Small cheap roof for storage?

[Rabbit929]

I have a 21ft pontoon, i was considering takiing a chunk out of my fence in the backyard to park it for the winter, and getting one of those canvas "V" shaped things to set tightly overtop of it. Kindof like those little shade roofs they use for events outdoors.

All i need is something to keep the heavy snow and sleet from punishing my regular cover, and odds are i would just take the tires off the trailer to get the pontoon sitting lower, or take it off the trailer with a scissor trailer, and set it on blocks. Anyone ever do something like this?

I should also ask, for those who store their boats outside, what precautions and preps can a person do to protect it from the elements? Im aware of winterizing the motor, im just looking for protecting the interior and everything else.

 

[dingbat]

That will be in a tree down the street with the first wind storm.
I keep mine on a pole building now, but for years I keep on under a gray/blank tarp

 

[JASinIL2006]

Where are you located? How much winter do you get?

 

[Scott Danforth]

from the land of beer and cheese

make a PVC A-frame that sits on the fence - zip tie it to the fence. this is to support the tarp to keep the snow off
remove the batteries and put inside. put on a maintenance charger once every 2 months
place a small box fan in the interior, and hang the chord out the side
cover the whole thing with a large tarp
plug in the box fan


side note: scissor trailers print money for put-in and haul out. if you own a scissor trailer and live on a lake with lots of people with pontoons and lifts. you can make about $3-5k per season pulling pontoon boats and dropping off in peoples yards and bringing in their lifts and docks and the same amount come spring

 

[ahicks]

Here in SE MI, probably 75% of the 'toon owners leave them outside on blocks tightly wrapped with blue or white plastic wrap installed by professionals. The vast majority use fresh wrap every year. Being cheap, and an avid DIYer, I have a heavy duty white one (that still seems to be pretty flexible) that I'm going to be re-installing for the 3rd time.

Snow load pretty much assures a destroyed fabric mooring cover.

 

[poconojoe]

I have a 21ft pontoon, i was considering takiing a chunk out of my fence in the backyard to park it for the winter, and getting one of those canvas "V" shaped things to set tightly overtop of it. Kindof like those little shade roofs they use for events outdoors.

All i need is something to keep the heavy snow and sleet from punishing my regular cover, and odds are i would just take the tires off the trailer to get the pontoon sitting lower, or take it off the trailer with a scissor trailer, and set it on blocks. Anyone ever do something like this?

I should also ask, for those who store their boats outside, what precautions and preps can a person do to protect it from the elements? Im aware of winterizing the motor, im just looking for protecting the interior and everything else.

One of the event canopies would be destroyed in minutes. I've seen it. The frame, in the woods, all bent and contorted.
Even some of those portable carports are crap. My neighbor had his jeep under one of those. It had a bow shaped top, so you would think snow would just fall off of it.
I looked at it and told him he needs to reinforce the frame or it will collapse with the first snow. And that's exactly what happened. He had to bring his Jeep to the body shop. The calapsed frame damaged it.

 

[poconojoe]

This works real well...
I've seen people use lumber to erect a gantry and cover that with a big tarp.
The frame basically resembling the frame of a kids swing set.
A long 2x6 or 2x8 (on end) for the top, the length of the boat and two triangular ends with horizontal braces.
Big rocks can hold the tarp to the ground.
Works real good.
You can build this in a few hours.
The steep angle will prevent snow from sticking to it.

 

[Lectro88]

This works real well...
I've seen people use lumber to erect a gantry and cover that with a big tarp.
The frame basically resembling the frame of a kids swing set.
A long 2x6 or 2x8 (on end) for the top, the length of the boat and two triangular ends with horizontal braces.
Big rocks can hold the tarp to the ground.
Works real good.
You can build this in a few hours.
The steep angle will prevent snow from sticking to it.

I do kinda the same now but not as heavy as described above.
I use 2x's whatever length works best.
also I use some thinner 1x2 or 1/2x1-1/2 thin rips to lay over where ever tarp tries to pond or sag in,
then use an assortment of bungee, wrachet straps. or quick pull tie down cargo straps to secure. the wind really makes me cuss.
sometimes I use double layer of tarps, because 1 always seem to have a leak somewhere and if you get 5-30 gallons in a pocket as described above. its an adventure...
Key is don't ever give it a place to sag or pond.
Making tic tac toe grid is option with thin lumber. Lattice fencing will stop ponding(obviously all lumber is under the tarp)You always seem to find every splinter or something that want to snag your tarps and make more leaks.
I use long thin lumber to get tarps over out reach areas.. extend my arms.
Ladders work too, run a scabbed 2x or 4x4 length over the boat with ladder at each end or 4 ladders being 2 on each side,. I have put 2, 6 footers in hull making a big tent with boards between and be sure to strap ladders down, its bad if they fall over and lumber smashes stuff.
The wind and pockets/sag/ponding is biggest obstacle.
It sucks not having a building or they're all full of stuff already..
I been fighting this demon a little over a year now during my build.
Just remember if it can roll, it will.
If it can fall it, will.
If it can pocket, it will.
If it can flap in the brezze/wind, it will.(and then blow off or uncover)
You have to make it freaking child, bulletproof, windproof and everything else. aggravating at best.. strap, tie Everything down...
Sorry I sound mad about it, it can can get overwhelming fighting the elements.
If you decide to go this type route you will figure out what works best for you and what not to do by the school of hard knocks.
This is the cheapest most versitle without a building.
Lumber doesn't typically blow away, I like that part.
The Poo(poor) boy building.

 

[poconojoe]

You're also fighting critters that want nest in your cozy boat.

 

[poconojoe]

Speaking of a wooden gantry....you can have as many legs as needed depending on the length of your boat, how much of a span you want between them or maybe how strong you want it.

 

[JimS123]

My 2 main family and fishing boats cost a total of $100000 plus. The garage I built to house them cost a measly $15000.n Cost effective.

 

[roscoe]

Got trees ? Or a tree and a flagpole?
Or a tree and a utility pole? Or a tree and a garage?

Park the boat between them.
Run 3/16" cable between the trees, about 12' up.
Drape heavy duty plastic tarp over cable and down over boat.
Secure to trailer with 3/16" para-cord.
Make it tight so the tarp doesn't flop around.

 

[Captain Caveman]

I used to store mine outdoors. I put the factory cover on and then the heaviest tarp that I could buy at the hardware store.

Depending on the state that you live in, check with your local state fair grounds. Here in Minnesota, now that the state fair is over they take many of the big buildings and turn them into storage buildings. You should see all of the boats, RVs, classic cars, and whatnot that people store there.

I did that once but then found a neighbor who doesn't drive anymore. I pay her the going rate at the State Fair grounds (about $200) for the winter and it stays in a cozy garage all to itself. Good luck.