How to protecting above-deck bike from moisture and UV?

[patrickkidd]

I am a liveaboard and lock my road bike outside my Catalina 30. I am looking for a way to protect it from moisture and UV while locking it to the boat. What have others found?

I have gone through three $60-$75 heavy duty bike parkas which work well but don't last very long in the wind and are cumbersome to put on the bike. I had a clever way of preparing it up by tying the seat post to the dock cleats (with bike parka) but the harbormaster said I had to keep the dock fingers clean. Custom dock boxes are also not allowed.

I am thinking about making one out of a couple of layers of visqueen, as there doesn't seem to be anything on the market. Hanging the frame over the bow pulpit is the easiest way to lock the bike.

 

[The Shadow Knows]

I don't know what your marina allows but, I would look for a dock box that may fit your bike
size if allowable. If removing the front wheel, the correct sized box may work for you.

Above deck, unless you can seal it from moisture, Visqueen is but a band aid fix.
You cannot seal it & it will not keep out moisture. If your marina has a dock master's building, see if
you can work something out to store the bike there with a quick grab-n-store option.

Your options may be limited so if this doesn't work, check with close-by merchants.
It may cost a few bucks but, see if it is worth the money.

 

[patrickkidd]

I don't know what your marina allows but, I would look for a dock box that may fit your bike
size if allowable. If removing the front wheel, the correct sized box may work for you.

Above deck, unless you can seal it from moisture, Visqueen is but a band aid fix.
You cannot seal it & it will not keep out moisture. If your marina has a dock master's building, see if
you can work something out to store the bike there with a quick grab-n-store option.

Your options may be limited so if this doesn't work, check with close-by merchants.
It may cost a few bucks but, see if it is worth the money.

They don't allow dock boxes. The bike will not be on the boat when I'm sailing. The bike parka did a great job of keeping out moisture and was fully open to the elements on the bottom which indicates that it just needs to keep the (San Francisco) fog off as it moves through a breeze. The idea with the visqueen was to make a heavier duty bike parka, probably welding double layers together with a heat gun which would be quite strong.

 

[capta]

About the only way to protect non-marinized equipment on a boat in salt water is to keep it in vacuum packaging or slathered with grease. It doesn't even need to get salt water on it, there's plenty in the air.
I'd go for a cheap bike and just replace it frequently.

 

[Benny17441]

You may not like my solution but since you asked here it is for your consideration. Spending $60-$75 to solve a $30 problem is not warranted. Go to your nearest thrift store and purchase the best bike you can for $30 dollars and let it sit in the elements, when the tires rot and the rust prevents the bike from running get another one. Some maintenance by periodically lubricating the chain and wheel bearings, adding duct tape to the seat and Armour All to the tires will extend the junker's life. If you need for whatever reason to ride a fancy and expensive bike then you are on your own. An added benefit of riding a rust bucket is that almost no one will want to steal it.

 

[patrickkidd]

You may not like my solution but since you asked here it is for your consideration. Spending $60-$75 to solve a $30 problem is not warranted. Go to your nearest thrift store and purchase the best bike you can for $30 dollars and let it sit in the elements, when the tires rot and the rust prevents the bike from running get another one. Some maintenance by periodically lubricating the chain and wheel bearings, adding duct tape to the seat and Armour All to the tires will extend the junker's life. If you need for whatever reason to ride a fancy and expensive bike then you are on your own. An added benefit of riding a rust bucket is that almost no one will want to steal it.

Yeah that would be nice. I like my moderately-fancy road bike

 

[Tom G P-21]

How about making a bike cover out of sunbrella? If you want waterproof, you could scotch guard it or use one of you bike parkas as a liner. Just a thought.