Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

[ping65810]

Instead of the usual wood frames like I have made in the past for shrink wrapping or covering with a tarp for the winter, I made one out of PVC this year. It was marginally more money ($50), but much easier to put together and I found it to be sturdier as well. Of course, I did not glue anything, just slid together, so it can be used year after year and easily taken apart for storage.

If you either tarp it, or shrink wrap it yourself, I found this to be soooo much better than using 2x4s and strapping. Also, no sharp edges to rip a tarp or shrinkwrap. I used a total of 7 1 1/4" 10' pipes along with about 12 tees, cross tees, and 45 degree angle connectors to put it all together. The whole frame, even slid together is super ridgid and braced against the floor and sides of the boat.

Take a look:

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

Groovy! Good job!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

Hmmmm I have that T shirt This was a few years ago with an older aluminum bass boat

 

[Lou C]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

I use a custom canvas cover but built this to keep it from caving in....

 

[926bill]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

Great job. You'll sleep better this winter.
BC

 

[ping65810]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

Already it deals with the high winds much better than last year, and I'm not worried about one side getting heavy and bending the wood strapping like happened last year. I used ratchet straps underneth to tie the tarp tight, and hung a few gallon water bottles in 3 spots to keep a few tricky areas nice and tight so snow won't accumulate and get inside the boat.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

I went that way last year. The first snowfall was 4 ft.deep and it quickly resembled toothpicks. The extreme cold also made it brittle. As long as your not too far north you should be OK. I had the same though to re-use year after year. This year I built what I hope will be a re-useable frame, constructed with 2x4.

 

[26aftcab454]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

I had a 22ft long 2x4 sawhorse with 1ft legs one end a 3ft the other-used it for 10+years on the lonestar

 

[kmarine]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

Your supports should work well, however pvc will shatter if any type of shock is aplied in freezing temperatures. This was made evident when my customers used pvc carts outdoors in winter. The good news is that shock to your frame is unlikely.

 

[eli_lilly]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

I built a similar frame for my boat cover last month after seeing some pics of pvc supports in another thread here. As usual iboats saves the day. For the first time ever, now when I take the cover off, the boat is bone dry versus all wet and moldy.

-E

 

[ping65810]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

I'm aware of the fact that PVC gets brittle in extreme cold, however, In New England it gets cold, but not usually below 5 degree for any length of time. Also, there are no shock loads on it, and the slopes are steep enough that snow should not accumulate on it. Thats the reason for a few water jugs hung on it, to take up any slack in the areas where snow might have accumulated.

 

[Crownin' Around]

Re: Made a winterizing frame in PVC instead of wood this year for covering

very cool. great idea!