Was at the marina yesterday and was surprised at a few nice boats were not covered. Is covering needed?
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shrink wrap required?
Steve, I think it is a good idea to cover your boat somehow to prevent the possible damage from water(rain/snow melt)turning to ice and causing leaks that will cause other problems(core rot etc etc)This becomes real issue with a constant thaw/freeze cycle.That said there are lots of boat that don't ever get covered and don't ever leak so it becomes a personal choice for the owner, How well does he/she care for things (there boat)? Think about it like putting your car in a garage or leaving it outside.If you are only going to own it for a few years not much difference but if you plan on owning it for 10 years what would you do? Also another thought is that boats that are painted (imron,algrip)should not be covered with shrik wrap unless the finish is protected so that the plastic shrik wrap will not scuff and scratch the paint. This may be one reason some "nice" boats are not covered. Covering also helps to reduce the snow load (additional weight)that adds load to the stands that equal added stress to hull and cabin tops.The short answer is I see lots of positives to covering and not many negatives.
Steve, I think it is a good idea to cover your boat somehow to prevent the possible damage from water(rain/snow melt)turning to ice and causing leaks that will cause other problems(core rot etc etc)This becomes real issue with a constant thaw/freeze cycle.That said there are lots of boat that don't ever get covered and don't ever leak so it becomes a personal choice for the owner, How well does he/she care for things (there boat)? Think about it like putting your car in a garage or leaving it outside.If you are only going to own it for a few years not much difference but if you plan on owning it for 10 years what would you do? Also another thought is that boats that are painted (imron,algrip)should not be covered with shrik wrap unless the finish is protected so that the plastic shrik wrap will not scuff and scratch the paint. This may be one reason some "nice" boats are not covered. Covering also helps to reduce the snow load (additional weight)that adds load to the stands that equal added stress to hull and cabin tops.The short answer is I see lots of positives to covering and not many negatives.
Shrink Wrap/Rip-Off!!
The best way to cover a boat is so that alot of "air" is able to move through it. The plain old "blue/green" tarp works best and it can be reused many years. Use the mast as a ridgepole leaving the tarp fairly open at the ends. I get 7+ years out of a single tarp, try that with shrink wrap!
The best way to cover a boat is so that alot of "air" is able to move through it. The plain old "blue/green" tarp works best and it can be reused many years. Use the mast as a ridgepole leaving the tarp fairly open at the ends. I get 7+ years out of a single tarp, try that with shrink wrap!
Doesn't Get better than Shrink Wrap
Depending on where you store your boat you may need a cover to avoid ice and UV damage. I shrink wrap my 36' sailboat mast up in about two hours by myself (for $50 with vents). Then I relax with a beer and watch other struggle with tarps making a puzzle with cuts and duct tape. The marina staff makes bets on which tarp will be on the ground first. If they don't blow off they fill with water and damage the boat. I get entertained watching them try to reuse the old tarps year after year. They tear in the wind and the grommets scratch the boat. NO COVER IS BETTER THAN A BAD COVER. If you're not concerned with ice damage and you vessel is not prone to having leaks forget the cover/
Depending on where you store your boat you may need a cover to avoid ice and UV damage. I shrink wrap my 36' sailboat mast up in about two hours by myself (for $50 with vents). Then I relax with a beer and watch other struggle with tarps making a puzzle with cuts and duct tape. The marina staff makes bets on which tarp will be on the ground first. If they don't blow off they fill with water and damage the boat. I get entertained watching them try to reuse the old tarps year after year. They tear in the wind and the grommets scratch the boat. NO COVER IS BETTER THAN A BAD COVER. If you're not concerned with ice damage and you vessel is not prone to having leaks forget the cover/
Can't understand how...
...tarps last more than a few weeks. They are not UV protected and always catch the wind. I've been there. I've left it uncovered (try to avaoid this), I've used tarps (always fall apart) and I've shrink wrapped (always worked the best). I vote for shrink wrap, but as long as you can cover it to keep water, leaves and bird poop off the boat, then that's the way to go. Good Luck. Time will always tell. *
...tarps last more than a few weeks. They are not UV protected and always catch the wind. I've been there. I've left it uncovered (try to avaoid this), I've used tarps (always fall apart) and I've shrink wrapped (always worked the best). I vote for shrink wrap, but as long as you can cover it to keep water, leaves and bird poop off the boat, then that's the way to go. Good Luck. Time will always tell. *
This is CRAZY
However, I bought a used plastic billboard, the plastic they use now is 4 or more times thicker than the blue tarps,the advertisement is painted on one side, the other side is white, the size I got was 15 X 45 feet, I rigged the tarp onto the boat,( only used 20 feet of it) I tied it off using 1x3" pieces of wood set into the "pockets" sewed onto the edges of the tarp. I did this mid October, there have been strong winds, snow and many rain storms, The cover never moved. I removed the boom, and use the dodger frame for support, along with supports I made. air flow is maintained over the boat. Total cost for the tarp and all wood and supplies $ 30.00!
However, I bought a used plastic billboard, the plastic they use now is 4 or more times thicker than the blue tarps,the advertisement is painted on one side, the other side is white, the size I got was 15 X 45 feet, I rigged the tarp onto the boat,( only used 20 feet of it) I tied it off using 1x3" pieces of wood set into the "pockets" sewed onto the edges of the tarp. I did this mid October, there have been strong winds, snow and many rain storms, The cover never moved. I removed the boom, and use the dodger frame for support, along with supports I made. air flow is maintained over the boat. Total cost for the tarp and all wood and supplies $ 30.00!
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