I'm in the Northeast and unfortunately winter is knocking on our door. Who covers their sailboat, with what and why? Why am I asking you ask? should be a no-brainer. Well, after covering my sailboat for a number of years and seeing other sailboats in the marina not covered and none worst for the wear, and seeing my expertly done tarp job ripped by major ice and snow last year and my own boat none worst for the wear. I'm starting to wonder what the pros and cons are. Obviously, it at a minimum, it keeps out dirt, providing it doesn't rip during the winter. If you had deck cracks that water could enter, a progressive damage situation could arise; however if that crack had water in it before you covered it, it would still freeze, and some level of condensation will be at work under the cover anyway. The boat sits uncovered all spring, summer, fall in the hostile marine environment, can't it take a little snow? I've seen some very expensive sailboats left uncovered, of course that statement by it's self doesn't say much. So who among you covers, why? with what? shrink wrap? tarp?, custom made canvas cover?
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Tim Long
tarps can trap water and ice
I am struggling with this same issue. I have 2 boats, a 16' trailerable daysailer, and 25' keelboat. For the last 2 winters I covered the daysailer on the trailer,with it draped over the mast lying on top of it, assuming that would give the tarp enough of a tent shape to let water run off. The water pooled up on each side, sunk the tarp into the boat, and froze. I would pull the ice out and drain the water each week, which made me wonder why I tarped it at all.Then I reasoned that minimizing UV exposure to the fiberglass and wood was the primary reason. This year I'm storing the hull on the ground flipped upside down(one problem solved). The keel boat (a Columbia C-24) is on jack stands in the yard, and the large port windows leak. If I don't cover it, rain water will continue to seep inside the cabin. We are replacing these windows in the spring, until then we will probably tarp it, but whenever we want to access the boat to remove parts for winter maintenance projects, we'll have to wrestle with the tarp.The tarp also allows black dust to get through, and the boat is much dirtier in the spring than when it was covered. If you shrink wrap it, you can't access the boat at all. Maybe we should just spray our boats with some kind of UV protectant, and leave them uncovered, although I don't know if such a thing exists.
I am struggling with this same issue. I have 2 boats, a 16' trailerable daysailer, and 25' keelboat. For the last 2 winters I covered the daysailer on the trailer,with it draped over the mast lying on top of it, assuming that would give the tarp enough of a tent shape to let water run off. The water pooled up on each side, sunk the tarp into the boat, and froze. I would pull the ice out and drain the water each week, which made me wonder why I tarped it at all.Then I reasoned that minimizing UV exposure to the fiberglass and wood was the primary reason. This year I'm storing the hull on the ground flipped upside down(one problem solved). The keel boat (a Columbia C-24) is on jack stands in the yard, and the large port windows leak. If I don't cover it, rain water will continue to seep inside the cabin. We are replacing these windows in the spring, until then we will probably tarp it, but whenever we want to access the boat to remove parts for winter maintenance projects, we'll have to wrestle with the tarp.The tarp also allows black dust to get through, and the boat is much dirtier in the spring than when it was covered. If you shrink wrap it, you can't access the boat at all. Maybe we should just spray our boats with some kind of UV protectant, and leave them uncovered, although I don't know if such a thing exists.
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John Olson
Bone dry
I have C30 TR I keep my boatin northern NY and It snows from november to may and I cover my boat . I remove my mast and take it home and store it In side then I run 1" pvc from the bace of my stantions around in a circle to the other side I atach them with zip ties then I put apice of 2x4 down the center with up right 2x4 at every stantion then I rap it in a30x40 tarp but dont tie it to tight let the tarp blow alittle pit that way it blows the snow and ice off and anty ice frosen on gets melted when the sun hits the sides of the tarp and the heat rises .I think the freezeing and thowing breaks the seal on the calk and alows water to get in plus the Ice traps the water on deck longer and lets it puddleup I think the hole thing takes 3hrs from start to finish and I can wax my deck Put on a coat of wood finish and do all my boat jobs weather it is cold or raining and I can stand on my cabin roof and walk around I have a cabin heater to keep warm in side and when you are under the tarp there is not anty body talking to you when you are trying to work In four years not a drop of water went on my boat and I think keeping your boat covered cant hirt you anty John O
I have C30 TR I keep my boatin northern NY and It snows from november to may and I cover my boat . I remove my mast and take it home and store it In side then I run 1" pvc from the bace of my stantions around in a circle to the other side I atach them with zip ties then I put apice of 2x4 down the center with up right 2x4 at every stantion then I rap it in a30x40 tarp but dont tie it to tight let the tarp blow alittle pit that way it blows the snow and ice off and anty ice frosen on gets melted when the sun hits the sides of the tarp and the heat rises .I think the freezeing and thowing breaks the seal on the calk and alows water to get in plus the Ice traps the water on deck longer and lets it puddleup I think the hole thing takes 3hrs from start to finish and I can wax my deck Put on a coat of wood finish and do all my boat jobs weather it is cold or raining and I can stand on my cabin roof and walk around I have a cabin heater to keep warm in side and when you are under the tarp there is not anty body talking to you when you are trying to work In four years not a drop of water went on my boat and I think keeping your boat covered cant hirt you anty John O
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Kevin
Its not a lot of work, so why not.
This is my third winter with a '75 27 foot boat and I have covered it using a homemade frame and a 32X22 heavy plastic tarp each winter. So far both the tarp and boat have survived the winters very well. Last winter convinced me covering is the safe way to go. It was our coldest winter in 10 years and two adjacent boats of the same make as mine didn't cover (previous short and warmer winters are making people complacent about winter here in Toronto) and their cockpit drain hoses froze and pulled off their tailpieces. Both boats had a couple of feet of water in the cabin. Lots of work to drain and clean-up. At my club the boats are out of the water for 6 months so why not keep an old boat protected. I can put up my frame and cover by myself in about 3 hours (less time with help) so it isn't a lot of work. Plus April here can be wet and the cover lets me to do some pre launch work on the boat while protected from the elements. This fall the club bought the equipment to shrink wrap the boats so the debate about wraping or tarping is in full swing. Previously none of our 125 keelboats where shrink wrapped. Since we are a self help club the members have to team together in groups of 5 to do each boat which means a commitment of time far greater than doing your own boat with a tarp. Kevin
This is my third winter with a '75 27 foot boat and I have covered it using a homemade frame and a 32X22 heavy plastic tarp each winter. So far both the tarp and boat have survived the winters very well. Last winter convinced me covering is the safe way to go. It was our coldest winter in 10 years and two adjacent boats of the same make as mine didn't cover (previous short and warmer winters are making people complacent about winter here in Toronto) and their cockpit drain hoses froze and pulled off their tailpieces. Both boats had a couple of feet of water in the cabin. Lots of work to drain and clean-up. At my club the boats are out of the water for 6 months so why not keep an old boat protected. I can put up my frame and cover by myself in about 3 hours (less time with help) so it isn't a lot of work. Plus April here can be wet and the cover lets me to do some pre launch work on the boat while protected from the elements. This fall the club bought the equipment to shrink wrap the boats so the debate about wraping or tarping is in full swing. Previously none of our 125 keelboats where shrink wrapped. Since we are a self help club the members have to team together in groups of 5 to do each boat which means a commitment of time far greater than doing your own boat with a tarp. Kevin
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Daryl
Shrink Wrap with a Zipper Door
Been doing that for years since I have yet to own a vessel without leaks
Been doing that for years since I have yet to own a vessel without leaks
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Rod
$15.00 Tarp and Bungy Cords
I bought my first boat (89 30 Hunter) in 96. Previous owners said all they did for the 6 years they had the boat was to cover the boat with a single tarp from the mast,over the companionway and over the wheel. That's what I did and that is what I still do with my 93 35.5 legend. Takes about 1 hour. I keep it low and don't go over the boom. This year, I took some old life jackets and put them around the wenches so the tarp would not go through. I have never had a problem other than leaves if I am stored by trees. The boat seems to wash itself over the winter. In the spring, the tarp has had a beating but usually in tact. The tarp I use is a 10 x 20 foot and is a bit hard to find. I found it this year at Boat US for about $15.00 vs a $600 plastic "dust cover". Plus I use the old tarp to haul leave the following fall. Sorry, I have to go rake leaves now.
I bought my first boat (89 30 Hunter) in 96. Previous owners said all they did for the 6 years they had the boat was to cover the boat with a single tarp from the mast,over the companionway and over the wheel. That's what I did and that is what I still do with my 93 35.5 legend. Takes about 1 hour. I keep it low and don't go over the boom. This year, I took some old life jackets and put them around the wenches so the tarp would not go through. I have never had a problem other than leaves if I am stored by trees. The boat seems to wash itself over the winter. In the spring, the tarp has had a beating but usually in tact. The tarp I use is a 10 x 20 foot and is a bit hard to find. I found it this year at Boat US for about $15.00 vs a $600 plastic "dust cover". Plus I use the old tarp to haul leave the following fall. Sorry, I have to go rake leaves now.
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Tom Ehmke
Rod, where do you dock? I'm at Harbor Park
which is where Cliff Ruckstuhl (Red Dog) also has a slip. Looking forward to Spring Tom Ehmke
which is where Cliff Ruckstuhl (Red Dog) also has a slip. Looking forward to Spring Tom Ehmke
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Ed Schenck
Worry wart.
That's what some of my slip mates call me. I bought a 20x40 heavy silver tarp from E-Bay for this winter. I have always covered(five winters) but this is the first time over the boom and over the rails to the water line. I worry about water freezing in the portlights, companionway, and cockpit scuppers. A previous post supports my concern I guess. Rod I solved the raking leaves problem, used to be almost every day for four to five weeks. I bought a Cyclone Rake. Folds up against the garage wall. Last year over 100 large cans, I actually counted. This year, one hour each weekend and no cans. Just dumped the mulch. http://www.cyclonerake.com/
That's what some of my slip mates call me. I bought a 20x40 heavy silver tarp from E-Bay for this winter. I have always covered(five winters) but this is the first time over the boom and over the rails to the water line. I worry about water freezing in the portlights, companionway, and cockpit scuppers. A previous post supports my concern I guess. Rod I solved the raking leaves problem, used to be almost every day for four to five weeks. I bought a Cyclone Rake. Folds up against the garage wall. Last year over 100 large cans, I actually counted. This year, one hour each weekend and no cans. Just dumped the mulch. http://www.cyclonerake.com/
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J
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Bill Vickery
Here's an idea
I cover my Cat 22 with a tarp .... but to prevent water/ice build up on the low areas I take an iner tube an place it over the mast and inflate it enough to remove the low spots on the cover ....works for me...
I cover my Cat 22 with a tarp .... but to prevent water/ice build up on the low areas I take an iner tube an place it over the mast and inflate it enough to remove the low spots on the cover ....works for me...
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Rod
Tom
N.E. Port, Catawba Port Clinton Ohio. On the hard at the Moorings. My info is in the directory.
N.E. Port, Catawba Port Clinton Ohio. On the hard at the Moorings. My info is in the directory.
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