Another thing on your cover, Spooled: If using your mast as a tarp ridge pole, make sure it's braced at 3 points at least.
For my 15 footer, I have it supported in front of the bow on the trailer crutch, amidships at the thwart, and at the transom.
For the 192, it's supported on the bow pulpit, just aft of the house, and at the transom. I was a little concerned that the center support is not centered, but I didn't worry too much, as having any center support at all significantly stiffens the mast on both boats. If I really got a lot of snow (we don't usually in SE PA) I'd consider a 4th support at the mast step. (Maybe next season?)
Since the little boat doesn't have stanchions, and I can take the 2 per side off on the 192, I find that my tarp side angles (with newer poly tarps) are acute enough that snow slides right off.
Most people who have non-removable stanchions opt to build some kind of framework to support the tarp, and take pressure off of the stanchions. I've seen house-shaped PVC frameworks, and I've seen guys bend grey PVC electrical conduit into great hoops from the trailer up over the boat, making it look like a conestoga wagon.
Brian