Winter Storage

Ed Schenck · Oct 14, 2008

Random thoughts about winter covers.

Nine winters with my 37C on Lake Erie and I always covered her. And I always wondered if it worth the time and expense. I did a whole boat covering using those heavier silver tarps. I kept them inside the rails tied down to the toerails. My main concern was ice in the portlights, around the companionway, and the cockpit with pedestal and instruments.

A few, even newer more expensive ones, used no covers. Many shrink wrapped. Some had very nice custom covers. You really do see everything. But as I think more about it I tend to agree with your yard guy. My remaining concern would be water freezing in the deck and cockpit scuppers. But you really cannot plug them. Maybe you have an open transom, then no problem.

jwieneck · Oct 20, 2008

I winter in Racine, WI
I have always tried the things you talked about with limited success. But I purchased a 376 a couple of years ago and it came with a full cover that was deck level. At first I did not think it would do much but it covers right up to the toe rail and for me the most important part is it covers the cockpit fully. I put a regular tarp over the back swim platform so I can get on the boat a couple of times. The nice thing about is deck level cover is the wind doesn't get under it and it is between the snow and the deck. I do not know how much it cost but I would think it is much cheaper than the framed covers and it is easy to put on I do it alone.

Solace H340 · Oct 21, 2008

I winter in Northport, MI at the tip of the "pinkie." Issues of ice damage aside, I'd consider a cover for the winter just to keep the sun, leaves and bird droppings off the fiberglass. I use a custom cover that fits all the way down to the water line: One easy to make frame at the bow and two canvas sections. I priced it out against having someone shrink wrap it and the canvas cover comes out ahead if it lasts five seasons. I think it will.

Most of the "throw a tarp over it and anchor with water-filled milk bottles" blow away in the first winter storm.

Roy Page · Oct 21, 2008

I am also facing my first Winter with a Hunter 34, based in Vermilion on Lake Erie.
This Winter is not a problem as it will be having a complete makeover and therefore indoors all the time.

I have to say I really can't imagine that leaving these old boats outside in the Northern climate is going to help keep them in good condition.
Whatever cover, other than being shrink wrapped, will surely not prevent some water getting in and freezing, causing serious damage.

I have the option of using indoor storage and it is not much more costly than storing outside when you add it to the other annual docking costs.

I would be really interested to hear how many do store their H34's and similar sailboats outside ??

Ed Schenck · Oct 21, 2008

Roy's winter storage question.

Roy, see my post above re. winter storage in Huron, just up the road. This November go walk through your marina and Harbor North. Almost all the boats are outside, most newer and bigger than yours. And note how many are uncovered or poorly covered.

Having written that I would always choose inside if I could afford it. Most yards have limited inside space and charge a premium. There is also the cost of unstepping/stepping the mast. If you can aford it there should be no question. Saves all the hassle of covering too.

Mysterious Ways · Nov 12, 2008

Fish net

If using tarps...try draping fish net over the tarp and tying it down seperately from the tarp. The weight of the net holds down the tarp in a blow. It aint pretty...but it works.

Al - s/v Persephone · Nov 14, 2008

No shrinkwrap

I sail out of Newburyport, MA, Cap'n Grumpy.

I kept my last boat (1999 H310) shrink-wrapped each winter. However, I found that the wind blew yard grit just slightly under the bottom edge of the wrap, making it into wind-powered sandpaper that created a line in the gelcoat on her hull which I had to polish off each spring.

When I bought my new H36 in 2005, I noticed that the dealer had stored all his inventory of new boats without covers or wrap. He said "these boats are made to endure a salt water environment. Snow is nothing." So I thought that if he'd risk his investment, I'd try a winter of risking mine.

Persephone is now starting her 4th winter with no covering.

As she was moved into the boatyard Wednesday, a bystander asked me how I liked the 36. When I said I've enjoyed over 6,000nm in her over the past 4 seasons he said: "That's a 4-year old boat? Wow she looks good."

Snow-filled cockpits are an annoyance when I want to visit her, but the lack of sandpapering her topsides sure isn't.

A well-made canvas cover would probably not have that problem. But, not using shrinkwrap is cheaper, too - a very nice bonus these days.

Fair winds,
Al
s/v Persephone

shemandr · Nov 15, 2008

I have an expensive custom winter cover and I really wonder if its worth it. When I uncover the boat there is a patina of dirt on the deck. I'm sure we've kept ice, snow and water out of the cockpit which is good. The bilge is always dry - another plus. The cover while pretty well insulated does mark the gelcoat in a few areas and I take that out with the spring waxing. The windage of the cover is substantial and if I show up at the yard after a big winter NE'ster and find the boat lying on its side, I won't be surprised. They says it protects the boat from UV which they say is stronger in the low Sun angles of winter - uhm? It's a lot of work to put up and take down. Maybe, because that work is ahead of me, I'm grousing a bit and a little irritated to have to take the boat out at all, but I left my older boats(i.e. Beaters) with no cover and didn't experience much negative results. I did shovel the cockpit on some occasions. FWIW.

shemandr · Nov 22, 2008

"Sumo Tape"?

Vinny · Nov 23, 2008

Consider this, due to the recent financial crises property in North Carolina has come down in selling price, we only pull our boats out to do the bottoms every second or third year, we get to use the boats 12 months a year if we want and we don't need shrink wrap nor tarps to cover the boat.

shemandr · Nov 23, 2008

We're planning a visit in March to see how we like the area. I bought a chart of the Nuese River and have been online checking stuff out. It looks to me like there's a good variety of sailing destinations, ample water and amenities. But, I'd like to hear from a sailor: Do you go into Pamlico Sound and if so what are the conditions? Sea breeze? Depth (Not on my chart)?, swimming?, how do those nasty storms Cape Hatteras is famous for effect the Nuese River?
Relocation isn't an option but there's always retirement.

Vinny · Nov 23, 2008

Capn Grumpy said:
Uhhh, Webmaster? We seem to be getting a bit off topic here!

Now I see where the name comes from!

jwieneck · Nov 27, 2008

Earlier in this post I talked about the cover for my boat. The cover is a deck level cover that I have grown to like. It keeps the sun off, provides protection from ice getting into port, hatches, and the cockpit. It also covers and keeps dry the lines that I leave on through the winter like traveler lines etc. I put a messenger line on the halyards and run them to the top of the mast this covers the halyard in the mast and the rest under the cover. This type of cover seems to handle the wind with out any issue. I have several pictures so I will leave some other replies so you can see the whole cover. This doesn’t solves the do I cover or not cover question but it seems to be a pretty good balance between no cover and a really expense one or a tarp. I think I have figured out how to upload more than one picture. One of the pictures is a boat next to me that has a very nice and expense cover. As you can see I put a blue tarp on the swim plate form to keep the ice off works pretty good.

Winter Storage

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