Cover for 26 S

Justin_NSA · Sep 9, 2009

They are ($800) expensive. If you have a stern rail or any other nonstandard obstacle you will probably have to work with the company to accommodate it. More $$. This company has a trailering (mast down) version.
Sail Warehouse

Chris & Lenore · Sep 9, 2009

On the advice of others I went without a cover last winter.

I will NEVER use a winter cover again!
Then boat was only a little dirtier (hey, we still clean them in the spring even if covered), there were no issues with snow weight and bent stanchions, no torn tarps, MUCH BETTER ventilation - in short, only positives and no negatives.

Makes sense - a boat designed to be left out in the elements all summer isn't going to be fazed by a little snow.

I did add a 4 inch muffin fan to one of the vents (with duct tape) and plugged that into the electrical system which was still fed from the solar panel. I didn't leave the battery in but this powered the fan more than half the day. You can use a decent volume fan this way and have zero moisture/mold problems.

Chris

oreana1234 · Sep 10, 2009

Hey to each his own concerning boat covers. I make boat covers and there are many grades of boat cover. Some are for stationary use, and some can deal with 65 knot winds going down the freeway!

There is more to protection than just dirt. UV damage is the number one source of damage to sails, running rigging and gelcoat (and boatcovers). A well made cover will keep the boat clean, stop sun damage and has as much ventilation as the owner desires, vents should be sewn into the cover at a couple of intervals. Most premium acrylics are semi breathable as well. If your boat is dry in the first place and stays dry under a well made cover, you don't need fans to remove water vapor.

Another technique for keeping a cover on a boat is the one I borrowed from wakeboard powerboats: the cover is held on with ratcheting straps that completly encircle the perimeter of the boat. The sides of the cover are brought down far enough to take advantage of the curvature of the hull, and a loop is sewn around the lower edge for the ratcheting strap(s).

Unfortunately for the bargain shopper, my premium boat covers, with a 5 year waranty, cost more like $1200, include vents and access zippers, and includes any design features desired by the owner, within reason. I am measuring a 26M tomorrow for a cover, the boat has roller furling and is brand new. I plan to encapsulate the boat and furler/mast.

Chris & Lenore · Sep 10, 2009

I was only talking about winter storage - as the original poster questioned.
Winter UV at our (an his latitude) is a non-issue. Sails are off too...

But you really need to see what heavy snow does to 90 percent of the "covering attempts" at our marina - in terms of damage. A few do add enough reinforcing but most don't understand the weight and forces involved.

My only advice is to try going coverless - it took a lot of prodding to get me to believe but now I've had two winters with zero damage and no moisture problems.

Now if I was leaving Teliki on a trailer (with sails on) all summer then I'd want a cover.

Chris

Phil V25 · Sep 11, 2009

Been there, done that

holdech said:
On the advice of others I went without a cover last winter.
Chris

I now only add a small tarp that covers the not very well sealed pop-top and hatch. I also make sure the boat is level side to side and pitched back to facilitate drainage.

Do boats that stay on the water year round cover their boats? My boat stays cleaner in the winter than the summer after a long period of inactivity.

Justin_NSA · Sep 11, 2009

Phil V25 said:
Do boats that stay on the water year round cover their boats? My boat stays cleaner in the winter than the summer after a long period of inactivity.

I make up a boom tent with a poly tarp. It reduces the sun load and it covers that leaky companionway cover. I still get loads of spiders and the bugs they trap all over the boat and I still get a little water on the starboard bilge and stern under berth stowage compartment.

Chris & Lenore · Sep 11, 2009

Now there is a topic for a new thread - bug control!
Spiders don't seem well received by small children and a lot of women.
Plus their c#$p leaves stains on canvas that are almost impossible to remove.

Chris

oreana1234 · Sep 11, 2009

In McCall, Idaho, about 100 miles north of here, 8-10 feet of snow in a single storm is not uncommon. There have been boats damaged by the weight of the accumulated snow pressing the hull onto the trailer bunks. What damage have you seen done by snow accumulation? I fail to see how a cover or not would aggravate or lessen this kind of damage. In fact, if the cover is tented over a lengthwise mast, there is at least some hope of the snow rolling off.

I used to sew up the cheap plastic covers from Harbor Freight. That made a decent cover that lasted one season, maybe. No driving down the road with it though.

Even though it is cold in the winter, the UV exposure is the same or worse due to clearer air.

Chalky gelcoat, disintegrating rubber parts, discoloration of paint, accelerated weathering of wood, all of these are increased by UV exposure.

The Mac M that I measured today will require about 43 yards of material, 60 inches wide. I am ordering Top Gun for the cover, it may be black in color.

Chris & Lenore · Sep 14, 2009

The damage I see typically is from people tarping over the mast and over the lifelines.
Not sure why they do but I've seen the weight of a good snowfall bend stanchions and masts. Then they get mold from lack of ventilation and abrasion from cheap plastic tarps rubbing all winter on the gel coat.

Never heard of any bunk related damage (power or sail) but we don't get that kind of snow here. For 10 foot accumulation you would need a well sloped cover to get that to slide off - like a ridge pole 15 feet above the deck!

To each their own - whatever works. I also don't have a spare grand for a cover...

Chris

Cover for 26 S

.

.

.

oreana1234

.

.

.

.

oreana1234

.