Any Recommendations On Canvas Shop in NJ – Need Winter Cover for 320DA

Dom, I love the idea on your winter cover. I have tried to find someone to make a full winter cover for my 280 but everyone says they won't do one with an arch. Your idea makes sense.
 
Dom's system makes a lot of sense if your boat is close at hand like his. But if it's far like mine, where I'm not likely to be able to reach it shortly after a storm, a full cover makes sense. Depends on how regularly you can visit your boat, Alex.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
Dom,
Thanks for your thoughts. Frank's post kind of nails it. Each setup has a lot to do with having access to the boat. I totally understand where you coming from and if this what works for you it's great. The only thing I would still be a bit worry about expensive rig on the arch. I would protect it regardless. Just my opinion.

Thx,
Alex.
 
douglee25 said:
Damn buddy! Talk about overkill!! Nice setup, but why? :huh:
Doug
Click to expand...

Doug,
The answer is very simple. This setup looks like an overkill, but it was made based on previous experiance. Even with mild winters in NJ, there are couple of passing snow storms (we've had 17 storms couple of years back) here and there. When I had simpler support under the cover, there was time when the amount of snow pressed so much with it's weight that it almost broke coupld of support posts. So, the basinc idea here to make sure that no amount of snow sticks to the cover and rather slides down. The setup you see in the picture is booletproof and I didn't care how much snow we'll get. Even though my 240DA was stored next to my house in the driveway, I didn't always have time to clean the snow from the boat. So, in the end, my choice was to spend extra 2 hours putting the setup on the boat and relux all winter long, instead of taking a shortcut and wander, is it gonna hold or not.

Alex.
 
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Alex F said:
Dom, ........The only thing I would still be a bit worry about expensive rig on the arch. I would protect it regardless. Just my opinion.......Alex.
Click to expand...

I did think about have an extension cover made to go over the arch and connect the two halves. It's on the drawing board. Not shown in the pictures, but I do have a small cover that I have which just goes over the radar scanner. It's not really necessary because, as I said, it's in my backyard I and keep one those 30 foot extension poles with a 24" brush on the end handy just in case.
 
I like the pool material idea.. Can you tell me how much it cost and who made it?
 
alex
you're talking to a guy who has installed and seen MANY a winter cover and i would undoubtedly get the fisher canvas products cover. yes it is heavy but you can do it no problem on your boat. rudy and i do ours every year, and we also jackass erics (similar to fisher) into place - have been for the past 4 years. the James purchased an HF Fisher & son cover last fall, and several people in our marina are going on their third year. two people (one with a 41' rinker and another with a similar sized Cruisers) had it tear to shreds before christmas of the second winter. they do not use a frame. it's sort of a customized poly tarp and are extremely light weight, thus they dont hold up as well. i suppose if they made it for you with a frame in mind, it might stand up better. i dont know, but there are a TON of fisher canvas products covers in our marina, including my slip neighbor who has your exact boat!

you may want to talk to jon about this - he has another system he is looking into, but fisher is a tried and true product, there are many satisfied customers in our marina (rudy is going into his 7th winter with his, i'm going into my 5th) and fred fisher is a great guy to deal with. i'd expect to pay around $3K for it but it will outlast the time you will keep your boat and is a selling point for the next owner. you've all seen these pix but here they are again... (btw, in the second photo you'll see rudy's boat all neatly buttoned up)

1_Frame.jpg


1_DSCN2357__Small_.JPG


1_WinterCoverCompressed.jpg
 
I live out here in Iowa and I bought a Fisher canvas and am very pleased. No more shrink wrap.
 
Just erected (huh huh) my frame again. I lowered the entire frame by about 6" this year by chopping length from each of the 5 vertical supports for the spine. I'm hoping this will bring the entire cover closer to the water line, esp at the bow. Also hoping it will lower the wind resistance of the whole apparatus a bit. I put a close-up of a main junction. Sheetrock screws and copper ligature wires tighten things up but still afford flexibility and movement as the wind blows.

Tomorrow the cover goes on. :smt100



The Horizon BC/BS Blimp. Don't see that every day...
100_0896.jpg




After 4 winters, the longer stretches of PVC start to sag a bit in the middle.
100_0897.jpg




The connection on the right side of the Tee is glued. The left side is screwed together and wired in.
100_0898.jpg
 
It is done... :smt089:smt089:smt089

100_0906.jpg
 
You might want to try Superior Canvas in Swedesboro. They do come to Cape May and do really good work. They also react quickly. The sewing machine is in the truck and they get the work done at the boat.

Mr Salt
2001 540 CPMY
Caterpillar C-12s
Cape May, NJ
 
Well. . .I actually got out on the water last night. It was pitch black at 7pm. DANG. and pretty darn cold when running into the wind DANG.

I plan to pull the boat in two weeks or so. I am switching from wood to PVC supports this year. . .looking forward to it (sort of).
 
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