Winter Lay Up-To Shrink Wrap or Not

[fred miller]

I hear mixed messages about shrink wrapping for winter storage. In my area winter means snow, ice and miserable weather. While it seems to me, shrink wrapping the 'old girl' would keep the elements at bay and the boat cleaner it also cuts down air circulation and the ability for hull and deck to dry out. Does anyone have an educated opinion?Fred MillerS/V M Squared

 

[Bob La Salle]

I don't shrink wrap in NJ...

...for the reasons you stated. I have had my boat 4 years (this will be my fifth winter), just a few strategically placed tarps keep the boat mostly clean. I let the yard wax the hull in the spring, and I clean the topsides myself. And there's no problem with moisture, condensation, mildew, etc. It's also easy to get into the boat during layup to do whatever work or chores need to be done without cutting through the shrink wrap. This is not so much an educated opinion but rather what I have learned from my own experience.

 

[Len Fagan]

Shrink Wrap

I shrink wrap my 450. I kept mast on and shrink wrap over boom and bimini. This allows air movement to keep dry complimented by several small openings around shrouds. I keep boat in Portsmouth RI where ice,cold and snow happen. I am continuing this year with shrink wrap as I see benefit in cleaner boat with protection to dodger, bimini and deck mounted hardware.Len Fagan "Tale Winds"

 

[Bob Zolczer]

Shrink Wrap is the way to go

I've used tarps for 5 years and shrinkwrap for 1 year. I put plenty of vents in the shrinkwrap (made from plastic milk cartons) and made a frame from electrical conduit with the Kover Klamp system (they'll be at the Norwalk boat show). No problems with condensation and I could walk on the deck all Winter under the frame. Cleanup in the Spring was much, much easier with shrinkwrap.

 

[Barry]

Shrink Wrap - Do It!

20' wide shrink wrap is about $1/ft wholesale. Buy your own heat gun and it will pay for itself after one season. My yard charges $388 to shrink wrap a 34'sailboat with the mast up. I do mine for $50 in three hours.Barry

 

[Paul]

Where do you buy it?

... the shrink wrap.Paul

 

[Ed Schenck]

Shrinkwrap.

See Related Link for one source. How do these prices compare do you think? What kind of a heat gun do you need? Geez I hate to be thinking about this already.Oh, and how do you keep it from tearing on the stanchions and other sharp corners?