Covering boat for winter

[shemandr]

I assume everyone knows this but if your boom is open ended birds will nest in it by mid-March, around here. So while you're using those dish scrubbers, plug the end(s) of the boom. I've even had birds try to nest in the flakes of the main sail in the early season. They weren't too happy about Wed PM sailing!

 

[Rick486]

Great cover Tom but that picture with all the snow on the ground is really depressing.

 

[dlochner]

I assume everyone knows this but if your boom is open ended birds will nest in it by mid-March, around here. So while you're using those dish scrubbers, plug the end(s) of the boom. I've even had birds try to nest in the flakes of the main sail in the early season. They weren't too happy about Wed PM sailing!

A few weeks ago I was helping out at my marina when we unstepped a mast. When the mast came up, all kinds of straw and debris fell out, obviously a bird a built a nest in the mast. Then the dead bird fell out. A full grown bird of undetermined species.

Closing up the end of the mast and/or boom is a good idea.

 

[TomY]

Great cover Tom but that picture with all the snow on the ground is really depressing.

It is, Rick,...but it's even more depressing when the snow, which turns to ice, stays on your cover.

 

[dziedzicmj]

but it's even more depressing when the snow, which turns to ice, stays on your cover.

That snow turning to ice can weigh a lot. 500 -1000 kg (double that in lb). It is really worth its while to visit your boat after any major snow fall. This applies regardless if you cover or not. probably even more so, if you don't. You can easily accumulate a ton of ice in the cockpit.

 

[Rick486]

My shrink job recently. Hence the descriptor, "shrink".

 

[Gunni]

Many masts have holes big enough to admit birds. Mine was a mess when we unstopped 3 years ago. Had custom plates built for the masthead shrouds, preventing reoccurrence. My rigger was in the process of replacing a mast which had split at the base - the weep holes were plugged with mud and dung and the mast had held water - freezing, and splitting the base. $25k FUBAR.

If it took me two days to cobble together some kind of tarp cover and another few hours every month to lash the Rube Goldberg arrangement back down I would consider $650 - $800 for a shrink wrap money well spent. That said, this year will be the first time I have wrapped the boat in 10 years.

 

[Dalliance]

I have to confess I've been shrinking wrapping every year and I feel a little guilty dragging all that plastic to the recycle bin in April. However, in the fall, when I tend to stretch my sailing season as late as possible, I see people in the yacht yard assembling frames and fighting with tarps on blustery cold November days and think to myself I'm really glad I don't have to deal with that.

When I retire and can choose any day of the week to cover the boat myself maybe I'll switch to a custom cover and save some money. For now though, the shrink wrap service is worth the $650 to me.

 

[Apex]

I have a custom cover: Mast up. The framework couldn't be simpler. Ridge pole (2x6) sets in anchor roller and on a crutch lashed to the mast. The boom topping lift is removed and a crutch for the boom sits against the mainsheet track. One piece and it is a simple task to cover.

 

[shemandr]

Here's a pic of the blue tarp that didn't make it to T-day.

 

[Parsons]

The shrink wrapped boats and custom cover on the right, however, look like they'll weather a hurricane. I don't think I'd like Genie's captain to tie my boat to the dock.

 

[Sailor Sue]

You have to leave those blue tarps open so the boat can "breathe".

 

[shemandr]

You have to leave those blue tarps open so the boat can "breathe".

From downtown.

 

[RussC]

Earlier today a crew finally showed up to deliver and set up another "boat-port" for our most recent acquisition (Vagabond 17 day sailer). now I can toss the last of the #@$% blue tarps for good (as soon as I charge the dead battery in my truck that is ).