fitting and removal without requiring much effort. Ultracover marine has been developed specifically for this purpose. The fabric is sold exclusively to boat upholsterers and specialist firms.
For covers, not for soft tops
According to the supplier, the material can be used to manufacture full covers, winter and sun covers, mast covers and jib bags. According to the distributor, Ultracover is not currently used for sprayhoods. Ultracover Marine is only available in one weight class: 200 grams per square metre. The material is designed to strike a balance between low weight and high strength. The base material is polyester ripstop, supplemented by a multi-layer PU coating. It is available in the colours Snow, Platinum, Graphite, Desert, Kingsblue and Navy Blue.
PFAS-free equipment
A key aspect is the avoidance of water-repellent treatments containing PFAS. PFAS are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because many of these substances degrade only very slowly in the environment. Ultracover marine is designed to offer an alternative for protective textiles that does not require this treatment. According to the press release, the PU coating also contains no migrating plasticisers.
According to the company, the material is woven, dyed, coated and manufactured entirely in Germany. In terms of price, the exclusive distribution partner, Günter Schmitt Textilvertrieb, classifies Ultracover marine as being in the upper mid-range. However, the type of boat, the cut, the features and the amount of work required by the respective upholstery workshop are decisive factors when calculating the cost of a finished cover.
Further information is available at Ultracover Marine. If you want to look after an existing tarpaulin, BOOTE also has tips on How to clean a tarpaulin properly and a Comparison of tarpaulin cleaners.
Technical Specifications
| Characteristic | Information |
| Material | 100% polyester ripstop, multi-layer PU coating in a 4x3-layer system |
| Grams per square metre | 200 g/m² |
| Maximum tensile force | Warp 1,200 N, weft 1,000 N, ISO 13934-1 |
| Tear resistance | Warp 3,500 cN, weft 3,200 cN, ISO 13937-1 |
| Water column | 200 cm, ISO 811 |
| UV protection | UPF 50+, ISO 13758-1 |
| Abrasion resistance | 100,000 Martindale cycles on the coated side, ISO 12947-2 |
| Roll width | 175 to 180 cm |
| Colours | Snow, Platinum, Graphite, Desert, Kingsblue, Navy Blue |
| Sales | B2B, available exclusively through Günter Schmitt Textilvertrieb |
Hauke Schmidt
Test & Technology editor
