Hells Bay 18 Guide Specifications
- Length Overall (LOA): 18'4"
- Beam: 79" (6'8")
- Dry Weight: ~695 lbs
- Engine: Single outboard, 150 HP max (60-90 recommended)
- Fuel Capacity: 38 gallons
- Draft: 4.5"-11" (varies by engine)
- Hull Type: Carbon Innegra composite, 12° deadrise
Cover Features
- Fabric Options: 9oz solution-dyed marine fabric or premium Sunbrella acrylic
- Coverage Type: Center console cover wraps entire hull including outboard engine; tent-like shape peaks at console
- Construction: Reinforced stitching, hem cord at rubrail, adjustable tie-down straps
- Durability: Solution-dyed fabric (5-7 years); Sunbrella acrylic (8-10 years)
- Fit: Custom-fitted to 18'4" Hells Bay 18 Guide specifications including console and engine dimensions
- Protection: UV-resistant, water-repellent, weatherproof
Additional information
Choose Your Cover Fabric
7 oz. Polyester — Our entry-level marine cover fabric, woven from 100% polyester fiber at a 7 oz. per linear yard weight. This lighter option keeps the cover manageable for solo handling while still delivering reliable protection against sun, rain, and debris. Backed by a 3-year fabric warranty. Ships in Black.
9 oz. Polyester — Step up to our heavy-duty polyester, engineered at 9 oz. per linear yard for boats that face tougher conditions or extended outdoor storage. The denser weave adds an extra layer of defense against abrasion and weather without adding unnecessary bulk. Protected by a 5-year fabric warranty. Ships in Navy or Black.
Sunbrella® — For boaters who want the best, our Sunbrella covers use 100% solution-dyed acrylic — the same fabric trusted by marine professionals worldwide. Naturally resistant to fading, mold, and water damage, Sunbrella holds its color and integrity season after season. Covered by a 6-year fabric warranty. Ships in Black, Smoke, or Marine Blue.
Both polyester options feature solution-dyed construction, where pigment is infused into each fiber during production rather than applied to the surface afterward. This process locks color deep into the material, preventing any dye transfer to your boat’s gel coat or finish. The result is a cover that stays vibrant without bleeding or rubbing off. Our polyester is also designed to breathe — it allows moisture trapped underneath to vent out naturally, reducing the risk of mildew and keeping your boat dry. The fabric holds its form without sagging or stretching over time, stays lightweight enough for one person to handle, and stands up to prolonged UV exposure and harsh marine weather.
*The warranty periods above are provided by the fabric manufacturer and cover the material itself. For details on what’s included in the warranty for your completed cover, please see our warranty page.
7 oz. Polyester — Our entry-level marine cover fabric, woven from 100% polyester fiber at a 7 oz. per linear yard weight. This lighter option keeps the cover manageable for solo handling while still delivering reliable protection against sun, rain, and debris. Backed by a 3-year fabric warranty. Ships in Black.
9 oz. Polyester — Step up to our heavy-duty polyester, engineered at 9 oz. per linear yard for boats that face tougher conditions or extended outdoor storage. The denser weave adds an extra layer of defense against abrasion and weather without adding unnecessary bulk. Protected by a 5-year fabric warranty. Ships in Navy or Black.
Sunbrella® — For boaters who want the best, our Sunbrella covers use 100% solution-dyed acrylic — the same fabric trusted by marine professionals worldwide. Naturally resistant to fading, mold, and water damage, Sunbrella holds its color and integrity season after season. Covered by a 6-year fabric warranty. Ships in Black, Smoke, or Marine Blue.
Both polyester options feature solution-dyed construction, where pigment is infused into each fiber during production rather than applied to the surface afterward. This process locks color deep into the material, preventing any dye transfer to your boat’s gel coat or finish. The result is a cover that stays vibrant without bleeding or rubbing off. Our polyester is also designed to breathe — it allows moisture trapped underneath to vent out naturally, reducing the risk of mildew and keeping your boat dry. The fabric holds its form without sagging or stretching over time, stays lightweight enough for one person to handle, and stands up to prolonged UV exposure and harsh marine weather.
*The warranty periods above are provided by the fabric manufacturer and cover the material itself. For details on what’s included in the warranty for your completed cover, please see our warranty page.
| Weight | 31 lbs |
|---|
Install
Please watch the video below for installation instructions!
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Hells Bay 18 Guide center console cover is available in 9oz solution-dyed marine fabric or premium Sunbrella acrylic. The 9oz fabric delivers 5 to 7 years of UV and weather protection. Sunbrella acrylic extends that to 8 to 10 years with enhanced fade resistance. Both are water-repellent, mildew-resistant, and breathable.
Yes. The cover drapes over the entire Hells Bay 18 Guide creating a tent-like shape that peaks at the center console and slopes down to the gunwales on all sides. The outboard engine is fully enclosed. The pattern accounts for the Guide's 79-inch beam and under-gunwale rod tube system.
Drape the cover over the bow and walk it aft over the center console to the stern. The fabric settles into a tent-like peak at the console. Secure it with adjustable tie-down straps and a hem cord at the rubrail. One person can complete installation in under 5 minutes with no tools required.
Yes. The cover is reinforced with double-stitched seams and heavy-duty straps designed for highway trailering speeds. The cover wraps completely over the hull and outboard engine. At 695 pounds, the Guide trailers easily with the cover secured.
Yes. The tent-like design fully encloses all console-mounted electronics, ABYC-standard wiring, the 30-gallon livewell, 10 under-gunwale rod tubes, and the outboard engine. The water-repellent fabric blocks UV, rain, salt spray, and road debris.
Every Hells Bay 18 Guide center console cover includes a 2-year manufacturer warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Solution-dyed fabric is rated for 5 to 7 years, and Sunbrella acrylic is rated for 8 to 10 years of service.
The cover is water-resistant with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish. Rain and spray bead off the surface. It is breathable rather than fully waterproof, preventing trapped moisture and mildew — especially important for protecting the Guide's ABYC-standard electrical system and Carbon Innegra hull.
This cover is custom-fitted to the Hells Bay 18 Guide with standard production dimensions. It fits all model years sharing the factory center console configuration, 79-inch beam, and under-gunwale rod tube layout. Contact us if your specific year has significant changes.
The 9oz solution-dyed marine fabric comes in Navy, Black, and Charcoal. Sunbrella acrylic offers an expanded selection of colors and patterns. Select your preferred fabric and color during checkout using the product configurator.
Shipping is a flat rate per cover to anywhere in the continental United States. Orders typically ship within 1 to 2 business days. Due to the custom-fitted nature of each cover, please allow standard production time before shipment.
⏱️ Current lead time: 1–3 weeks — every cover is custom-made for your boat.
Questions about fit? Call (561) 677-2628
Questions about fit? Call (561) 677-2628
Hells Bay 18 Guide Center Console Cover — Professional Guide-Grade Protection
The Hells Bay 18 Guide is purpose-built for professional fishing guides who demand function over everything. Founded in 1997 in Titusville, Florida, by Hal Chittum, Flip Pallot, and Chris Morejohn, Hells Bay constructs every hull with Carbon Innegra for the strongest, lightest build in the flats skiff world. The 18 Guide runs 18’4″ overall with a 79-inch beam, 695 pounds dry weight, up to 150 horsepower with a recommended 60 to 90, and 38 gallons of fuel. A 12-degree deadrise and 4.5 to 11-inch draft range give it crossover capability, while 10 under-gunwale rod tubes for 9-foot fly rods, a 30-gallon livewell, and ABYC-standard wiring make it the consummate guide machine. From full center console covers to the broader lineup of T-Top boat covers, every cover is custom-fitted to protect your specific hull.
Tailored to the Guide’s Purpose-Built Professional Layout
This cover is pattern-cut to the Hells Bay 18 Guide’s 18’4″ hull and 79-inch beam, accounting for the center console, the under-gunwale rod tube system, livewell, and engine well. The solution-dyed marine fabric drapes over the entire boat in one continuous piece, creating a tent-like shape that peaks at the center console and slopes down to the gunwales on all sides. The outboard engine is fully enclosed. Installation takes under five minutes — drape from bow to stern, settle the fabric over the console, and secure with adjustable tie-down straps and a hem cord at the rubrail. No framework needed. The reinforced construction handles highway trailering at speed, keeping everything from the 9-foot fly rod storage to the helm electronics fully protected. For the companion model with the same Carbon Innegra build, the Hells Bay Waterman cover provides the same tent-like coverage for the purest performance skiff in the lineup.
Protection That Matches Hells Bay Quality
A boat built with ABYC-standard wiring and Carbon Innegra composite deserves a cover engineered to the same level of precision. The 9oz solution-dyed marine fabric delivers 5 to 7 years of dependable UV and weather defense, while premium Sunbrella acrylic extends coverage to 8 to 10 years with top-tier fade resistance. Both options are water-repellent, mildew-resistant, and breathable to prevent trapped moisture from compromising the Guide’s sensitive electronics and advanced composite hull. Double-stitched seams and reinforced stress points ensure the cover performs season after season under the harshest Florida conditions. Every cover includes a 2-year manufacturer warranty. For another purpose-built skiff cover, the Saltmarsh 1444 cover offers the same custom-fitted protection for a Kevlar-reinforced micro-skiff built for the most demanding shallow-water environments.
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