DIY Shrink wrapping a boat

[Dan H]

I would like to shrink a boat for long term storage. I cannot justify the $600.00 for the propane heat gun. Can I use a regular heat gun to shrink the plastic? I'm not in a hurry. I understand the reason for the big propane heat gun, but for a DIY, that doesn't care if it takes two hours, why not use a regular heat gun?
Anyone ever do this? Is this trickier than it looks.

 

[higgs]

Unless you are storing on the lake front you can do fine with plastic tarps that will last for several years for a lot less - and not produce the land fill waste each year. I stored in Racine, WI for 20 years and did not need to spend the shrink wrap $$.

 

[Ross]

What is your definition of long term storage? Can you rent a gas fired heat gun? What are your plans for ventilation? Have you compared the cost of shrink wrap to the cost of tarps?

 

[All U Get]

Yep

Hi Dan,
I used an electric heat gun and was able to use the low setting to make all the seams. With a pair of leather gloves I held the wrap together while moving the gun along. In the spring I use the stuff to cover my wood pile and other garden uses. Most tarps last about 3 years and the wrap seems to last longer IMHO.
All U Get

 

[Dan H]

My long term storage is probably going to be 3 years outside before it gets moved into the shop for rebuild. What kind of tarps are you guys buying that last more than one season in the snow and wind? I don't get any longevity out of any tarp. The sun burns them up and then they rip. I've thrown away so many tarps, I hate it. That's why I want to shrink wrap the boat and throw the wrap away only once. It's a wood boat so I don't want any water getting inside at all. It's rotten enough. I’ll put in plenty of vents, they’re cheap. I was also going to put a fan in the transom through one of the exhaust openings driven by a solar panel to move air through it. One of those little computer fans.
It's an old 22' Chris Craft Cutalss, in case anyone is interested.

 

[BobM]

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/159777-22-chris-craft-cutlass-c-c-project-update.html

Looks pretty cool. I don't know if I'd put all that effort into a wooden fishing boat though. I 'd like to rescue a wooden sailboat some day. I need to brush up on my carpentry skills first though ;-)

 

[kenn]

We have a 19 ft "micro-cruiser" sailboat. Two years ago, for about $200 I bought a fitted fabric motorboat cover complete with straps. I had to make a simple wood frame (5 pieces of 2x2) to prevent the cover from sagging into the cockpit.

It goes on in November, comes off in April. After two Canadian winters, the cover is still in as-new condition. no holes/rips/tears, still waterproof. I believe you could easily find a similar fitted cover for a 22 ft boat. Better than tarps, cheaper and cleaner than buying shrinkwrap.