I know it's pretty early to ask this - but how do you keep your boat dry over the winter? I know for a fact my boat doesn't have a drain plug or anything of the sort, and I'd rather not (though it is a possibility) keep the bilge pump hooked up. Another option is a cover. But any othe creative ideas for when your boat is in the driveway, how do you prevent the buildup of water - especially if you dont get to visit often.
Keep her dry
- Thread starter Brian M H23
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Many of the people down here "tent"
their boat for the winter with a line run down the center and supported at intervals with props and pulled very taut on the ends. They then drape a tarp over the line and weight it down with jugs filled with water or sand. You need more groumets than the tarp comes with but the home stores have taken care of that with movable ad-on hooks.
their boat for the winter with a line run down the center and supported at intervals with props and pulled very taut on the ends. They then drape a tarp over the line and weight it down with jugs filled with water or sand. You need more groumets than the tarp comes with but the home stores have taken care of that with movable ad-on hooks.
This will sound dumb
Close up the boat after pumping the bilges dry. Perhaps I'm missing something but if the boat does not leak in the water why would water get in when she is on the hard? If she does leak rain water then it would be a good idea to fix that so water does not get into the fiberglass core. I know my boat has sat out most years and I have never needed a tent. A tent would keep the seagull poop and dirt off however but I have 3 boys and this is an easy solution for me.
Close up the boat after pumping the bilges dry. Perhaps I'm missing something but if the boat does not leak in the water why would water get in when she is on the hard? If she does leak rain water then it would be a good idea to fix that so water does not get into the fiberglass core. I know my boat has sat out most years and I have never needed a tent. A tent would keep the seagull poop and dirt off however but I have 3 boys and this is an easy solution for me.
Cover frame
I can't recall where I saw it but.... I saw a really cool frame made out of PVC pipe. It needs to be big enough for strength but small enough to curve easily. I'm guessing 1" will work. Use the mast for a ridge beam. I have two 4"x4" posts cut to length to support the mast in addition to the fore and aft supports on the trailer. Make "rafters" out of the PVC pipe and lash it to the stanchions. I'm going to use long enough pipe to form an arc over the mast from one rail to the other. That allows for less chafing at the apex. Then, cover the whole thing with a poly tarp. The advantage of the rafters is that it gives you room to work under the tarp on fall and spring days when it's too cold to sail but too warm to be in the house. That will make launch day come that much sooner. Remember to pad any sharp edges to prevent chafing. The tarps don't like to rub corners. I haven't yet done this (new-to-me boat) but I will this fall.
I can't recall where I saw it but.... I saw a really cool frame made out of PVC pipe. It needs to be big enough for strength but small enough to curve easily. I'm guessing 1" will work. Use the mast for a ridge beam. I have two 4"x4" posts cut to length to support the mast in addition to the fore and aft supports on the trailer. Make "rafters" out of the PVC pipe and lash it to the stanchions. I'm going to use long enough pipe to form an arc over the mast from one rail to the other. That allows for less chafing at the apex. Then, cover the whole thing with a poly tarp. The advantage of the rafters is that it gives you room to work under the tarp on fall and spring days when it's too cold to sail but too warm to be in the house. That will make launch day come that much sooner. Remember to pad any sharp edges to prevent chafing. The tarps don't like to rub corners. I haven't yet done this (new-to-me boat) but I will this fall.
Snow
The problem with tenting where there is a possibility of snow is that the snow and ice will stretch the tent down behind the lifelines and that added weight will start to pull the stanchions in. That is why the stanchions are removed or added support out to the stanchions is needed under your cover.
The problem with tenting where there is a possibility of snow is that the snow and ice will stretch the tent down behind the lifelines and that added weight will start to pull the stanchions in. That is why the stanchions are removed or added support out to the stanchions is needed under your cover.
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