Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

[Ki Ki]

So, as the title suggests, I bought a used boat with no boat cover. We have no choice but to store outdoors this winter in Michigan snow ridden winters.

I'm hearing different schools of thought. I have a 14 foot boat that to shrink wrap financially doesn't make sense. Therefore, I'm going to either buy a boat cover with the elastic straps, or someone suggested to me that I buy a 'super heavy duty tarp'. One that's like 10" mm thick with uv protection. Any ideas which would be BETTER?

Thanks

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

i cant tell you which would be better. what i can tell you, comming from snow country, is a tarp that is peaked up--tented-- in the center so it will shed the snow is a lot less work. it can be trying at times for jill and i if we dont get ours done in time in the fall, to keep ours shoveled off.

 

[phoenixisrizen]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I cover mine in the summer with the snap-on covers, but I just went to Lowe's and picked up 2 10x12 ( I think) 10 mil tarps for less than 25 bucks a piece. I too think they will be easier to keep the snow off of than a canvas boat cover.


But who knows, I've been wrong before.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I've always used the cheapest plastic tarps that I can find and then put two of them on. The outer one is usually ruined, or close to it, by spring. I throw that away and put the previous years on the outside next winter with new one underneath.

The cover I use in the summer goes in the basement.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

When choosing your covers, think about your neighbors. Some cities or neighborhoods don't allow boat parking at all because some boats can look pretty bad. So choose subtle colors, and if it's home made, make it look store bought.
My next door neighbor has a boat covered with a brown plastic tarp. technically illegal but i don't care; I barely see it through the bushes, even looking down at it from my window. But if it was bright blue, it would be gone.

 

[scutly]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Bond-O posted about these on ebay last year. if you have a big boat this is a cheep way to go. they have all sorts of sizes.

 

[RWilson2526]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Somebody on another website was talking about this and I think I am going to try it this year. He buys and oval above ground swimming pool cover. They come with a cable sewn into them around the perimeter and a winch so you can draw them tight around the boat...best part is because they are oval you dont have all that extra material at the corners that you get when using a rectangular tarp. And they are pretty cheap on EBAY too it seems

http://cgi.ebay.com/12x24-Oval-8-YR-Above-Ground-Swimming-Pool-Winter-Cover-/140435843175?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b2a0e867

 

[JoLin]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Somebody on another website was talking about this and I think I am going to try it this year. He buys and oval above ground swimming pool cover. They come with a cable sewn into them around the perimeter and a winch so you can draw them tight around the boat...best part is because they are oval you dont have all that extra material at the corners that you get when using a rectangular tarp. And they are pretty cheap on EBAY too it seems

http://cgi.ebay.com/12x24-Oval-8-YR-Above-Ground-Swimming-Pool-Winter-Cover-/140435843175?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b2a0e867

THAT is interesting.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Bond-O posted about these on ebay last year. if you have a big boat this is a cheep way to go. they have all sorts of sizes.

I might just buy one of these, use half for my boat, and half to make a "tent" for my car that has to park outside...

 

[scutly]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

im goin for the oval pool cover as well! thats awesome. they got a 19' x 35' for $50 shipped! good find!

 

[dsiekman]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I like the pool cover idea, but that might be overkill for a 14' boat.

In terms of canvas vs tarp, I'd go tarp. Last year we had a banner year for snow and half the boats in our marina had their canvas mooring covers shredded by the extra weight. With waste deep snow overnight - twice - there was no chance of getting down to the marina to shovel.

The only complaint I've ever heard about tarps is that they don't allow the boat to breathe. That said, you can pick up a cheap solar fan to tape over a hole in the tarp or make yourself a vent...or just don't tie it down so tight.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I've always used tarps on my 12-16' boats. To me the key is not to wrap it tightly all around, just along the sides so that it stays tight and the snow can slide off. My boat always breaths at the back because I take the tarp over the motor.

When it snows a bunch, I go out with an old snow brush from my truck (or use my arm) and brush the snow off the tarp. Never had a problem.

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Tarp and PVC tent.

 

[18WCmerc]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Im in the same boat (no pun intended). I'm going to buy mulitple large tarps and layer them. discard the top layer each year like suggested. I have seen tarps wear out pretty quick. im going to check my local harbor frieght for large amounts of tarps and bungies.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I have a 15ft aluminum boat that I store outdoors here in Grand Rapids. I use two covers. On the bottom I have an old canvas cover that came with the boat. It goes on over a set of four fiberglass bows that span across the boat. I also run a length of rope along the centerline of the boat under the canvas cover but on top of the 4 bows. On top of that I put a cheaper cover that I bought at Meijer's thrift shop.

For those of you outside of the midwest, Meijer's is a local chain that has a clearance outlet store locally. The important issue is that it was a really cheap cover. I paid less than $35 for it. After two winters it still looks brand new. I only use it in the winter and then it goes into storage for the summer. I do wish it was longer so that I could cover the motor as well.

Never had any issues with it.

TerryMSU

 

[dingbat]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

A boat cover for my boat is over $600. The last one lasted me almost 4 years. I've since been using a 20' x 40' Silver, 6.0 oz. Per Square Yrd. - 1200 Denier - 14x14 Weave Count tarps. The price isn't all that bad ($80) and I get the same 3-4 years of like out of them.

I fold the trap into place then use trap clips to hold the shape. It fits just as well and last just as well as a custom cover at 1/8 the cost.

 

[18WCmerc]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

just picked up a 29' x 19' farm tarp 12x12 weave for 50 bucks at harbor freight, plus a 20% off coupon, covers my boat completely, front to back, side to side, the tarp tucks under the boat.

20pack black rubber bungies 6.99 at HF as well.

cheap and i can replace that every year.

 

[mike-the-cobra]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

PVC and tarp for Michigan winters. Air breathes at the back...

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

Got me a Navigloo coming which is basically a tarp with a fancy frame system inside. Cost me $419 from Costco which is cheaper than a shrink wrap around here so next year boat covering is essentially "free".

 

[jollymon]

Re: Winter- Buy boat cover OR super heavy duty tarp?

I do not know what prices are in your area, but 14' boat should cost no more then $8 per foot or about $112 to shrink wrap.

With waist deep snow, I would just spend the money so I would not have to worry about it!