Winter Storage

[tgrass462]

For the first time I'm considering storing GH III (H-260) on the trailer with the mast UP. I've been unable to date to successfully rig a cover on my boat, with the mast down, which will shelter the boat yet not puddle and catch rain, snow and ice. Last year I kept it indoors (still an option for this year) - but I'd like to know what other folks (in northern latitudes at least) do during the winter?

Do you keep your boat inside?
Do you keep the mast up?
If so - how do you cover the boat? Do you use a frame work? Do you let it stay uncovered?

Thanks,

Tom Grass
Grasshopper III
Lake Carlyle, Illinois

 

[isaksp00]

H23 in Northeast PA. I have to unstep my mast to get the boat/trailer across the road from the marina, where the storage yard is, due to power lines. I bought a heavy cnavas cover, about 25 ft by 10, from the prev owner. I built a frame of PVC pipes, that has 7 cross frames and a ridge pole. Each frame member has legs that go up vertically from the gunwale up to about the height of the stanchion/lifeline it is against, as I wanted to not have snow weight crushing these. The frames then go at about 45 deg (as close as I could engineer it) to the center. Cost me maybe $100 to $120 in PVC parts, plus some cheap line. I pull the tarp over it, center it, then tie the grommets down tightly on each side to the trailer frame - the "drum skin" effect helps hold the frame down. Worked fine over last winter.
Now, if I could just store it indoors... I would - lotta work to put up the frame and tarp.

 

[soling42]

The beauty of a trailer boat is that you can hook it up and buzz down to a dry yard mast up storage like.......in Fl. Then you'd have an excuse to visit it for at least a cruise or two during the season and use it as a winter retreat/cabin for a few days.

A quick search will find that there are some pretty reasonably priced spots between Ft Myers and Tampa. I also know a guy with room to stow it safely next to his house on 20acres that's only a 20min drive to a ramp if it's mast down on the trailer.

The weather is at it's best until late May. Just a thought.
Mike

 

[cephius (Dave)]

I’ve had very good luck storing my H260 outside with the mast down here in Minnesota.

A couple of key points:

1. I place a mast crutch in the center to take the snow load.
2. I place padding on the top of each life line stanchion to keep them from punching through the cover.
3. I pull the cover as tight as a drum on the sides to keep pockets from forming.
4. My cover is longer than the mast, so I lace up the front and back to form a complete cocoon.

I think the mast down makes for a great center beam that would need to be replaced with a frame if the mast is left up.

The only issue I've had is not weather related. I plug up the opening in the anchor locker to prevent birds from nesting in the spring. I need to do that in the slip too.

 

[shanker]

I will be wrapping mine up very similar to Dave. I had a Mac last winter and these pics show how I did it. I made the frame with 1" pvc so I could access the interior to do some work, if required. It really helped in the spring. I put in a samall heater and could do some stuff inside dispite the cold, rain or wind. I folded the tarp in such a way that I acually had a back door (pic 4). It was vey comfortable inside, I would simply turn the heater on, and then go in 1/2 hr later and it was toasty.
Pic 1 shows how it was tarped. I pulled it tight and used old tires to hold the tarp down to the ground. This prevented a draft coming in from the bottom. The other key is to also have the bow tightly wrapped to prevent the wind from entering the tarp and making a giant kite out of it (pic 6). Pic 2 and 3 show the ribs of pvc from the inside. I actually extended them and the tarp so I had 6' past the stern so I could have room for a table, saw etc... Basically, from the end of the mast down (pic 5). Pic 4 shows the back door Two bungees held the back of the tarp down. I would only have to unclip the one bungee that was hooked to the tire, to open up the back. So it was a completely sealed 'cocoon'. It took one saturday, about 6 hrs, to constuct...single handed. I'm not sure if I will go to this extent this year, only due to my lack time. Don't forget the crutch to support the mast as Dave mentioned.

Costs: tarp was 20' x 50' on sale $79.99 and pvc was $30.

 

[teacher63]

I had my mast up and boom off. I then took an 8 ft piece of cheap pvc pipe put it on the cabin and ran it to the stern. I then bung y corded my tarps. It kept water from puddling and fairly dry. From the mast forward I just bungy chorded the tarp over the rest of the boat.

For the first time I'm considering storing GH III (H-260) on the trailer with the mast UP. I've been unable to date to successfully rig a cover on my boat, with the mast down, which will shelter the boat yet not puddle and catch rain, snow and ice. Last year I kept it indoors (still an option for this year) - but I'd like to know what other folks (in northern latitudes at least) do during the winter?

Do you keep your boat inside?
Do you keep the mast up?
If so - how do you cover the boat? Do you use a frame work? Do you let it stay uncovered?

Thanks,

Tom Grass
Grasshopper III
Lake Carlyle, Illinois