Winter storage question

[Drcoffee]

I have a 21’ rinker v bottom open bow. Just bought a new cover 600D waterproof , trailerable. It does well in warm weather but doesnt look like it will do well in winter. Im going to build a 2x4 frame to support cover for winter, but Im thinking of putting a waterproof tarp over the cover as well to make it easier for snow to shed off. does anyone else do this? Is it a bad idea? A tarp costs $30. I know there are products like transhield, but I have reached my budget limit for the season. After winterizing the boat a $200 winter cover is not an option.

 

[briangcc]

I did it twice....once with my Bayliner and once with my Chap. Here's my experience (I live in NY so it snows)...

Bayliner....tarp collapsed in middle of heavy snow. In spring time I was picking snow and ice chunks out of the boat. Luckily I had no damage.


Chap...I reused the shrink wrap and support structure from the year prior. No issues as the shrink wrap was heavy duty.

I get budget constraints but I would look for ways to get it shrink wrapped. In my neck of the woods there are several that are mobile and will drive to your location....cheaper than paying the marina to do it.

 

[Drcoffee]

I did it twice....once with my Bayliner and once with my Chap. Here's my experience (I live in NY so it snows)...

Bayliner....tarp collapsed in middle of heavy snow. In spring time I was picking snow and ice chunks out of the boat. Luckily I had no damage.


Chap...I reused the shrink wrap and support structure from the year prior. No issues as the shrink wrap was heavy duty.

I get budget constraints but I would look for ways to get it shrink wrapped. In my neck of the woods there are several that are mobile and will drive to your location....cheaper than paying the marina to do it.

I can see the cover collapsing with our heavy snows here in NW Indiana, lake effect can burry us. I found this youtube video of a guy who built a frame to support the cover. He ran straps to the perimeter of the boat to keep the cover up. Thats my plan. Im hoping the tarp will be slick enough for the snow to slide off easily. I really dont want to come outside to find my boat‘s interior knee deep in snow. Is it okay to layer a tarp over the boat cover?

 

[hugh g]

I use to use something similiar to the pic you posted. Worked ok, until we had a heavy snow. Then I would go out & brush off the snow to keep the tarp from tearing. If you use a tarp don't waste your money on those cheap blue thingies sold at some discount stores because it will not hold up. Spend the extra money on a heavy duty tarp, at least 10 mil. I sprayed my cover with silicone to help the snow slide off.

A leaf blower also works well in removing snow from the cover if it's not too heavy. If you're worried about your boat's cover damaged by snow, store it for the winter, build a frame & use a good tarp.

 

[robert graham]

2 or 3 large inflated truck inner tubes placed in the boat will support your tarp during heavy snow…

 

[crazy charlie]

I have a 21’ rinker v bottom open bow. Just bought a new cover 600D waterproof , trailerable. It does well in warm weather but doesnt look like it will do well in winter. Im going to build a 2x4 frame to support cover for winter, but Im thinking of putting a waterproof tarp over the cover as well to make it easier for snow to shed off. does anyone else do this? Is it a bad idea? A tarp costs $30. I know there are products like transhield, but I have reached my budget limit for the season. After winterizing the boat a $200 winter cover is not an option.

That is a very good idea.I do exactly the same on my 208 Grady White.Blue tarp lets the snow slide off if you have it pitched correctly.No harm to the 600D cover underneath.However dont be under the impression that you wont have to do any snow removal.Because you surely will.An additional $10 for the heavier tarp is money well spent.The flipside of this ,which is what I do on my bigger boat, is to have it professionally framed and shrinkwrapped.You will not have to do a thing as far as snow removal.What I do is mark each piece of the wood frame as to exactly where it goes and carefully remove and carefully fold or roll the shrinkwrap for re use next season.I have reused the wrap up to 3 times so the cost is not what it seems over the long haul.Dont expect it to look perfect but carefully removed and reinstalled ,it will work exactly the same.I highly recommend this approach.Most important thing is to have the shrinkwrap installed and shrunk tight as a drum with no movement at all on a windy day.Charlie

 

[roffey]

I like the truck tube option, never thought of that. I ran a 2x4 from the front to the back. It snowed..... and busted the windshield. lesson learned, don't rest anything on the windshield and check the boat often.

 

[roscoe]

Large plastic garbage can, upside down, in the bow.
An old 5' wooden step ladder midship.
Another large trash can in the stern.

Boat cover goes on.
Then 2 -- 10' x 12" commercial vinyl tarps (not the plastic ones sold everywhere). This gives me a better fit than using one large tarp.

The boat is protected, as is the expensive boat tarp.
The 2 trash cans are used to store the cover, tarps, and extra life jackets the rest of the year.