Tarps

Renken2000Classic

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 10, 2022
Messages
233
I noticed today that the one I put on this year is already flaking (!). Didn't seem like it had been on that long, but it mighta been new in June. It's a Wal Mart heavy duty (brown and silver), Hyper Tough brand, probably. I wasn't expecting to see that yet.

The last one I got from there (same brand and so forth I believe) was a butterscotch (and silver) color and it was the best one I've had yet. It lasted over a year. Same price range, best of my memory. I see them online, called "weather resistant". I kind of thought it was a fluke, and they didn't have them when I got this one.

Just kind of irritates me that stuff is cheapened as much as they can get away with sometimes, or that's the impression. Have had trouble with the eyelets ripping out of the brown ones too, but not in a while.
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
49,540
I buy a tarp every few months to recover the Fiat. I have a canvas tarp covered by a vinyl / poly tarp. The vinyl / poly lasts a max of 5 months. They do not last in sunlight and wind

Covering a boat, I would go with canvas
 

crazy charlie

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 22, 2003
Messages
5,499
The darker the color in the sun the quicker it will wear.I run a line,/ rope,/cord thru all of my grommets on each side and do the tie downs on the line/rope/cord which puts less stress on the grommets making them last longer.You can also put the silver side out which for some reason nobody does.Charlie
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,421
Costco has fantastic tarps. they are 12 by 16. They come in a package of 2. for less than $20. I have been using the same tarps for easily 4 or 5 years and never had a leak. You may think that one is not big enough to cover your boat. but when you put the 2 of them together they easily cover a 22 or 24 foot boat. Besides, I find that putting on two tarps one after the other is a lot easier than wresting with a huge tarp. You can also fold up the smaller tarp much better and more compact. I look out every year to check when costco has them in the stores. They seem to put them in only during certain periods and then to get sold very fast.
 

briangcc

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2012
Messages
2,360
I've tried tarps over the winter 2x for my boats. First on the Bayliner then a couple years back on the Chap - both for the perceived cost savings over shrink wrap.

Results...Bayliner had mold on the seats and gouges in the hull from the grommets the following spring. Chap collapsed in a major snow fall event, to the point where I had to tow it to a different location in blinding snow to clean it out and then recover. Try towing a boat on dimly lit back country roads in the middle of a blizzard.

Whole new respect for "spend the darn $$$ on shrink wrap".

Tarps are great...for under tents when camping.
 

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,074
Current tarp going on year 5
Use heavy duty bungee cords to secure to trailer
Use tarp clips to shape and form fit tarp to boat

Super Heavy Duty Silver / Brown Poly Tarp Features:

  • Silver / Brown Tarp
  • 100% Waterproof
  • Super Heavy Duty Poly Tarp
  • 12 Mil (0.012”) thickness
  • 7 oz per square yard
  • 3 Ply poly material
  • 1200 Denier fibers
  • 14 x 14 Mesh count per square inch
  • Reinforced corners
  • Acid resistant
  • Rot resistant
  • Highly UV ray resistant
  • Mildew resistant
  • Hems are reinforced with rope for additional strength
  • Reinforced woven and coated polyethylene finish
  • Silver on one side, Brown on the other side
  • Cut size tarp (finish size is apprx. 6”-8” smaller than size shown)
  • Aluminum grommets spaced approx. every 18" around the entire perimeter
  • Durable heat welded seams
  • Arctic temperature flexibility
 

matt167

Rear Admiral
Joined
Sep 27, 2012
Messages
4,149
Tarps are $$$$$$$ these days. I use cheap boat covers to cover boats. Use several sizes too large to cover with an A frame
 
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