toneeees
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]If you store your boat out of doors for the off season (aka "Winter") there are various ways to help protect your significant investment. You could just leave your boat cover on it but if you're in snow country, the snow and accumulating ice will probably destroy your cover just before it moves on to wreck your boat. While some tarps found at big box stores are relatively water resistant, most aren't waterproof and don't do much more than your boat cover. Your other option is to shrink wrap your boat, sealing it against the ravages of winter while allowing for sufficient air flow to keep mold and mildew from forming to create a white carpet of a new life form on your boat.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Dr. Shrink, is one of the most popular brands of shrink wrap. Dr. Shrink not only is used for boat storage but covers many other items including whole buildings. Shrink wrap comes in blue, white, and clear. If you live in northern climates, blue wrap absorbs heat and allows snow and ice to fall from the cover. For southern climates, white reflects heat and keeps covered boats cooler. Clear shrink wrap should only be used on boats during the winter months. It absorbs a lot of heat which can damage boat interiors. If you use clear wrap always over ventilate. Also, if you are showing boats or working on them outdoors, white should be the color of choice. It provides excellent shadow-free lighting and perfect color rendition.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The good thing and bad thing about shrink wrap is that it is waterproof and can completely seal your boat from the environment. Well, that's good but you don't want to completely seal it because then you will create a very large petri dish for mold and mildew to start to inhabit. You need a good vent system that keeps rain and snow out while allowing air to flow through the boat. That also means for larger boats with cabins, don't close the doors between each room. Make sure there's at least four vents in the wrap for boats under 34' and eight vents for larger boats.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]For some boats you'll want to build somewhat of a framework to help support the shrink wrap over lengthy openings. These simple, yet effective supports give the cover enough slope and strength so that snow and rain will run off. Using PVC pipe or wood with woven strapping works well. Pad any sharp corners.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One of the big benefits of shrink wrap is that once it's on, it doesn't move. It won't flap, make noise or chafe the finish of your boat.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]If you would need to periodically inspect your boat, you can install a zippered door section when you shrink the boat. It too is waterproof.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]It's easy to calculate how much shrink wrap you'll need. Measure from the center of your boat, at the highest point, over the side and down at least 8" below the rub rail (for example, on a powerboat with arch measure from the center of the arch down below the rub rail). Now double that figure and add on 1' for the shrink wrap which will be tucked under the perimeter band.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Many boaters can shrink wrap their own boats. Kits, wrap and accessories are available from us here at iboats.com: http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Shrink-Wrap-Accessories/dm/view_id.1188766 Some local boat dealers offer shrink wrap services.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Remember, when the new boating season is about to start and you unwrap your boat, recycle the shrink wrap through your local recycling center or the REBAG system offered by Dr. Shrink.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Dr. Shrink, is one of the most popular brands of shrink wrap. Dr. Shrink not only is used for boat storage but covers many other items including whole buildings. Shrink wrap comes in blue, white, and clear. If you live in northern climates, blue wrap absorbs heat and allows snow and ice to fall from the cover. For southern climates, white reflects heat and keeps covered boats cooler. Clear shrink wrap should only be used on boats during the winter months. It absorbs a lot of heat which can damage boat interiors. If you use clear wrap always over ventilate. Also, if you are showing boats or working on them outdoors, white should be the color of choice. It provides excellent shadow-free lighting and perfect color rendition.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The good thing and bad thing about shrink wrap is that it is waterproof and can completely seal your boat from the environment. Well, that's good but you don't want to completely seal it because then you will create a very large petri dish for mold and mildew to start to inhabit. You need a good vent system that keeps rain and snow out while allowing air to flow through the boat. That also means for larger boats with cabins, don't close the doors between each room. Make sure there's at least four vents in the wrap for boats under 34' and eight vents for larger boats.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]For some boats you'll want to build somewhat of a framework to help support the shrink wrap over lengthy openings. These simple, yet effective supports give the cover enough slope and strength so that snow and rain will run off. Using PVC pipe or wood with woven strapping works well. Pad any sharp corners.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]One of the big benefits of shrink wrap is that once it's on, it doesn't move. It won't flap, make noise or chafe the finish of your boat.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]If you would need to periodically inspect your boat, you can install a zippered door section when you shrink the boat. It too is waterproof.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]It's easy to calculate how much shrink wrap you'll need. Measure from the center of your boat, at the highest point, over the side and down at least 8" below the rub rail (for example, on a powerboat with arch measure from the center of the arch down below the rub rail). Now double that figure and add on 1' for the shrink wrap which will be tucked under the perimeter band.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Many boaters can shrink wrap their own boats. Kits, wrap and accessories are available from us here at iboats.com: http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Shrink-Wrap-Accessories/dm/view_id.1188766 Some local boat dealers offer shrink wrap services.[/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Remember, when the new boating season is about to start and you unwrap your boat, recycle the shrink wrap through your local recycling center or the REBAG system offered by Dr. Shrink.[/FONT]