Reuse shrink wrap?

jssailem · Mar 30, 2022

Gene never had this problem. Did a quick search and discovers their link.
It may be of help.

Shrink Wrap Recycling: Easier Than You Think - Boat Trader Blog

Recycling your used shrink wrap is easier than ever. Read on to find out some shrink wrap recycling solutions to help you dispose of your shrink wrap in an earth-friendly way.

www.boattrader.com

dlochner · Mar 30, 2022

If the shrink wrap removal is not successful, consider a custom canvas and frame cover. There are a number of brands, Fairclough is on. These are expensive upfront, However the break even point is about 3-4 years. with care the cover will 10 years or more with no plastic waste to speak of. I’ve been using one for 17 years. (On 2 different boats).

PaulK · Mar 30, 2022

We got a Fairclough cover for the reasons mentioned above. We can also set it up and take it down ourselves. Pricing on shrink wrap is not going to go down.

shemandr · Mar 30, 2022

I don't wish to sound like a wise guy but once shrunk, I don't think you can re-shrink it. If you cut it judiciously maybe you could tape it back together. But you would need to mark different sections with alignment guides. to re-piece it back together. Most boaters with the fever of getting their boats in the water during spring commissioning are not going to do that. They rip their covers with gusto and excitement .
Shrink wrap is meant to be a one time use with re-cycling.

quadrille38 · Mar 30, 2022

I’m not sure you can reheat and use the shrink wrap cover a second time. Mostly I’ve seen them recycled.

As suggested try a custom canvas type cover. I had my first one built for a Catalina 34. This was after spending at least 8 hours trying to tarp it and it barely made it through the winter. That cover cost $1200 and lasted 11 years. I could put it on working alone in about an hour.

we now have the Hunter 38 and have a cover for that. wouldn’t go any other way.
The previous owners of the Catalina had it shrink wrapped. They left it covered too late into the spring and when we got the cover off there was mildew all over the walls. Thankfully they’d taken the cushions off so those weren’t mildewed. The advantage with canvas type is that it breathes so reduces mildew problems. And newer materials have longer life and I’m told this one has a life of maybe 12 to 15 years.

rgranger · Mar 31, 2022

quadrille38 said:
That cover cost $1200 and lasted 11 years.

Using @quadrille38 's data, it looks like a custom cover costs about $100 a year... with no platic waste (if that is a factor in your calculous). Compare that to the cost to shrink wrap and go from there.

shemandr · Mar 31, 2022

Better check prices. My custom cover for the H356 was more like $3,000. I was a well known East Coast vender but $1,200 is a pretty low number.

DougM · Mar 31, 2022

$1200 is about what I paid in 2006 for a custom cover that lasted for 10 Michigan winters.
Replacement estimate was about triple that…
I had to resort to using shrink wrap because I could not get on to the canvas guy’s schedule at a time which would work for me. Given the environmental consideration, I still would certainly opt for canvas and because the payback makes more sense.

Dalliance · Mar 31, 2022

I’m actually in the process of pricing custom covers now. Looking like about $3k, including a $600 hull skirt option that covers down to the waterline. At current shrink wrapping cost, it should pay for itself in four years.
I’ve felt a little guilty every spring when I cut the shrinkwrap off and put it in the recycling bin, but when I was working 50-60 hour weeks, it was really nice to just have the yacht yard do the shrink wrap and not worry about it.
Wondered a few times over the years about re-using the shrink wrap material but concluded it was not practical on a sailboat and might not last through a second Chicago winter. Re-use might be feasible on power boats though.

Scott B · Mar 31, 2022

I used an Agriculture silver tarp whiich is heavier weight than the standard tarps, for 6-7 years. I built a wood frame with ridge beam and tied off to the cleats on deck, similar to the way they did shrink wrap first year we had the boat. Also used tarp clips that screwed through the tarp to fasten the ropes, much stronger than the eyelets in the tarp and could get multiple fasting points all around the skirt. Trick was to make sure the ridge was high enough that snow would not accumilate and make it tight enough to not get blown off.
I now have a custom tarp, similar layout as above and now going on 8 years+ with it and no issues.

Bob S · Mar 31, 2022

I had a Fairclough on my Catalina 30. The cost was around 2200 in 2010. The current owner is still using it. I paid $4400 for my Bene with dinghy davit cut outs. The canvas is in two pieces whereas the Cat was in one. They are made with some kind of cotton so I'm thinking it won't be too bad for the environment when I do dispose of it.

Tally Ho · Mar 31, 2022

I saw one sailboat in my marina with “recycled” shrink wrap. Doubt it was done professionally…just looked like the owner stretched the old shrink wrap over the cockpit. Looked like sh!t and didn’t protect much.

I bought a relatively inexpensive custom canvas cover for my O’Day 322. I think it was about $2k 5 or 6 years ago.

It is still going strong and protects my old girl pretty well. I like the Fairclough cover, and will look at that when mine finally fails.

Mine is in 3 pieces, that zip together. Makes carrying it easier. I store it in 3 boxes over the summer.

No frame required for mine either…uses the boom and a halyard in the middle of the front section to hold it up. I could use my spinnaker pole too.

Greg

quadrille38 · Mar 31, 2022

shemandr said:
Better check prices. My custom cover for the H356 was more like $3,000. I was a well known East Coast vender but $1,200 is a pretty low number.

I failed to mention that the $1200 was for a 34 in 1995. I paid $2700 for the 38 foot pictured in 2018. As I stated they’ve changed the materials which extends the life by several years.
It is in 3 sections and best of all our guy has a fabulous service where he puts the cover on in the fall and then in the spring he takes it off, inspects it for needed repairs and then stores it for us. All for a very reasonable fee. And since I now live in a condo and don’t have room to be storing stuff like that and getting older with back issues I don’t have to wrestle the darn thing anymore. I just call in advance and ask that the cover be installed or removed and they call me when it’s done.

lots of positives all the way around. And my getting older back is soooooo happy

shemandr · Mar 31, 2022

Oh yeah. Humping that cover up the boat ladder and lifting it over the boom was at the limit of my physical ability ten years ago. No way I could do it now.

dlochner · Apr 1, 2022

shemandr said:
Oh yeah. Humping that cover up the boat ladder and lifting it over the boom was at the limit of my physical ability ten years ago. No way I could do it now.

We use the dinghy motor lift to bring ours on board. Combined with an electric winch handle it is very doable. As we get older we need to get smarter.

Maine Sail · Apr 1, 2022

Shrink-wrap does not like to re-shrink after a winter..

All U Get · Apr 1, 2022

I did it using a lot of shrink tape, but it gets brittle so any harsh winds can rip it apart. We solved the problem by sailing south to where they don’t know what skrink wrap is.

quadrille38 · Apr 1, 2022

shemandr said:
Oh yeah. Humping that cover up the boat ladder and lifting it over the boom was at the limit of my physical ability ten years ago. No way I could do it now.

Did that once and then got smart when it dawned on me, put the dang thing on board when the boat is still in the slip. Transferring it from dock to cockpit is a whole lot easier than trying to lug it up a ladder. It was a real DUH moment for me LOL

Reuse shrink wrap?

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