Shrink Wrapping - what was your estimate this year?

[down_shift]

Please post $$, boat and length and location.

$753 for a C36 in Deale, MD. Feels steep to me.

Edit for clarification of SOW:
- mast remains up
- remove and store canvas (insinglass dried and protected)
- support structure
- seams taped
- strapping secured
- vents
- 3'x4' zippered door
- routine inspections
- removal in spring
- canvas reinstalled

 

[Maine Sail]

Please post $$, boat and length and location.

$753 for a C36 in Deale, MD. Feels steep to me.

Mast up?
Mast down
Perimeter boards?
Cross ties?
They doing frame and shrink or are you doing the frame?
Stopping at toe rail?

For a boat yard price that sounds in-line. Materials alone for our 36 footer run about $200.00 but I am on year three of this frame. Will likely replace the frame next year or the year after..

The price always depends upon what is done.

 

[Tim R.]

22 ft. Pontoon boat with frame already up. $176 including delivery back to camp. When I used to buy film in bulk I could get 4 winters out of a 7mil clear roll that cost about $600 shipped. Frame was about $100 initially. $150 for share in shrink gun. I would instep the mast every year. Stopping at toe rail. I could erect the frame and shrink the entire boat in a day.

 

[shemandr]

$176 including delivery back to camp.

I don't think I could get my dingy done for that here.

 

[NYSail]

Without the yard 300 tops..... Because I'm in the yard 550. Having a canvas cover made this winter

 

[woodster]

hummm down here we have never heard of this shrink wrap you speak of:stirthepot:

 

[patrickince]

I found in Canada 2 years of shrink wrap equaled the cost of a custom cover. We bought the custom cover from Genco Marine and it goes on mast up and we love it.

 

[Rob2435]

Was quoted $900, 35ft, mast up - two years ago. I went with a custom cover for $2,300, the cover goes on when I want it to go on(in 45 mins) and comes off without heading to a landfill. Custom cover was the way to go...

 

[DAVA390]

23` Precision, $242.00, done at the house. Same price as last year. They wrapped the mast this year.

 

[down_shift]

Mast up? Mast down Perimeter boards? Cross ties? They doing frame and shrink or are you doing the frame? Stopping at toe rail? For a boat yard price that sounds in-line. Materials alone for our 36 footer run about $200.00 but I am on year three of this frame. Will likely replace the frame next year or the year after.. The price always depends upon what is done.

Clarified my initial post.
They can stop at the toe rail (taped) or extend down to the bottom paint line (with straps below the hull). Said the later option is more secure.
What do you recomend? Thinking I would rather them stop at the toe rail so I can compound the hull over time.
Best boat cover quote I received was $3200 and this was from an outfit at the Annapolis boat show.

 

[pogo2]

shrinky wappy

I have a custom cover for my Newport 30, however I had to shrink my 15 1/2 American Skiff, $8 a foot to have the person at my club do it. really a nice job, but I'll have a custom cover made next year for this one also

 

[njlarry]

Mast up and they include everything you mention including regular checks, a 3'x4' zippered door, few drying bags, etc.. They can stop at the toe rail (taped) or extend down to the bottom paint line (with straps below the hull). Said the later option is more secure.
What do you recomend? Thinking I would rather them stop at the toe rail so I can compound the hull over time.
Best boat cover quote I received was $3200 and this was from an outfit at the Annapolis boat show.

Custom covers have really gone up in cost. Shrink wrap $16/ foot plus $25 for door total.

 

[richk]

njlarry.....

How much for a custom cover over in Rock Hall? I got a quote from down in Deltaville for my 37....$5100....wow!
Rich...across the Bay off the Magothy

 

[Gunni]

I would be REAL surprised if your quote included perimeter boards and cross ties like the boys up in New England use. What you will find is lots of strapping tape and binding cord attached to your boat. That was what was spec'd for an $800 job on my boat in Annapolis. I have also gotten quotes for a canvas cover between $2500 and $3500, which seems like a more sensible option if I ever decided that my boat was somehow incapable of surviving winter exposed to the elements.

 

[Maine Sail]

I would be REAL surprised if your quote included perimeter boards and cross ties like the boys up in New England use. What you will find is lots of strapping tape and binding cord attached to your boat. That was what was spec'd for an $800 job on my boat in Annapolis. I have also gotten quotes for a canvas cover between $2500 and $3500, which seems like a more sensible option if I ever decided that my boat was somehow incapable of surviving winter exposed to the elements.

Just be sure you do the install of the custom cover yourself!

Paying someone to install a Fairclough etc., as some of my customers do, costs about of a full days labor to do the job correctly. They are happy to pay this, and have the money to do so, but the yearly installation cost is close to shrink wrapping, by the time you are done paying someone to install it.

In the spring the removal is also critical and it needs to be folded and stored correctly. Fold it wrong in the spring, as has been done too times to me, and it can be a real chore to get that sorted out in the fall and only adds to the labor costs...

Waiting for a dry window for removal & folding can also be tedious. I have had customers miss launch windows because the cover did not have adequate time to dry before being removed & folded. Do to the sheer size and weight, removing it wet and then drying is not something you really want to do..

Most custom covers I see are not installed correctly and they can wear out prematurely if care is not taken to do the job the right way. I have seen customers rip expensive custom covers in one winter..... Once you start patching them they are rarely if ever the same...

 

[richk]

We decided to put no cover (custom or shrink wrap) on the boat this winter. Based on comments I read so far, that may not be a bad decision.
Thanks to Gunni and Mainsail especially for their comments.

Rich

 

[down_shift]

Thanks for the feedback. I signed the $753 proposal.
Thinking next year I will try enclosing with tarps and framing using EMT w/ KK clamps or PVC (probably PVC). I stopped by Harbor Freight yesterday to get a baseline on their HD reflective 9 mil tarps:
8.6'x11.3' = $10
15.1x19.5' = $35
11.3'x15.5' = $17
11.3'x18.6' = $23
9.6x11.3' - $12
5.5'x7.5' = $5
Guess I have all summer to design something. Who doesn't enjoy a project?

 

[Bob McL]

Down Shift - Here in Arizona, a Harbor Freight tarp won't last anytime at all - maybe 45 to 60 days at most. I got a heavy weight one from Northern Tool for around $200 and for three months it has done very well.

 

[Gunni]

Just to be clear, I do not shrink wrap OR use a custom canvas cover. My opinion - neither are necessary in our region.

I keep my dodger on, connected to a custom tonneau that covers my cockpit. The combination protects the companion-way and cockpit teak inlay from snow and ice without all the fuss.

 

[down_shift]

Down Shift - Here in Arizona, a Harbor Freight tarp won't last anytime at all - maybe 45 to 60 days at most. I got a heavy weight one from Northern Tool for around $200 and for three months it has done very well.

Thanks for the info. Could you point to which of their tarps failed on you?

The HF HD tarp: http://www.harborfreight.com/11-ft-...ective-heavy-duty-silver-tarpaulin-47676.html

The NT HD tarp: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200596370_200596370

Both state 14 x 14 mesh of 1000 denier Polyethylene threads, but the HF is 9mil where NT is 6mil. However, the grommet spacing on the NT is 2' where HF is 3'. That tighter grommet spacing probably makes all the difference.

Last night I covered a cord of wood w/ the HD tarp from HF. Tied it down real loose in an attempt get it shredded, but hope it lasts the winter unscathed. But agree, expecting that most anything from HF gets blown apart inside a few months, except their 44" tool chest which gets great reviews for the price.