For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

[cobra1476]

Do you have any ideas on covers? Besides having it wrapped proffesionally, is there another route?

I do have a regular cover but nothing that can live up to snow ( done it 3 years running). I usually buy a new cover every year.

Tarp? if , so how do I get it on really tight?

 

[Maclin]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

With a tarp you can use tarp clips to fold and shape it, then clamp one of the tarp clips on each end of the fold and voila, custom tailored blue tarp. I do that each year, put a "sacrificial" tarp over the good formfitting cover, and tailor it with the tarp clips. I do not care if the tarp is usable after the layup.

 

[briangcc]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Sorry - I have the marina shrink wrap my baby each year at end of season.

I tried the blue tarp route once...ended up with a lot more cleanup than I bargained for both inside and out. The grommets dug into my gelcoat - wasn't a happy camper when I found that out.

If you go the tarp route, make sure you have a good supporting structure underneath it to shed the excess snow off the cover and be able to take the snow load.

 

[gtochris]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

You need to construct a center pole, something either out of PVC or 2x4's running the center length of the boat and high enough to allow the snow to slide off some without damage or puddling.

for our old 19ft we had growing up, a 24x12 tarp was perfect for wrapping around it, we would tie it off to the trailer/ under the hull. It always held and we could get 2-4 years out of a tarp before it was beat.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

You need to construct a center pole, something either out of PVC or 2x4's running the center length of the boat and high enough to allow the snow to slide off some without damage or puddling.

for our old 19ft we had growing up, a 24x12 tarp was perfect for wrapping around it, we would tie it off to the trailer/ under the hull. It always held and we could get 2-4 years out of a tarp before it was beat.

^+1

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I put the normal cover on, then I have a tarp over a PVC frame angled so snow slides off over that, keeping the majority of moisture / snow away from the cover.

 

[LongLine]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I have a canvas tarp from Tractor Supply held on with bungie cords. Also two 2x4's that are reinforced on the sides with 1x6's run down the length. You want your boat to breathe. Boat is also jacked up high in the front & drain plug is out. It's worked pretty well for the last 28 years. Replaced the tarp every 3-4 yrs.

 

[sschefer]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I put the normal cover on, then I have a tarp over a PVC frame angled so snow slides off over that, keeping the majority of moisture / snow away from the cover.

That's what I would do but.... I'm not going to make a recommendation except that you go to www.boatUS.com and look for winter storage tips. These folks are not just great at what they do but also great at giving good, solid advice. You don't have to join to get the advice, it's free.

The reason I won't give advice on this subject is because in my boat storage micro climate a blue tarp on a boat means a trashed interior covered with mold and mildew. However, in your micro climate, it may work perfect and save you big bucks. Do you see where I'm going with this?

 

[Maclin]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

In my experience a tarp over a breathhable cover does not make it airtight, it moves some in the wind. I do have structure underneath that keeps rain and snow from accumulating, that is paramount even though I did not mention it. The tarp just keeps the sun (and birds) from taking its' toll.

 

[pootnic]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I normally just use a tarp(bungy corded),with a pvc frame underneath.I've tried a canvas tarp but I wasn't to bright and didn't put a tarp over it...the canvas didn't shed the snow and actually broke my PVC subframe;ended up just going back to a tarp.
This year I'm going to try some of that house wrap(Tyvek),with some tarp clips;it's real tough stuff(I think breathable and waterproof?).I'll probably use a tarp as well.
I don't buy them cheaper tarps(blue) for winter,the thicker ones normally come on sale throughout the year,at half price.

 

[mommicked]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I use a cheap plastic HD SILVER tarp from HomeDepot and the aforementioned PVC frame, custom made w PVC Ts on the bottom of the uprights w pipes T'd out on the deck to keep the stem to stern ridgepole standing straight, more Ts and 90s at the ridgepole, 90s at each end. If you make it tall/steep enough, snow should slide off and I have beaten on mine to get ice and snow to come off easily. I leave the front and rear open for airflow and tightly bungee the oversized tarp, that hangs past the gunnels, to the trailor. You might need to pad/cover the sharp corners somehow to keep weight/wind on the tarp from ripping it.

 

[cobra1476]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Thanks for all the tarp suggestions.

can I get any pics? Also, any pics on the frame construction?

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

My boat is in a covered slip so don't have to really worry about it, but this may help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqw7V-LlKuE

 

[sktn77a]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

My boat is in a covered slip so don't have to really worry about it, but this may help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqw7V-LlKuE

Well, of course, this guy is trying to sell you a shrink wrap service. The tarp job he shows is pretty poor! I think most people would do better.

 

[generator12]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Thanks for all the tarp suggestions.

can I get any pics? Also, any pics on the frame construction?

I use a support system made out of 1/2 inch thinwall electrical conduit. Easy to bend with a conduit bender. Sorry about the pics. Won't upload - probably too large filesize.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

That's what I would do but.... I'm not going to make a recommendation except that you go to www.boatUS.com and look for winter storage tips. These folks are not just great at what they do but also great at giving good, solid advice. You don't have to join to get the advice, it's free.

The reason I won't give advice on this subject is because in my boat storage micro climate a blue tarp on a boat means a trashed interior covered with mold and mildew. However, in your micro climate, it may work perfect and save you big bucks. Do you see where I'm going with this?

Actually, the normal storage cover is breathable. The tarp is suspended over PVC frame and doesn't touch the storage cover, keeping a large air space between the two. The tarp keeps most of the moisture away from the storage cover, reducing the dampness. Has worked well for me with no mold or mildew buildup at all.

 

[backyardhockey3]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Regular cover then a tarp. Tarp is actually an old billboard thingy I got on ebay. Very heavy. I run a cable between the two. Screwed into a tree at stern and I've got a vertical 4x4 at bow. So heavy tarp over cable and the two tarps only touch at sides. Breathable and snow slides off.

 

[sschefer]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Actually, the normal storage cover is breathable. The tarp is suspended over PVC frame and doesn't touch the storage cover, keeping a large air space between the two. The tarp keeps most of the moisture away from the storage cover, reducing the dampness. Has worked well for me with no mold or mildew buildup at all.

I understood that, I was more referring to those that are lucky enough to be able to just throw a 12x20 blue plastic tarp over their boat with bungee's and call it good. I did that once and in my little micro climate it was a disaster come spring. Your method is excellent and is also they way I would store mine outside if I had to. Fortunately, when mine is not in use, it's stored in a warm garage. I can't get my truck in there, the hood hits the top of the door.

 

[gtochris]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

I understood that, I was more referring to those that are lucky enough to be able to just throw a 12x20 blue plastic tarp over their boat with bungee's and call it good. I did that once and in my little micro climate it was a disaster come spring. Your method is excellent and is also they way I would store mine outside if I had to. Fortunately, when mine is not in use, it's stored in a warm garage. I can't get my truck in there, the hood hits the top of the door.

I think alot of that comes down to drying it completely out prior to covering, if anything, Shrink Wrap can promote mold if not vented or with a boat with only a slight amount of water in the bilge/ damp carpet.

Last few years- My inlaws have a garage big enough and have allowed us to store our boat inside. I still put the mooring cover on it to keep out any critters however last year- I left it open an extra week inside the garage just because it was too damp to pull a cover over.

 

[mommicked]

Re: For those who leave their boats outside (winter)

Some pics of my contraption and myself, you could make it stronger by useing more posts closer together, mine is made of 1 1/2" sched 40 PVC. Most of it is slipfit, not glued. I just pull it apart in peices and drop it in the yard when it's time to take her out. I've labeled the parts to make it easy to reasemble quickly. I use the tarp mostly to keep leaves and crap off the boat as I have nowhere to park it not under trees. edited correct size of my frame