Meant to Be up on the hard

[Ian McGain]

Meant to Be- Now up on the hard

My 1979 Hunter 30 is now up on the hard on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
I have now used the same covering system for the third season. This will work for any boat with a toe rail with perforations similiar to my boat.
The wire channel lock and the zig-zag wire are used in the greenhouse industry, as is the covering which is a clear greenhouse film and good for four to six years, if you remove with care. I have marked the channel on the reverse with port and starboard and place from the bow (#1 #2#3#4 port). The channel and wire cost was about $75.00 and is available from Greenhouse supply companies. The film is more money depending on size and number of rated years. The film is available in clear or white and has UV inhibitiors. I have used the clear 4 year rated.
I have enclosed some pictures. The film stays on the boat and does not shred like the tarps I have used in the past.

Send me an e if you have any question.

Ian McGain
Meant to Be

 

[Dalliance]

Ian

This is brilliant! It never occured to me to attach channel lock to the aluminum toe rail.
I have two questions for you:
1) How are you using the zig-zag wire? I can't really tell from the photos.
2) Why have you slit the plastic around the stanchions and run it below the lifelines instead of draping it over the lifelines and down to the channel lock?

 

[Ian McGain]

When I first purchased my Hunter, I covered it with a blue tarp- over the stantions and lifelines. It snowed that winter several times, and when I went down to the boat to check on her, I found three of the stantions had collapsed under the snow load. This was a very expensive lesson.

The zig-zag wire is designed to go into a channel and lock in place the greenhouse film. This is a two part system. I also started at the bow and worked my way to the stern. I used a 1/4" drill to match up with the perforations on the rail. I bought a large package of #10 2" screws and bolts plus fender washers at Lowes to bolt the channel to the rail.
I use about one bolt every two feet, or 4 to the four foot sections. This alows the channel to pull in to conform with the boats shape. This year it took five hours by myself to do the job and I still had to drill about 5 or 6 new holes. I drill the channel holding it up to the rail so I hit the opening.

Hope this helps.
Ian

 

[Dalliance]

Ian

Thanks. Your added explanation and photos make it clear. I somehow had in in my mind that the channel lock system was two channels; a smaller one snapping inside the first, but I can see now that's what the zig zag wire does.
Your hard lesson about snow loads on the stanchions explains one of the reasons some people lash together these sort of covered wagon type frames of pvc tubing above the deck before putting on their tarp or shrink wrap.

Dalliance is already shrink wrapped for the season, but at $600 per year and the stuff ends up in a landfill after one season, I may adopt some variation of your system next year. It looks far more secure than trying to tie down a tarp.