We're in the Great Northeast! Winters are brutal. Every winter we cover our sailboat (Hunter 30T) or have it "shrink wrapped." What a pain! But I always wonder if it is really necessary of even advisable to cover the boat. We don't cover our house, our car,...we throw the canoes in the backyard, etc. They are none the worse for wear in the spring. I could understand covering the boat if it had lots of beautiful bright work, but it doesn't. Is covering the boat just a holdover from the days of wooden boats? Does anyone have definitive knowledge about this? I would love to have a reason not to cover the boat and just leave it open to the ice and snow next winter. Steve Schwartz Wind Dancer
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Winter Storage
Steve I have a Hunter 35 on Lake Tahoe for 10 years. Every winter all the sail boats that are on a mooring are hauled and covered. The few that don't usually have some sort of freezing damage or water damage below decks and lots mildew. Also another problem we have is 4 or 5 feet of snow at a time and if their is no cover to shed the snow you wind up with alot of weight on the boat which can cause damage to the bottom from the supports under the boat. Terry Wasik Cheeseburger in Paradise
Steve I have a Hunter 35 on Lake Tahoe for 10 years. Every winter all the sail boats that are on a mooring are hauled and covered. The few that don't usually have some sort of freezing damage or water damage below decks and lots mildew. Also another problem we have is 4 or 5 feet of snow at a time and if their is no cover to shed the snow you wind up with alot of weight on the boat which can cause damage to the bottom from the supports under the boat. Terry Wasik Cheeseburger in Paradise
No Cover for 6 years
In South Dakota, I've yet to cover my boat (H340) since I bought it new 6 years ago. Nor does anyone in this region. No problem. We've found that covers damage the gel-coat whenthey get loose and flap in the wind. No mildue nor moisture problems in the boat. It remains quite dry. No freezing problems either. Use a solar panel to keep the batteries charged. I also tip all cushions on their side, and open all bilges, storage areas, etc. Although I suspect we don't get as much snow as Tahoe or the Northeast, we can have several feet of snow on the ground, and temperatures will get into the 30 below level. Used to store my previous boat in a warehouse until it burned down. That sort of turned me off on that choice.
In South Dakota, I've yet to cover my boat (H340) since I bought it new 6 years ago. Nor does anyone in this region. No problem. We've found that covers damage the gel-coat whenthey get loose and flap in the wind. No mildue nor moisture problems in the boat. It remains quite dry. No freezing problems either. Use a solar panel to keep the batteries charged. I also tip all cushions on their side, and open all bilges, storage areas, etc. Although I suspect we don't get as much snow as Tahoe or the Northeast, we can have several feet of snow on the ground, and temperatures will get into the 30 below level. Used to store my previous boat in a warehouse until it burned down. That sort of turned me off on that choice.
Leaving mine exposed.... I thnik!
I am wrestling with the same question. Out of the three winters I have stored my boat, I have covered once and left it open the other two. I only had damage when I covered the boat (mildew mainly). My current thinkin is that the bulk of dmamage done to boats is from UV attacking the gelcoat and as the sun is very weak in the winter little damage occurs. If your hull has wet balsa or ply between the hull and the liner, it will not dryout before it freezes so the frost problem will exist wheteher you cover or not. My current thinking... and past experience tells me not to cover. I live in southern Ontario and we average 60" of snow total, and the mercury dips to -20C during the winter.
I am wrestling with the same question. Out of the three winters I have stored my boat, I have covered once and left it open the other two. I only had damage when I covered the boat (mildew mainly). My current thinkin is that the bulk of dmamage done to boats is from UV attacking the gelcoat and as the sun is very weak in the winter little damage occurs. If your hull has wet balsa or ply between the hull and the liner, it will not dryout before it freezes so the frost problem will exist wheteher you cover or not. My current thinking... and past experience tells me not to cover. I live in southern Ontario and we average 60" of snow total, and the mercury dips to -20C during the winter.
Partial Cover
During the Northwest winter season (roughly end of October until April/May/and even June) I cover our 35 from just aft of the mast to the pushpit. I leave at least one end totally open so as not to trap mositure. By keeping at least one end open it helps prevent humidity buildup under the cover. Since we have a dodger I clean the canvas on the frame and take it off leaving the frame. I rig up a plastic frame with bows and a spine with the bows on approx 2-ft centers. The spine is 3/4-inch pvc and the bows are 1/2-inch. The end of the bow that fits into the Tee is sanded so it slips in and out easy; not glued. I strap the spine to the pushpit and to both bows of the dodger. For significant snow load one should provide some vertical supports under at least the dodger bows so they don't get bent and decrease the bow interval to 1.5 feet or even less. The tarp has been a blue or grey plastic type that lasts a max of two seasons. In the past I've tied small lines to the gromets and the perforated toe rail but this puts a load on the gromets and hence two years is about max. Home Depot has some pincer-type plastic clips that can grip the edge of the tarp and provide some intermediate points to take the stress off the gromets and I think I'll buy some this year. The benefit of the tarp is it helps prevent UV damage to the gel coat and keeps water off the hatch and from going down inside. This year I noticed the cockpit and aft coach roof has a noticably better gel coat finish than the rest of the deck that wasn't covered. It's a bit of a hassle to set up, maintain, and take down, but I think it's been worth it. I also take the sails off during this time period.
During the Northwest winter season (roughly end of October until April/May/and even June) I cover our 35 from just aft of the mast to the pushpit. I leave at least one end totally open so as not to trap mositure. By keeping at least one end open it helps prevent humidity buildup under the cover. Since we have a dodger I clean the canvas on the frame and take it off leaving the frame. I rig up a plastic frame with bows and a spine with the bows on approx 2-ft centers. The spine is 3/4-inch pvc and the bows are 1/2-inch. The end of the bow that fits into the Tee is sanded so it slips in and out easy; not glued. I strap the spine to the pushpit and to both bows of the dodger. For significant snow load one should provide some vertical supports under at least the dodger bows so they don't get bent and decrease the bow interval to 1.5 feet or even less. The tarp has been a blue or grey plastic type that lasts a max of two seasons. In the past I've tied small lines to the gromets and the perforated toe rail but this puts a load on the gromets and hence two years is about max. Home Depot has some pincer-type plastic clips that can grip the edge of the tarp and provide some intermediate points to take the stress off the gromets and I think I'll buy some this year. The benefit of the tarp is it helps prevent UV damage to the gel coat and keeps water off the hatch and from going down inside. This year I noticed the cockpit and aft coach roof has a noticably better gel coat finish than the rest of the deck that wasn't covered. It's a bit of a hassle to set up, maintain, and take down, but I think it's been worth it. I also take the sails off during this time period.
LEAVE OURS OPEN, STEVE...
mainly to avoid mildew and for access. I sail through the winter, just not as often. NW winters are not as harsh as yours so ice and snow really do not present a problem. Terry
mainly to avoid mildew and for access. I sail through the winter, just not as often. NW winters are not as harsh as yours so ice and snow really do not present a problem. Terry
I believe a cover is essential
I've left my boat both covered and uncovered over winters. Covers prevent damage caused by the freeze/thaw cycle - Ice freezes and expands a small crack, melts to go deeper in the crack then freezes to expand the crack more. There's also a cosmetic reason, covers prevent black streak staining, which is really prevalent in the Northeast. When I didn't cover, my boat was a bear to clean in the spring; covered, a light cleanup is all that's necessary. Lastly a boat covered over a strong frame will enable you to work on deck projects in winter. I made my frame of galvanized electrical conduit and the Kover Klamp system, It's stood up to 30" of snow.
I've left my boat both covered and uncovered over winters. Covers prevent damage caused by the freeze/thaw cycle - Ice freezes and expands a small crack, melts to go deeper in the crack then freezes to expand the crack more. There's also a cosmetic reason, covers prevent black streak staining, which is really prevalent in the Northeast. When I didn't cover, my boat was a bear to clean in the spring; covered, a light cleanup is all that's necessary. Lastly a boat covered over a strong frame will enable you to work on deck projects in winter. I made my frame of galvanized electrical conduit and the Kover Klamp system, It's stood up to 30" of snow.
Covered
I cover my boat as do most other owner here in SW Ontario, Canada. The reason - to avoid having to clean up a mess in spring and help keep the interior dryer. Few boat are totally water proof above the waterline and the snow gets blown into the smallest crack and just melts. The cover I use is of PVC pipe andsilver/black poly tarp. There is lots of air above the deck and snow slides off due to a 45' slope. PVC is flexible enough to give a little in high winds. The tarp is shaped to fit over and I use those blue plastic 2" snap rings (they have been sold at boats shows recently) to hold the tie downs.
I cover my boat as do most other owner here in SW Ontario, Canada. The reason - to avoid having to clean up a mess in spring and help keep the interior dryer. Few boat are totally water proof above the waterline and the snow gets blown into the smallest crack and just melts. The cover I use is of PVC pipe andsilver/black poly tarp. There is lots of air above the deck and snow slides off due to a 45' slope. PVC is flexible enough to give a little in high winds. The tarp is shaped to fit over and I use those blue plastic 2" snap rings (they have been sold at boats shows recently) to hold the tie downs.
Cover all year long
I use a small heavy tarp from the mast forward and a larger heavy tarp from the mast aft to cover all year long, even in the slip. Prolongs the wax, confounds the birds, and keeps water off.
I use a small heavy tarp from the mast forward and a larger heavy tarp from the mast aft to cover all year long, even in the slip. Prolongs the wax, confounds the birds, and keeps water off.
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