Covering up for Winter

Mulf · Oct 1, 2012

We don't get the kind of snow you do but...

...here on the Chesapeake I've covered Dreamboat with sections of canvas for most of the winters I've had her. First year I put a canvas boom tent and a canvas tarp on the front draped over a line strung from the mast at boom height down to the top of the bow pulpit. I learned that you need a much stronger support than just a line for the bow tent as the line sagged a lot over the winter. Next year made a PVC pipe support structure for the bow equal in height to the boom. Tied it off to the stanchion bases on both sides to keep it upright. Much better. The next year I added tarps to close up the opening at the bow and at the stern. Biggest concern I have with your idea is every slit in the tarp is going to be ripped all the way to the top after a winter storm or two. My stanchions are removable from the base and I did that every year. If you can I recommend it. Put padding over the bases under the tarp.

sea_casper · Oct 1, 2012

tgrass462 said:
In past years I have unstepped my mast and stored my boat and trailer (Hunter 260) in indoor storage. This year I'm thinking of leaving the mast stepped and storing it at the marina over the winter.

With a H260, why would you leave the mast up, when it comes down so easy?

With the mast crutch, and some adjustable supports under the mast, it becomes the tarp support.

You can then store the furler inside the boat.

Why subject your mast and furler to ice all winter?

isaksp00 · Oct 1, 2012

I drop my mast, and I built a PVC pipe frame assembly using a ridge pole and 7 A-frame type frames. I wanted to get the canvas to be about 45 deg angle so snow would slide off, and also get the canvas supported above the stanchions. My frames are A-shaped with a vertical piece at the bottom of each leg, appropriate height for the lifeline at each position. I did this as I got a large canvas cover from the prev owner at low cost, and using the frame saves me like $200 each year for the shrink wrap alternative. It does take a good half day to assemble and cover, though.

sea_casper · Oct 1, 2012

tgrass462 said:
My thought was (is) to purchase two 10' x 16' (or thereabouts) tarps, use one aft of the mast, one forward of the mast. On each I would cut slits to pass over the stanchions. My intention is to keep the cover as low as possible to (try and) avoid sagging.

Again any advice here would be appreciated.

Tom Grass
Lake Carlyle, Illinois (St. Louis, Mo)

Here is a link to how I used PVC tubing and the Mast with a tarp for a winter cover on my old H26,

Picture Link

sea_casper · Oct 2, 2012

tgrass462 said:
Thanks for posting the album. I'm thinking of NOT leaving my mast stepped - and I like your idea of creating A-Frames with PVC piping. One question - looks like you had three or four A-Frames the length of the boat ... did this support the tarp sufficiently to avoid pockets of water and (UGH!) ICE forming during the winter?

Tom Grass

The PVC was only over the center of the boat, I used an array of Ratcheting Tiedown Straps, for additional tarp support, from the mast side to side, and from the PVC diagonally fore and aft. Removing stanchions or at least lifelines would make it better (steeper) for shedding snow and ice. The final step is securing the tarp to the trailer snugly. I added a snow picture to the album. Try to adjust PVC support so that it rests on the mast, with any snow load. Snow tends to slide off due to steepness of tarp.

py26129 · Oct 2, 2012

Tom

If you do decide to drop the mast for the winter, support it well with 2 2x4 crutches one at the bow one at the stern and nother support on the cabin top. Remove the stantions and lay them on deck.No you can use your mast at the ridge pole and tarp the boat.

Easy simple and fast. This worked for me for many many years up here in Montreal. I do go to the boay a few times each winter to check for snow accumulation etc.

Matt

sea_casper · Oct 2, 2012

tgrass462 said:
Thanks for all of the ideas.

Question - are the stanchions removable from a Hunter 260? I've never done this ... removing them would make covering much easier for the winter ... but I'm not sure how much effort is involved in replacing them again next spring.

Tom Grass

If they are like those on the H26, not easily, the life lines could be disconnected at both ends and then pulled down out of the way in the middle. that still would leave holes in the tarp for the stanchions. As you can see in my photos I put tennis balls on each stanchion, to prevent "holing" of the tarp.

cephius (Dave) · Oct 3, 2012

I left my mast up in the marina yard one year. I covered the boat from the mast aft only, using the boom to support the cover.

There were many reasons why I have not done it since, none to do with keeping the snow out of the cockpit.

I also find it easier to cover with the mast down. I pad the ends of my lifeline stanchions and pull the cover very tight over them. You need very tight to keep the wind from flogging the hull. I've never had significant sag.