i dont use a frame-- but i use many tarps. my boat came with a canvas that was tailed--- a slot for placement around a mast---i use it around my mizzen, either direction, depending on what i am seeking--here, mainly temperature and some water relief. i augment this with a double layer of tarps for insulation and guarantee that water will not come in during our sideways rain type of storms we get here in pair a dice....my hatches are wood and i protect em from fresh water and from hot sun, as well as keep interior a lil cooled so air conditioner doesnt overwork constantly....i also dono tget snow.
snow can become quite heavy and ye dont want it to build up on the boat. can cause intrusion of water from below when too deep. seems a pointy shape might be best, as in the farmhouses in new england and other snow covered places--- let the snow slide off by peaking over the boom and attaching to under lifelines with tarp over the caprail??
