Frequently Asked Questions

You know those tension pole’s that you put under your boat cover to keep it tight? Great, same page. 

Got them in place and the cover tight? Perfect, we’re ready for the rain in the forecast tonight. 

Sleep tight, don’t let the…Let’s just fast forward to the morning. That rain was more of a storm. Your pole tipped over or was off center for the hundredth time and now your boat cover is full of water, again. Hope it didn’t rip on the windshield with all that water weight. Grab a bucket, start bailing; maybe building that DIY PVC pipe frame doesn’t seem so bad. Avast! Before you spend an hour at the hardware store and another hour building your custom frame, you may want to check out the Swell by Batten Down. Doesn’t tip, 30 second setup, peace of mind. It’s the last tention system you’ll buy. Read on, Cap’n.

SwellUP works a bit like magic, but we’ll call it science so we don’t freak anyone out. It uses a unique system with a storage base and inflatable structure (yes, inflatable) to evenly tighten your boat cover across the entire surface. Water pooling? Not on SwellUP’s watch. It can’t tip over, and don’t worry about getting it perfectly centered. It keeps your boat cover secure and free from rips or tears in all kinds of weather. Oh BTW, that’s not all… #3 is worth a read.

Glad you asked. Swell doesn’t just keep your boat cover tight. Oh no. It also has air circulation powers, keeping a handle on mold & mildew while keeping your boat smelling fresh. As for pests? Wasps, mice, and spiders are not fans of what Swell is serving for dinner; Constant air circulation, subtle vibration, and a fresh smelling fragrance booster. Turns out most pests don’t like minty smells, airflow, or vibration. In summary, this thing keeps your boat smelling like a spa, helps prevent mold/mildew, prevents water from pooling on your cover, and deters pests. You’re welcome.

Simple: it keeps things tight. A good tensioner like Swell stops water from pooling, which is a short way of saying it helps your cover avoid damage, rips, tears, mold, or mildew. Plus, it extends your cover’s life—so you don’t have to replace it as often. Basically, it’s the boat cover upgrade you didn’t know you needed.

SwellUP doesn’t play favorites. Fishing boats, pontoons, bowriders, speedboats—if it’s a boat, SwellUP is here for it. It’s adjustable and customizable, so no matter your boat’s size or shape, SwellUP has you covered (pun intended). Have a boat that this won’t work in? Let us know, send us an email and we’ll work on a custom solution.

Can you? Sure, if you want to drive down the highway with your boat cover on, go right ahead. Should you? Hmm… it is the expressed opinion of Batten Down that you do not tow your boat down the highway while covered. Most boat covers don’t like high winds and you might be inviting rips and tears.

On a completely unrelated note… if you plug Swell into a small (say 100 watt) inverter that is connected to your boat battery, you no longer need to be attached to an extension cord. Since you now have a mobile setup, you may be wondering how fast you could go before the wind pushes the inflatable down. Who knows, we don’t recommend Swelling and driving, remember. I bet it would inflate back up even if you did go too fast though. If someone was going to try, maybe strap the cover down tight, crank the fan power controller up to 11, and close the vents on the inflatable. Then, just maybe, Swell would hold up at highway speeds. Hard to say, we haven’t tried…ok, we tried, it worked, but don’t do it. The warranty probably doesn’t cover that.

Got that boat cover on? Great, you’ve done the hard part.

1. Open the lid
2. Put SwellUP in your boat
3. Plug it in
4. Fire up the grill and cook a ribeye, you earned it. Good job.

Detailed instructions on how to reach a perfect fit are included with your purchase, but this thing is pretty intuitive.

Nope, Just a couple free hands. Our tensioner is designed to be installed without any hassle or extra gadgets. Just plug it in, adjust as needed, and let SwellUP do the rest.

Absolutely. SwellUP was built to laugh in the face of heavy rain, wind, and snow. It keeps your boat cover secure no matter the weather. That said, if you want to be extra-prepared for power outages, you’ll want to add on a battery backup so Swell will stay inflated, even when the lights go out. Wondering where you could get one of those…cough cough: Batten-Down.com

This thing is surprisingly versatile. SwellUP’s height adjusts from 24″ to 72″, giving you plenty of flexibility.

For most boats up to 26 feet, a single SwellUP is all you need.

For larger boats: If you need extra height, you can grab our riser tote for an added 14″ lift. This also doubles as a handy storage box for your boat cover, that matches SwellUP. https://batten-down.com/product/the-empty-box/

If a single Swell isn’t quite cutting it, you may need to grab another grab two Swells. Need a lot more? If you’re thinking about three or more, you probably own a yacht… or a barge. If it’s the former, we’d gladly accept an invite aboard!

Yes you can, that’s how it’s meant to be used. The fan in SwellUP is rated for 40,000 hours from the manufacturer. Let’s do some math: If you left Swell on 24/7, 365, you could get about 4.5 years out of the fan. Now, if you leave your boat covered that much, we need to talk. Take some time off brother, life is short, go get on the water.

Running 24/7, Swell can use as low as $.60 Cents/Month in electricity!
(based on the average electricity costs in the US)
Swell has adjustable power, ranging from 5-20 Watts.

Cleaning SwellUP is as easy as it gets. Power it on outside of your boat, in an open space. Wipe it down with a damp cloth, then let it air-dry. Good thing there is an onboard fan blower. Harsh chemicals? Not needed, and honestly, Swell deserves better than that. Just be mindful of the blower fan. Electronics don’t like water.

Well, SwellUP’s base is the storage box. Everything collapses into that for easy storage. Find a cool, dry spot and tuck Swell away until next time. Most people store it right with their boat cover—out of sight, out of mind, until it’s time to put the boat to bed again.

We’ve built SwellUP to last, but if something goes wrong, we’ve got your back. Just contact our customer support team, and we’ll either help fix it or get you a replacement. Easy as that.

We process and ship in-stock products within 2 business days. If an item is out of stock or on backorder, we’ll notify you promptly with an estimated shipping date. Once your order ships, you’ll receive tracking information so you can keep an eye on its journey to you.

Eligibility for Returns

At Batten Down, we stand by our products and want to ensure you’re satisfied with your purchase. If you need to return an item, please review our policy below:

• Items must be returned within 30 days of the original purchase date.
• Products must be in new, unused condition—no damage, rips, tears, scuffs, scratches, or any signs of wear.
• Original packaging must be included.

Restocking Fee

• A 20% restocking fee will apply to all returns. This fee covers inspection, repackaging, and processing.

Non-Returnable Items

• Final sale or clearance items.
• Custom or special-order products.
• Any item that shows signs of use or damage.

Return Process

1. Contact Us – Email service@batten-down.com with your order number and reason for return.
2. Receive Authorization – We’ll provide return instructions and an RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) number.
3. Ship the Item – We will provide a shipping label upon authorization. The cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
4. Inspection & Refund – Once received and inspected, we’ll process your refund minus the 20% restocking fee. Refunds are issued to the original payment method.

Damaged or Defective Items

If your item arrives damaged or defective, contact us within 7 days of delivery. We’ll work with you to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
For any questions, feel free to reach out to service@batten-down.com.

Not yet, at least on the website. If you are located outside of the US, send us an email and we’ll work with you.