My sailboat is being hauled out of the water any day now and I elected not to demast the boat. The marina informed me that if I were to shrink wrap the boat, the work will be premium and will set me back a couple of hundred dollars. What is the rule of thumb for shrink wrapping a sailboat - can I get away with not wrapping it in plastic?
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Terrarium
Shrink wrapping actually makes an envronment out of your boat and can create mold. the boat is supposed to breathe, in fact my hunter dealer recommends leaving a port hole ajar to get air thru. Just think how hot the interior of your boat can get on a 60 degree day under shrink wrap. Jury rig a form (plastic pvc pipe) and cross over line (like a spider web) and cover with a blue tarp. Whole thing should run you a $100 plus your labor. The cost of shrink wrap is ridiculous and is not necessary.
Shrink wrapping actually makes an envronment out of your boat and can create mold. the boat is supposed to breathe, in fact my hunter dealer recommends leaving a port hole ajar to get air thru. Just think how hot the interior of your boat can get on a 60 degree day under shrink wrap. Jury rig a form (plastic pvc pipe) and cross over line (like a spider web) and cover with a blue tarp. Whole thing should run you a $100 plus your labor. The cost of shrink wrap is ridiculous and is not necessary.
Boat cover
I am a first year boat owner. I was shocked to find out how much it cost to wrap my boat up for the winter (not to mention the waste of plastic!). Needless to say this is the first and last time I will shrink wrap it. I am looking for suggestions as to where I might get a custom fit boat cover? I tried my local canvas maker and they don't do it. Andy Salem, MA Hunter 33
I am a first year boat owner. I was shocked to find out how much it cost to wrap my boat up for the winter (not to mention the waste of plastic!). Needless to say this is the first and last time I will shrink wrap it. I am looking for suggestions as to where I might get a custom fit boat cover? I tried my local canvas maker and they don't do it. Andy Salem, MA Hunter 33
Cover your boat
Contact the Top Shop in Ontario Canada. They have the sizes of almost all popular boats and can make a cover, mast in or mast out.
Contact the Top Shop in Ontario Canada. They have the sizes of almost all popular boats and can make a cover, mast in or mast out.
I don't know, but...
I'm sure shrink wrapping has great benefits or it wouldn't be so popular. I chose to save some money and covered mine with a white tarp and net. I figure: -Snow and ice is not a good thing if my cockpit drain freezes. -The white tarp should'd cause a heating/cooling cycle like a dark tarp could. -The big net will keep it from being beaten to death in the winds. All together the tarp was around $50 and the net was $96, Canadian$. I left the forward hatch open a few inches for ventilation and stripped the interior as far as possible. I don't know it it's cheaper in the long run but I've seen many who re-use their shrink wrap year after year.
I'm sure shrink wrapping has great benefits or it wouldn't be so popular. I chose to save some money and covered mine with a white tarp and net. I figure: -Snow and ice is not a good thing if my cockpit drain freezes. -The white tarp should'd cause a heating/cooling cycle like a dark tarp could. -The big net will keep it from being beaten to death in the winds. All together the tarp was around $50 and the net was $96, Canadian$. I left the forward hatch open a few inches for ventilation and stripped the interior as far as possible. I don't know it it's cheaper in the long run but I've seen many who re-use their shrink wrap year after year.
I've said it before...
... and I'll say it again: consider DIY shrink wrap. My buddy and I shrinked wrapped our two Pearson 422's last weekend. It cost us $89 each for the plasic from Dr. Shrink (see related link), and a bit extra for the tape, strapping etc. It took a day for each boat, but we are getting faster each time we do it *5 Not bragging, but I think our finished product is every bit as good as the commercial guys, and it certainly was way lot less than the $900 the yard charges
It cost us $300 for the propane kit last year. We've now covered five boats, so that cost is being amortized down to nothing. Ventilation is important. We put 10 vents on each boat. We bought them for less than $2 each last year from Dr. Shrink; they are reusable, but you can also make your own. Just be careful with that torch! The film is not flame retardent. Derek
... and I'll say it again: consider DIY shrink wrap. My buddy and I shrinked wrapped our two Pearson 422's last weekend. It cost us $89 each for the plasic from Dr. Shrink (see related link), and a bit extra for the tape, strapping etc. It took a day for each boat, but we are getting faster each time we do it *5 Not bragging, but I think our finished product is every bit as good as the commercial guys, and it certainly was way lot less than the $900 the yard charges
It cost us $300 for the propane kit last year. We've now covered five boats, so that cost is being amortized down to nothing. Ventilation is important. We put 10 vents on each boat. We bought them for less than $2 each last year from Dr. Shrink; they are reusable, but you can also make your own. Just be careful with that torch! The film is not flame retardent. Derekblue tarp
I've done the blue tarp thing for 4 years now and it keeps the leaves and other major debris out. I have a clean, non-moldy boat in the spring. Just make sure you get a good tent-like configuration to keep it from collecting any snow/water.
I've done the blue tarp thing for 4 years now and it keeps the leaves and other major debris out. I have a clean, non-moldy boat in the spring. Just make sure you get a good tent-like configuration to keep it from collecting any snow/water.
Dana, tell us more about the net
I think nets might be hard to find here in central Canada, but what do you get for $95 (how big, how heavy)? Do you tie the net down? Kevin
I think nets might be hard to find here in central Canada, but what do you get for $95 (how big, how heavy)? Do you tie the net down? Kevin
Andy, here is the Top Shop site
The Top Shop mentioned by Briann is by Quinte Canvas in either Bellville or Kingston Ontario. Their alloy frames and canvas covers are not cheap but I have seen a lot of them around that are 10+ years and still holding up well. Don't forget your US$ will get you $1.20 CDN. The only problem with DIY shrinkwrap is the time it takes. A frame and cover can go up in 2-3 hrs. vs. as the other post says, a full day for a couple of guys to shrinkwrap a boat. Kevin
The Top Shop mentioned by Briann is by Quinte Canvas in either Bellville or Kingston Ontario. Their alloy frames and canvas covers are not cheap but I have seen a lot of them around that are 10+ years and still holding up well. Don't forget your US$ will get you $1.20 CDN. The only problem with DIY shrinkwrap is the time it takes. A frame and cover can go up in 2-3 hrs. vs. as the other post says, a full day for a couple of guys to shrinkwrap a boat. Kevin
Tuu-Tuff tarp
You've got better things to do on the to-do list than worry about big bucks and mold from shrink wrap. For around $50 Tuu-Tuff is available at a warehouse in Philadelphia and will last 18 months, perhaps 12 in New York. It's much tougher than traditional blue tarp. For years I've bought one 10x15 for the bow and another 20-15 for behind the mast. I use the spinnaker halyard to pull up into a tent near the pedestal to let rain run off. I cover the boat all-year round and it shows: less wear and tear on the fiberglass, which is treated with Island Girl. If you want the address in Philly email me at bododonovan@vagazette.com
You've got better things to do on the to-do list than worry about big bucks and mold from shrink wrap. For around $50 Tuu-Tuff is available at a warehouse in Philadelphia and will last 18 months, perhaps 12 in New York. It's much tougher than traditional blue tarp. For years I've bought one 10x15 for the bow and another 20-15 for behind the mast. I use the spinnaker halyard to pull up into a tent near the pedestal to let rain run off. I cover the boat all-year round and it shows: less wear and tear on the fiberglass, which is treated with Island Girl. If you want the address in Philly email me at bododonovan@vagazette.com
Shrink Wrap can't be beat
Sure you could buy a tarp of two, make a few cuts to get around the rigging and hope it makes it until spring. If it does you'll likely find scratches from the alumimun gromets working in the wind and remnants of deteriorated tarps on the deck. The snow will likely cause problems too. Shink wrap properly installed with a few vents can be done by any boat owner for under a hundred bucks one you have a proper heat gun. Good yards recycle the plastic. I wrap my 34' boat by myself in about 4 hours (a 5 beer job)
Sure you could buy a tarp of two, make a few cuts to get around the rigging and hope it makes it until spring. If it does you'll likely find scratches from the alumimun gromets working in the wind and remnants of deteriorated tarps on the deck. The snow will likely cause problems too. Shink wrap properly installed with a few vents can be done by any boat owner for under a hundred bucks one you have a proper heat gun. Good yards recycle the plastic. I wrap my 34' boat by myself in about 4 hours (a 5 beer job)
Us guys in the Northwest are lucky. We leave the
boat in the water year-round. But man, the green algae covers the boat, even right now. The boat'll be invisible by spring.
boat in the water year-round. But man, the green algae covers the boat, even right now. The boat'll be invisible by spring.
Tyvec
I have used tyvek to cover my boat. It held up over the Montana Winter with lots of snow and wind. Blue tarps only last < a year but the tyvek is still going strong after 2 years. I built a frame out of cheap PVC pipe and lots of double sided tape to finish the edges and to put two lengths of tyvek together to be wide enough to cover my boat. the most important thing is to make sure you have a good frame with no sharp corners and you are good to go. Got the roll of tyvek at home depot enough to cover 4 boats about $75.
I have used tyvek to cover my boat. It held up over the Montana Winter with lots of snow and wind. Blue tarps only last < a year but the tyvek is still going strong after 2 years. I built a frame out of cheap PVC pipe and lots of double sided tape to finish the edges and to put two lengths of tyvek together to be wide enough to cover my boat. the most important thing is to make sure you have a good frame with no sharp corners and you are good to go. Got the roll of tyvek at home depot enough to cover 4 boats about $75.
Tyvek again
Forgot to say that People use tyvek to make sails out of for project sailboats. Real strong stuff. http://www.boat-links.com/Tyvek/
Forgot to say that People use tyvek to make sails out of for project sailboats. Real strong stuff. http://www.boat-links.com/Tyvek/
Tony, for a custom cover try Fairclough.....
Fairclough Sailmakers 108 W. Main Street Milford, CT 06460 (203) 787-2322 These people are relatively close to you and probably have a pattern for your boat on file. I have no affiliation with them and have only purchased my cover from them 7 years ago. They custom make covers that are made from a breathe-able duck canvas and fit it on a steel frame with custom fittings. Very pricey, but will last 12-15+ years with care. Mine is on for it's 7th winter and shows no wear and just a few soiled marks. It installs the same way each year and takes me and 1-2 others about 5 hours to install. I have attached a picture. As you can see the cover goes all the way down to the water line and so the topsides are protected as well as the deck. The cover will fit any configuration: mast in or out, on the hard or in the water.
Fairclough Sailmakers 108 W. Main Street Milford, CT 06460 (203) 787-2322 These people are relatively close to you and probably have a pattern for your boat on file. I have no affiliation with them and have only purchased my cover from them 7 years ago. They custom make covers that are made from a breathe-able duck canvas and fit it on a steel frame with custom fittings. Very pricey, but will last 12-15+ years with care. Mine is on for it's 7th winter and shows no wear and just a few soiled marks. It installs the same way each year and takes me and 1-2 others about 5 hours to install. I have attached a picture. As you can see the cover goes all the way down to the water line and so the topsides are protected as well as the deck. The cover will fit any configuration: mast in or out, on the hard or in the water.
winter covers
Tony, contact "The Canvas Store" on Long Island-they make a cover out of a polyester canvas material called Top Gun. The covers are really well made, with zippers, wrap strips, and ties to go around your rigging. thay also put in "hats" on any stress points like the arch mount traveller blocks. the covers fit perfectly, use the boom for support of the aft section, and tie to the forestay for the forward section support. the cover for our 356 was about $1500 and really worth it. Andy K, Escape is coming out of the water friday and my cover should be on this weekend if you want to look-give me a yell if you have questions. FYI, many yards prohibit someone else shrink wrapping boats in their yard "because of the hazard of adjacent boat damage or fire". It's a huge moneymaker and they want a monopoly-shrink wrapping a 356 is about $800 a year in the Boston area! In any case, you risk mold if you don't have a lot of ventilation-a cover is much better than shrink
Tony, contact "The Canvas Store" on Long Island-they make a cover out of a polyester canvas material called Top Gun. The covers are really well made, with zippers, wrap strips, and ties to go around your rigging. thay also put in "hats" on any stress points like the arch mount traveller blocks. the covers fit perfectly, use the boom for support of the aft section, and tie to the forestay for the forward section support. the cover for our 356 was about $1500 and really worth it. Andy K, Escape is coming out of the water friday and my cover should be on this weekend if you want to look-give me a yell if you have questions. FYI, many yards prohibit someone else shrink wrapping boats in their yard "because of the hazard of adjacent boat damage or fire". It's a huge moneymaker and they want a monopoly-shrink wrapping a 356 is about $800 a year in the Boston area! In any case, you risk mold if you don't have a lot of ventilation-a cover is much better than shrink
boat fetish undercover
I admit it; I have a boat fetish. When people see my fleet under winter cover, they often stop by to inquire about my fees for winter storage in my yard. And, it is with red face that I have to confess that they are my boats, and that no, I don’t store boats for others. I share this fact, not to provide myself with further embarrassment, not to brag that I waste more of my pressure summer cleaning, waxing, and preparing the fleet than any sane person, to say nothing of the investment of time in the autumn laying the fleet back up. No, I share this because I have been experimenting with winter covers, and maybe I can share these experiences with willing readers. For the past 25 years I have done a combination of custom canvas, and green, (now blue) tarps. Recently I began adding professional shrinkwrap to the mix. And last year I began shrink-wrapping myself. (that is I shrinkwrap the boats— not myself). Before I give away my hand prematurely. Let me say that we tend to get a modest amount of snow per year (80-140 inches), but that snow tends to last, get packed down, and turn to ice. Early last year I had 3 solid feet of ice on top of my cockpit cover. It broke my heart to see my SS wheel, wrapped and frozen solid in a mold of solid gray ice. Shrink-wrapping a boat is either expensive or time consuming. You need to have a minimum of 5 hours of free time, or a minimum of $12 per foot that you are willing to part with. In my opinion there is no question that this is the best alternative. Early last year my boats that were covered with custom canvas had snow packed by the wind to the point it turned to crispy ice which imbedded itself in the fibers of the canvas. The canvas doesn’t seem to shed the snow well when this happens which in turn sags from the weight. The tarps don’t have this problem; rather their problem is that they shed the snow well, but nothing can shed the snow when Mother Nature dumps 24 inches of wet sticky snow inside a few short hours. Here the blue tarps fail because they simply rip, or sag, or the structure just collapses. Also sunlight and wind really crisp then fray these tarps. Shrinkwrap film on the other hand is slippery stuff! The structure that you can put underneath can be lighter weight, carry longer spans and still the light wind following the January thaw will liberate the snow from the film leaving a happy boat behind. When I had a couple of boats shrink-wrapped professionally they were not well ventilated and I suffered no more damage than I do with canvas. When I began shrink-wrapping myself I did head the warnings and spent the $1.45 per vent. I guess I put one vent for about every 3 feet of LOA. So as I look out at the yard I think I will convert all of my boats to shrinkwrap. Who knows maybe the sports cars too? After all, shrinkwrap is a hell of a lot cheaper than building any permanent taxable structure on waterfront property! Besides the shrinkwrap film always looks clean and perky whereas the canvas always look dirty and dingy while the tarps look beleaguered. I have the shrinkwrap film recycled to sooth my conscience about filling, and I mean… really…filling land fills with cubic yards of the stuff. Good Luck John
I admit it; I have a boat fetish. When people see my fleet under winter cover, they often stop by to inquire about my fees for winter storage in my yard. And, it is with red face that I have to confess that they are my boats, and that no, I don’t store boats for others. I share this fact, not to provide myself with further embarrassment, not to brag that I waste more of my pressure summer cleaning, waxing, and preparing the fleet than any sane person, to say nothing of the investment of time in the autumn laying the fleet back up. No, I share this because I have been experimenting with winter covers, and maybe I can share these experiences with willing readers. For the past 25 years I have done a combination of custom canvas, and green, (now blue) tarps. Recently I began adding professional shrinkwrap to the mix. And last year I began shrink-wrapping myself. (that is I shrinkwrap the boats— not myself). Before I give away my hand prematurely. Let me say that we tend to get a modest amount of snow per year (80-140 inches), but that snow tends to last, get packed down, and turn to ice. Early last year I had 3 solid feet of ice on top of my cockpit cover. It broke my heart to see my SS wheel, wrapped and frozen solid in a mold of solid gray ice. Shrink-wrapping a boat is either expensive or time consuming. You need to have a minimum of 5 hours of free time, or a minimum of $12 per foot that you are willing to part with. In my opinion there is no question that this is the best alternative. Early last year my boats that were covered with custom canvas had snow packed by the wind to the point it turned to crispy ice which imbedded itself in the fibers of the canvas. The canvas doesn’t seem to shed the snow well when this happens which in turn sags from the weight. The tarps don’t have this problem; rather their problem is that they shed the snow well, but nothing can shed the snow when Mother Nature dumps 24 inches of wet sticky snow inside a few short hours. Here the blue tarps fail because they simply rip, or sag, or the structure just collapses. Also sunlight and wind really crisp then fray these tarps. Shrinkwrap film on the other hand is slippery stuff! The structure that you can put underneath can be lighter weight, carry longer spans and still the light wind following the January thaw will liberate the snow from the film leaving a happy boat behind. When I had a couple of boats shrink-wrapped professionally they were not well ventilated and I suffered no more damage than I do with canvas. When I began shrink-wrapping myself I did head the warnings and spent the $1.45 per vent. I guess I put one vent for about every 3 feet of LOA. So as I look out at the yard I think I will convert all of my boats to shrinkwrap. Who knows maybe the sports cars too? After all, shrinkwrap is a hell of a lot cheaper than building any permanent taxable structure on waterfront property! Besides the shrinkwrap film always looks clean and perky whereas the canvas always look dirty and dingy while the tarps look beleaguered. I have the shrinkwrap film recycled to sooth my conscience about filling, and I mean… really…filling land fills with cubic yards of the stuff. Good Luck John
My cover
Here's a picture of what I did. First year doing it...sooo we'll see if it works. Cost of materials, $150, but PVC and lines should be reusable. Tarps, unknown if they will be reusable.
Here's a picture of what I did. First year doing it...sooo we'll see if it works. Cost of materials, $150, but PVC and lines should be reusable. Tarps, unknown if they will be reusable.
Chuck, et al...
Thanks everybody for the suggestions. Chuck, I will stop by this weekend or next to take a look. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to stay in the water all winter ;-) As of earlier this week my boat still wasn't wrapped after being out for a month. Grrrr. Just another reason to do this job myself. As Chuck mentioned we are not allowed to shrinkwrap our own boats or have outsiders do it for us. I'm all for supporting my local yard but there are limits. Andy Salem, MA
Thanks everybody for the suggestions. Chuck, I will stop by this weekend or next to take a look. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to stay in the water all winter ;-) As of earlier this week my boat still wasn't wrapped after being out for a month. Grrrr. Just another reason to do this job myself. As Chuck mentioned we are not allowed to shrinkwrap our own boats or have outsiders do it for us. I'm all for supporting my local yard but there are limits. Andy Salem, MA
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