I've got a swimstep cover, also. It does cut pretty high above the transom, I'll try and take some pics of my cover when I'm out this weekend. It fits better than it looks in that picture... no water collection, you just pull the five straps tight and everything runs to the back. Works awesome and goes on really quickly. I think so many people up in Washington like them is because of how easy they are to get on and off when the boat is on a boatlift. All the adjustments and tie-downs are at the stern...makes it really quick and easy.
The only drawback on the Rankin covers is the "J" brackets that wrap around the boat fender. They are made for all the other boats out there, with the thinner fenders. They don't hold all that well on our donut fenders. But that's the only gripe I have, and you figure out how to make them sit right after a few tries.
I could be off on the price, also... I didn't buy mine. It came with the boat from Cali (all three covers came with the boat, actually...that's how I knew the boat was the one...somebody more anal than me???). In shopping for boats in the past (old Centurion, glad I didn't bite on that), that's what I recall them quoting me to have a Rankin made for it.
