Boat Cover

[tgrass462]

It's getting that time of year - at least in a couple of months ... to cover your boats through the long winter.

What do members of this forum do with their boats over the winter?

a. In - door storage
(I've been quoted $3/foot/month - for my 26' 260. Is this reasonable?)

b. Outdoors
Do you cover your boat?
Plastic tarp?
Custom cover?
Do you build a frame beneath the cover to keep the cover from sagging in the rain / snow?
Do you leave your boat open?

We have a new (to us) H-260 - would really like to keep her nice. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Tom Grass
Grasshopper III
St. Louis

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

If I could find anyplace here which charged $3/ft, heated or not, I'd jump on the chance.
It would take +/- 5 years to compare with a custom made cover and probably FAR longer. Considering it is drive in/drive out, the hassle compared with installing the cover properly, dealing with accumulated snow, the inevitable dirt that collects beneath it and the comfort with which one can work on the boat inside vs. under a cover, no concern for ventilation, etc..., I know which I'd choose.

If you do store outside, definitely cover it with the best you can afford. Far too much potential for damage exists due to freezing if you allow rain, ice, snow to accumulate on the boat. The need for a frame is dependent on what type cover you choose. A simple boom tent type won't sag if installed properly and requires no frame so you get to enjoy others spending a weekend building a frame while you watch...

 

[cephius (Dave)]

My H260 is stored outside in the harsh Minnesota winter. The mast is lowered and I place a small cradle in the center of the mast to support the snow weight. I put padding on the top of each life line stanchion to prevent them from punching through the tarp.

I cover the boat with a tarp that is longer than the mast and tie it very tight to the trailer. I tie the ends closed in the front and back enclosing the outboard and all.

A flapping tarp can tear up the gel coat so all tie downs must be very secure.

Since I'm usually getting free storage from farm friends, it is in an open field all winter. The only real problem I've had is with raccoons soiling the deck. A messy but easy clean-up.

 

[Lee C - H31]

Likewise

I used to have a Hunter 240 and had much the same experience as Dave. I used a tarp, (cheapo from Wally World) and it must be tied down securely to avoid flapping. I used to weave a line (clothes line) from one life line, over the mast, to the life line on the other side, and back and forth from bow to stern to provide some additional support to hopefully keep rain and snow running off and not ponding.

 

[strobeone]

Anybody solves this one and I'll get in line to buy a good cover!! I've tried everything from heavy plastic tarps to RV covers, placed over the horizontal mast, and in every case....this Texas wind finds it's way under it and within a day....torn to shreds!! Best thing so far is heavy duty plastic tarp tied low over the surface. I use some small, old dumbells placed here and there to keep it down, not to mention numerous bungee's. When water collects, I lift the tarps and drain it. Wish I could find a large shrink wrap machine...wouldn't that be nice. Anyone ever try a mobile home transport place?? They pull those things by semi's and that plastic seems to hold up pretty well.

 

[Bob15530]

Call your local County Fair Office.
They usually have livestock or halls that they rent out in the winter.
For my 260 is is about $225.

 

[Jim Kolstoe]

I am fortunate in that my h23 fits in my car port with a few inches of vertical clearance, although the ends stick out slightly. I learned the hard way that if I close it up mold will develop, but if I leave the hatch open for ventilation, I don't get any mold. I live in a temperate climate (our winters tend to be wet and (relatively - 40s and 50s) warm with periods of cold and dry (below freezing). It also makes it easier to work on without worrying about the weather.
Good luck and enjoy.
Jim Kolstoe, h23 Kara's Boo

 

[Barry14722]

I've tried shrinkwrap and tarps and now go exclusively with a tarp. You do more harm in the summer with the sun beating up the fiberglass than the winter weather. The tarp does nothing more than keep the boat a little cleaner than without one.
I cut out the stanchions and release the lifelines and tie down the tarp with bungee cord to take up the slack so it doesn't flap in the wind. This has worked best for me. I had the boat shrink wrapped one year and the weight of the snow bent one of the stanchions. I reused the $60 tarp from last year, but in the future I will toss it after one season, as I think I put more dirt onthe boat form the used tarp.

If your boat is winterized properly and you put a good coat of wax on it, you really don't need to cover it.

 

[bad co]

I own a 23.5 and very lucky that there are 3 guys that each do shrinkwrapping. I remove the mast completely and store in rafters ofmy basement , I had this shrinkwrap for two winters now with no problems , no tears , and no need to go out in winter and remove snowloads, it slides right off, they did however want $100.00 for a zipper door to access but I built a wood one for under $10 the job itself cost me $10 per ft so in all with shrinkwrap , 2x4'2 labor and door $250.00 and takes about a half hr o put on or take off, not that its needed but if I had the notion to go on it during winter to work the entire topside is tall enough to stand in. I also drove this home after getting it skrinkwrapped with no issues , good luck

 

[Brad Wagner]

I'm with Bob. I store my 23.5 at the local fairgrounds for under $200 for the season. They do a great job of keeping rodents and pidgeons out. I used to throw a tarp over the boat but it was always clean when I removed it in the spring.

I store the smaller boats in my old tobacco warehouse a few blocks away.

 

[RobertG-NJ]

Has anyone used a cover from The Sailors Tailor? They have a stock pattern for a H22 for approx $600. I have a H23 and would have to send them a pattern template (top plan). It seems at $200 plus a year for shrinkwrap this may be a good investment lasting multiple years and usable on trailer and mooring.

Lucky is the the guy who can get that monster mast in his basement. That mast is over 3/4 the length of my house.