We are new owners of a 1985 Catalina 30 tall rig. We have owned a 26 foot trailer sailor for the last two years and I’ve stored it indoors. This is going to be the first year that we are storing a boat outside in a shipyard. We have decided to step down the mast since this is the first winter that we own the boat. Any suggestions about covering the boat? The boat is located in Sandusky Ohio. Some ideas we had was to throw a very big tarp over the mast that will be laid across the deck and tie it down through the grommets underneath the hull. The other idea is to shrink wrap it. Any suggestions from anyone?
Catalina 30 winter storage
- Thread starter Erbardy
- Start date
Congrats on your new boat.
Two suggestions:
Don't use the mast as a backbone for the cover. Not too hard to build a frame.
Do not put the cover over the stanchions. Either make slits for the stanchions to poke through or remove them. I have seen the weight of snow bend the stanchions and wreck the fiberglass under the base.
Two suggestions:
Don't use the mast as a backbone for the cover. Not too hard to build a frame.
Do not put the cover over the stanchions. Either make slits for the stanchions to poke through or remove them. I have seen the weight of snow bend the stanchions and wreck the fiberglass under the base.
for going around the stantions. Ive broken one or two going over and they often times ruin the tarpAfter doing both indoor and outdoor storage, I would choose indoor all the way. Especially if you're considering having the yard winterize your boat. The difference in cost after winterization might not be that much since you're already stepping the mast. Dont forget about the cost of desiccant dehumidifiers, new bungies every couple of years, new tarps every year or two, etc. Not to mention the lost sailing time at the begining of the season getting the boat prepped. All in all, I find it way less of hassle to do indoor storage since less items have to be prepped or removed during the winter
If you don't tarp your boat properly you may end up with damage to the hull, stanchions, etc.
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Two cautions when using plastic tarps:
be careful of abrasion of the topsides due to movement by wind, and
ventilation inside a tarp is essential
be careful of abrasion of the topsides due to movement by wind, and
ventilation inside a tarp is essential
I don’t know that you need to drop the mast, but that is up to you.
If you don’t, you can use the boom aft and a spinnaker pole forward to the pulpit to make a ridge pole to support a tarp.
As was mentioned, do not go over the life lines as heavy wet snow, ice or water can puddle and end the stanchions.
I did the tarp thing the first year I owned my boat…it was ugly, but it worked for 1 season. I made a wood frame around the toe rail, and across the back of the boat to screw the tarp to, with a piece of wood rolled tightly into the tarp. The video of me taking it all apart in the spring will give you a good idea how I put it together.
After that, I ordered a canvas cover for the boat. It still uses the boom for support, and it uses the spin halyard forward of the mast to hold up the front part of the cover. It comes in 3 pieces, zips together.
Lots of snow on Lake Erie, so build it pretty strong
Greg
If you don’t, you can use the boom aft and a spinnaker pole forward to the pulpit to make a ridge pole to support a tarp.
As was mentioned, do not go over the life lines as heavy wet snow, ice or water can puddle and end the stanchions.
I did the tarp thing the first year I owned my boat…it was ugly, but it worked for 1 season. I made a wood frame around the toe rail, and across the back of the boat to screw the tarp to, with a piece of wood rolled tightly into the tarp. The video of me taking it all apart in the spring will give you a good idea how I put it together.
After that, I ordered a canvas cover for the boat. It still uses the boom for support, and it uses the spin halyard forward of the mast to hold up the front part of the cover. It comes in 3 pieces, zips together.
Lots of snow on Lake Erie, so build it pretty strong
Greg
I have a custom cover from ShipShape for my C30 TR. They already have the pattern for a C30.
The boat had a ShipShape cover when I bought it 9 years ago. I just replaced it last year with another, because I was impressed with the fit and durability and it has several optional features, like a side-entry flap. Wisconsin winters can give a cover a real flailing, So durability is important to me.
www.shipshapecanvas.com
The boat had a ShipShape cover when I bought it 9 years ago. I just replaced it last year with another, because I was impressed with the fit and durability and it has several optional features, like a side-entry flap. Wisconsin winters can give a cover a real flailing, So durability is important to me.
ShipShape Products Inc - Boat and Marine Canvas and Upholstery
ShipShape Products - Sailboat Canvas and Upholstery - On the headwaters of Lake Superior
We have stored our 1977 Hunter 27 in the open on the hard in Sandusky without a cover for the last 23 winters. Prior owners did the same for at least 10 years before that. Fiberglass, gel coat, rigging and aluminum do just fine in the snow. I pull the wood and replace it with pine for the winter. I don’t see any prep time difference between launching our boat, and those stored indoors. Those covering their boat outdoors spend considerably more time prepping in the fall and spring than we do.
If you do want to store your boat indoors, our Safe Harbor Marina, west of the coal piles has the largest indoor storage capacity in town - you can give them a call if you are interested.
If you do want to store your boat indoors, our Safe Harbor Marina, west of the coal piles has the largest indoor storage capacity in town - you can give them a call if you are interested.
