Low priced boat cover..

[Leeward Rail]

Good Morning All,

It's a miserable morning outside, so I thought I post some photos of one of the projects I'm working on.

Our C22 will spend its non-sailing time on a trailer, in my yard, under mature trees.
Obviously, the tree will dump debris al over the boat, turn the deck black, and invite birds to do their business.

So.. I need a cover.
I had thought about making a cabin top+companionway cover, but in this case a full cover makes more sense.

I have looked at the various custom made options online, and they are all expensive.
I decided to look into using a stock cover and modifying it.

At Costco, I found a Classic Accessories Typhoon Waterproof Boat Cover for $100
The box said it would work for boats up to 22ft, and it came with a support pole for the cockpit.
The boat is intended for typical powerboats, but I thought it may work for the C22.

We tested it last night and it fits. Next I'll buy some supplies online, mark where sections need to be cut to go around the stanchions, pullpit etc.
With luck I can get a friend to sew the modifications. If not, I'll take it down to the local tent and awning place.

The cover is designed so it can be used when trailering. It has straps that go attach to the trailer. It also has vents in the cockpit area.

FWIW: For those who need that functionality, ikt would also be simple to have a zipper sewn in so it could be used when the mast was up.

 

[Drinkmilk]

Are you planning on doing any work under that cover while dry sailing? Would the cover give you enough room to work if supported over he cockpit? I only ask because I threw a tarp over the mast as a cheap, easy cover, secured by bungies to the trailer. I left the bow and stern open to facilitate a breezeway as to not suffocate while working in the cabin. It seems to work ok for now. I lifted the mast crutch up two notches and threw the tarp on it. It's helped when sanding the wood on rainy days.

I'm always looking for new/better ideas than what I dream up by myself.

 

[Leeward Rail]

I got the cover with the intent of using it when towing the trailer, and when it's parked at home.
I had thought that if I needed to do some work on the boat I could do like you did with a tarp over the mast with the pop top up.

The cover is advertised as fitting 22ft boats with an 8ft beam.
The C22 is just under that in both measurements.
As you can see from the photos, the cover appears bigger than that when sitting on the deck under the mast.
With the mast laying just above the closed hatch and the spreaders disconnected, the cover should JUST fit.

I'm thinking it might be somewhat usable for working on the boat, if I loosen the straps and have the whole cover go up. Kinda like a poptop cover... hehe. Just sitting over the mast and out to the tops of the stanchions with some PVC pipe form stanchion to stanchion.

The big issue will likely be light penetration. Plastic tarps let light through, but this polyester fabric with rubber-like coating probably won't let much in at all.

Once I get the boat functional, I'll be experimenting with the cover and post the results