winter boat tarps

[Bob7099]

This year i,m looking to buy 2 tarps to cover my 30' catalina. i,ll be framing it in with either 1x3 or with 3/4" emt if the clamping parts are avaiable in time as the snow is not to far behind now. I have looked in the archives for tarps, went on line but would like to have a recommendation from anyone, for a decent tarp. what guage and brand would I be looking for? live in the Newburyport Ma. area if there is a supplyer in this area. Bob

 

[sailingdog]

I just bought some from Hamilton Marine, up in Maine... they seem to be pretty good quality at a reasonable price.

 

[Bob7099]

I'll look up hamilton marine and give them a call. thanksl sailingdog

 

[sailingdog]

BTW, if you're going to use the tarp as a winter cover, DO NOT USE THE GROMMETS. Either get tarp clips or use the superball method.

I like these tarp clips, and they're only $1.27 each if you buy more than 10. Click on photo for the vendor.

 

[Bob7099]

I pulled up hamilton marines web site. there are so many tarps, sailingdog do you know the guage your tarp is, or which stock #

 

[peterbud]

Bob I used to cover a cat30 on cape cod with a tarp I bought at Ocean state job lot. It was resonably priced and lasted 3yrs. You need to get the green version which is a little better quality.

 

[Nik]

TSC (Tractor Supply Company) is a good place to find tarps. They have 20x 30 ones at 100.00. From their description "High density woven treated fabric, 1000 denier. UV resistant silver/black heavy duty polyethylene material. 14 x 14 count per square inch, 11 to 12 mil thick. Weight approximately 6 oz per square yard. 1500 hours UV treatment. Heat sealed seams. Rope lined, heat sealed or double stitched hems. Rustproof grommets in corners and every 18 inches. Rugged, durable, construction grade. Longer tarp life for year round use. UVI treated for maximum sun resistance. Waterproof, mildew and rot proof." Link: www.tractorsupply.com .

Hope this helps,
Nik

 

[Allan R]

I'll 2n'd TSC. I bought one of their canvas tarps that lasted me a good many years.

 

[sailingdog]

Bob-

It was their super heavy duty tarps. The part number of the ones I got were STT-GB-2035, and were 20 x35'. Hope that helps.

BTW, I used the blue tarps from Ocean State Job Lots...not impressed with them, as the ones from HM are heavier, stronger and worked better.

Haven't seen the ones from TSC, but the specs are pretty close to those of the HM ones, and the construction looks similar.

 

[Bob7099]

Thanks all for this info I,ll be able to buy the right tarp .This forum has helped me in the past, great site thanks again Bob

 

[sailingdog]

Don't forget to get tarp clips or superballs..

 

[Bob7099]

you have me on that one what are super balls? Another question I should have asked, a 20'x30' and a20x20' tarp ok for a 30' sailboat

 

[sailingdog]

If you're taking the mast down...get a 20' x 30'... if not... a 20' x 20' should do...

The idea is to have the tarp pitched steeply enough that it sheds the snow, instead of letting snow accumulate on the tarp, weighing down the boat and eventually tearing the tarp. You need enough width on the tarp to reach from alongside the hull, up to the ridgepole of the support framework and then down alongside the hull on the other side of the boat. The beam of your boat partially determines how wide a tarp you need, and I prefer to go overboard, rather then risk running short.

BTW, you are building a framework to support the boat tarp, right???

Superballs are small hard rubber balls that are about an inch in diameter. They look like this:

They're pretty good for use as a way to tie off a tarp. You wrap the tarp around the superball, and then tie it off. It is very unlikely to tear out, unlike the grommets in most tarps... which generally will tear out if you've tied the tarp tight enough to work for winter storage.

The key to keeping a boat safe is keeping the tarp taut, to shed the snow, and tight to the boat, so that snow and wind don't get under the tarp. If snow gets under the tarp, it'll cause problems like blocking cockpit drains. If wind gets under the tarps edges, it will generally tear the tarp. Tying the tarp from one side of the boat to the other with a rope and including a section of bungee cord in the connection is a good way to keep the tarp tight.

A few points to mention:

1) Use the superball method or tarp clips as attachment points. The grommets will tear out if you've tied the tarp tightly enough.
2) Do not tie the tarp to the boatstands—EVER. If you do, the chance that the wind will catch the tarp and pull the boatstand out of position is almost guaranteed.
3) Check on your boat after every storm. If the storm causes the tarp to tear, the tarp comes loose, or snow piles up on the tarp... you need to fix it before your boat is damaged.
4) Pad any chafe points fairly heavily. Use duct tape to hold the padding in place, but use the tape on the padding only.
5) If your hull is painted, do not let the tarp rest on the hull—it will probably cause the paint to blister.

 

[BobD17833]

Bob,

I used tarps over a frame I built for my S30, I'm on my 4th year with the tarp, no tears or deterioration, here are my sugestions:

1. Tarps
2 tarps 1-16x20 mast forward, 1-20x20 mast back. I got mine from Eastern Marine,Newark DE. Buy SUNSHIELD HEAVY 6 OZ SILVER/BLACK
http://shop.coversuperstore.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.catalog&categoryID=255

2. Build your frame using 3/4 EMT

3. One continous center spine, bow rail to 2 ft past stern - use EMT 3/4-3/4 couplings.
(I made the double bend around the mast - not easy)

4. I used 6 bows.

5. At the spine for each bow, bend about a 8-10" piece of 3/4 EMT at appx 70 degree angle (you'll need a 3/4 conduit bender) to form the center connection from spine to each side bow leg. Drill through center connetor and spine and bolt together.

6. At the end of each center connector use a 3/4-3/4 EMT coupling for joining the bow legs to the center connectors (and spine).

7. Bend each bow leg just above life line stanchoin (all bends will be in same loaction on every leg). Diagonal bow legs will continue up to center connectors. Cut length to fit so that spine is the same height mast to stern an slopes down mast to bow.

8. Cut EMT diagonal braces (about 42-48") for each side bow leg. Flatten brace ends in vice and bend to fit. Drill through brace ends and bow legs, bolt together. Diagonal brace starts at 3-4" above base of each bow leg.

9. Use rubber tips at bottom of each bow leg.

Assemble completed Frame.

10. Install 2 pc. 16' strapping each side the entire boat length connected tothe frame above the top of the diagonal braces. Use 3/4 EMT conduit clamps and screws.

11. Pad each center connector to prevent tarp tears and wear.

12. Drape tarps short fwd and long aft of stays, silver side out. I installed grommets at vertical split and tied two tarps together. Custom fit splits for fore and aft stays. (punched holes in doubled or tripled tarp will work)

13. Use a short loop of elastic cord at each grommet to provide a means to withstand stretching due to wind.

14.Tie sides of tarps to each other, under hull, at each grommet loop. BE SURE TO USE SOME PADDING ON BACK SIDE OF GROMMET, otherwise you'll spend time in the spring removing the aluminum stains from your hull.

BobD
Boston

 

[AXEL]

Same Blue Tarp

I have used the same blue tarp that I bought at West Marine for close to 10 years now. I originally bought 2 blue tarps, 20 x 30 and tied them together to make them double thick. Other than that, make sure they are tied down tight and won't flip around in the wind and they'll last forever.