I live in Rochester, NY where the winters can get pretty harsh. A couple days ago we had winds gusting to 71 mph. Every year I try a different way to cover Liberty. I always use the blue plastic stuff that will only last one winter if you are lucky. Because the stanchions don't come off, I am forced to run the plastic only to the toe-rail. I take my mast down and have it supported on the boat, using it to tent the plastic. This year I tried running a rope through the grommets on each side, then tied my tie-down ropes to the rope running through the grommets. I figured that the wind load would be more evenly distributed that way. To help keep the plastic from ballooning up when the wind catches under it, I criss-crossed road over the plastic to hold it down. Maybe this would have helped during a normal wind, but at 71 mph it tore out all of the grommets on the leeward side. I know, spend the money and get a proper canvas, or have it shrink-wrapped. However, I am like most sailors and am always looking for the cheap way out. Maybe I should leave it uncovered. What do you do? Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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Pete
covering blues
Ken even a cheap cover is better then no cover. Maybe try putting in some extra groments in the trap. They always seam to never be enough of them or they are always in the wrong spot.I used some that I purchased in Home Depot that are plastic and snap into the tarp. Good Luck !
Ken even a cheap cover is better then no cover. Maybe try putting in some extra groments in the trap. They always seam to never be enough of them or they are always in the wrong spot.I used some that I purchased in Home Depot that are plastic and snap into the tarp. Good Luck !
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scott.
struggle for us too
We also struggle with covering our boat as well. These brutal winters really get us down. Especially with the temp. plunges into the 50's!! If we don't keep her covered up well than the ice in our coolers melts in just hours instead of an entire day. Life down here just bites....kinda like the wind up there huh. Just kidding, good luck and stay warm. Being a born and bred cracker I truly have no idea what you go through up there but I'm sure I would die in less than a week in that kind of weather.
We also struggle with covering our boat as well. These brutal winters really get us down. Especially with the temp. plunges into the 50's!! If we don't keep her covered up well than the ice in our coolers melts in just hours instead of an entire day. Life down here just bites....kinda like the wind up there huh. Just kidding, good luck and stay warm. Being a born and bred cracker I truly have no idea what you go through up there but I'm sure I would die in less than a week in that kind of weather.
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ted
our way
we have a few plastic tablecloths - seconds from where the brother-in-law used to work. we fold one up and pin it to the wooden surround of the companion way. the wooden part including the hatch cover are old ones we do not use during the sailing season. we do not use the flat thumb tacks but the ones with the long things on. - easier to remove on the monthly interior inspection - two hanging damp rids in the cabin, etc. then small blue plastic tarp - 4' by 8' to cover the top of the area of the cabin and the front of the hatch area. latter not entirely closely covered. cheap line from tarp tying holes to bottom of staunchions, etc. then long anchor line - has uses even during winter! - criss-crossed across the top of the tarp from staunchions again to winches, etc. we have done this the last three seasons and has worked very well. yes, new tarp every year - 2.45dollars this year from walmarts - perhaps an unecessary luxory - but we love our boat! 50cents worth of long fingered thumb tacks, if has to be bought at most 1 dollar's worth of thin cheap line. the tablecoth, it has a soft backing so nicer!, if it has to be bought - say 3.50dollars at walmarts. now the expensive part - a post season coating of fleetwax on the decks and cockpit after a wash and a cleaning with collinites fibreglass cleaner! a wipe over of the deck metal work. expensive that is if the coors-lite is not on sale. all the above will ease the cleaning and waxing in the spring and stop any possible yellowing - certainly worth the extra three hours at laying up. also eases the spring cleaning, etc. when not fit and anxious not to miss those good early spring breezes. hope above helps - our boat is said to be one of the best turned out from a large boat yard at the start of the season - and driest. incidently, ours is a 26.5', so you may need a slightly larger tarp. the edges of the tarp do not touch the staunchions. by the way no rubbing on the fibreglass etc. from tying down lines, etc.,etc. if you have to outlay more than 10dollars to make your boat sound secure and dry every winter, i will be surprised.
we have a few plastic tablecloths - seconds from where the brother-in-law used to work. we fold one up and pin it to the wooden surround of the companion way. the wooden part including the hatch cover are old ones we do not use during the sailing season. we do not use the flat thumb tacks but the ones with the long things on. - easier to remove on the monthly interior inspection - two hanging damp rids in the cabin, etc. then small blue plastic tarp - 4' by 8' to cover the top of the area of the cabin and the front of the hatch area. latter not entirely closely covered. cheap line from tarp tying holes to bottom of staunchions, etc. then long anchor line - has uses even during winter! - criss-crossed across the top of the tarp from staunchions again to winches, etc. we have done this the last three seasons and has worked very well. yes, new tarp every year - 2.45dollars this year from walmarts - perhaps an unecessary luxory - but we love our boat! 50cents worth of long fingered thumb tacks, if has to be bought at most 1 dollar's worth of thin cheap line. the tablecoth, it has a soft backing so nicer!, if it has to be bought - say 3.50dollars at walmarts. now the expensive part - a post season coating of fleetwax on the decks and cockpit after a wash and a cleaning with collinites fibreglass cleaner! a wipe over of the deck metal work. expensive that is if the coors-lite is not on sale. all the above will ease the cleaning and waxing in the spring and stop any possible yellowing - certainly worth the extra three hours at laying up. also eases the spring cleaning, etc. when not fit and anxious not to miss those good early spring breezes. hope above helps - our boat is said to be one of the best turned out from a large boat yard at the start of the season - and driest. incidently, ours is a 26.5', so you may need a slightly larger tarp. the edges of the tarp do not touch the staunchions. by the way no rubbing on the fibreglass etc. from tying down lines, etc.,etc. if you have to outlay more than 10dollars to make your boat sound secure and dry every winter, i will be surprised.
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Ed Schenck
Better cover?
This will be my third winter with the heavier silver/black tarps available from West Marine(I think). These are very strong and I'm planning at least two more seasons. It takes two to cover my H37C. My mast is usually up(except this winter) so I use 6" drainage hose to make a spine, mast to bow and mast to stern. Like you I just go to the toerail. The tarp is strong enough to be anchored from the grommets but I still run a few lines over the top. If I could use my mast to make a tent then I would go over the stanchions. I did this my first winter with a cheap blue tarp. I slotted that same 6" drainage pipe(the thin, plastic, flexible stuff) and covered each post with a two foot section. That tarp also lasted the winter. It's on my To-Do list to buy the canvas and sew a proper cover.
This will be my third winter with the heavier silver/black tarps available from West Marine(I think). These are very strong and I'm planning at least two more seasons. It takes two to cover my H37C. My mast is usually up(except this winter) so I use 6" drainage hose to make a spine, mast to bow and mast to stern. Like you I just go to the toerail. The tarp is strong enough to be anchored from the grommets but I still run a few lines over the top. If I could use my mast to make a tent then I would go over the stanchions. I did this my first winter with a cheap blue tarp. I slotted that same 6" drainage pipe(the thin, plastic, flexible stuff) and covered each post with a two foot section. That tarp also lasted the winter. It's on my To-Do list to buy the canvas and sew a proper cover.
K
Ken Palmer
Thanks for the ideas
Good suggestions everybody. I like Scott's the best, and will move to Florida as soon as possible! Keep a beer cold. By the way, the temperature this morning was 9 degrees! One fellow in the yard bought plastic snow-fence (about $25 for 50 feet) and covered the plastic with it. It looks like it has also held up. Barry, even using the mast as a tent-pole, I would have to cut holes in the cover to go over the stanchions. I suppose a way to make it last would be to get a good heavy cover, cut the holes where they meet the stanchions, and use large metal grommets pressed in to reinforce the cut holes. I have seen the small grommets, I wonder if there are large ones available too. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
Good suggestions everybody. I like Scott's the best, and will move to Florida as soon as possible! Keep a beer cold. By the way, the temperature this morning was 9 degrees! One fellow in the yard bought plastic snow-fence (about $25 for 50 feet) and covered the plastic with it. It looks like it has also held up. Barry, even using the mast as a tent-pole, I would have to cut holes in the cover to go over the stanchions. I suppose a way to make it last would be to get a good heavy cover, cut the holes where they meet the stanchions, and use large metal grommets pressed in to reinforce the cut holes. I have seen the small grommets, I wonder if there are large ones available too. Ken Palmer, S/V Liberty
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