boat cover

[JJO]

I just purchased a semi custom boat cover, it just about covers to the rub rail and has about 6 tie downs. Now living in northern NJ we see a good amount of wind and snow, should i buy a simple blue tarp to throw over the entire boat to cover the entire hull and outdrive.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

What?!? Your not going to bring your boat inside next to a warm fireplace for the winter? :smt021 Say it ain't so. :smt018

Ok, so much for the funny stuff. How about some details, how big is the boat, how much snow will you get, what kind of tarp are you going to buy.

Things to remember - 1. Snow is cold and heavy. It tends to break things. 2. Snow melts and water gets everywhere. 3. Plastic tarps get brittle and break. 4. Little critters love tarped boats. Great winter napping place.

:smt024

 

[Dave S]

I don't know if there is a simple answer to your question. First of all are you asking about a cover for winter? Is your boat stored outside where it is exposed to the elements?

If both of the above answers would be yes, then any cover you select should be braced properly so that snow loads don't cause any sagging or ripping of the cover and the cover needs to be secure enough so that wind won't get under it or it can't cause chaffing of the fibergalss gel coat from constant movement caused by wind. A "universal" cover may meet those requirements but only you can be the judge of that since there are so many different covers available of varying quality.

 

[Dennis Hoaglin]

Today, I put a custom winter canvas cover on my 270 SLX. I learned about Fisher Custom Canvas covers on the SRO board. I'll see how much I like it in Spring but I am impressed with the fit and how it covers down to the water line. It is fortified w/ two 2x4s on the back of the boat and one in bow.

The price of shrink wrap went from $275 for my boat to $415 this year. Plus, the shrink wrap scarred by gelcoat last time and I got a scratch in the gelcoat from the installation or removal. The Fisher cover will pay for itself in two years and I'm told I can expect it to last 10 years if cared for.

Anyone have experience with a Fisher cover out there?

Dennis

 

[sbw1]

Here is a quick and cheap method of covering that worked for me. Using a post hole digger I sunk two 4 X 4s about 15' apart and strung a tight line at the top. The Whaler was positioned in between and the plastic tarps formed a tent over the top. I used two tarps. One was placed on the boat and secured to the ground with blocks. The other tented everything and was secured with blocks as well. Total invested was less than $25. The boat sat behind a stockade fence so it was out of view, which is another consideration. Not only is it quick and cheap, it's also very ugly. :smt101

 

[widowmaker]

I'm not trying to hijack here but I too purchased a semi-custom cover that will just cover the rubrails and will be storing it bow to stern outside along the south facing wall of my garage. Right now I'm planning on having the bow and cockpit sunbrella covers on, then my new sunbrella type cover and then placing my older sharkshin cover over that. I also want to extend a blue tarp or something over the sun exposed side and hold it in place with suction cups on the fiberglass. I will have the center support posts installed in the boat underneath to hopefully prevent puddling.

I kind of like the tent idea. Will I have mold problems with too many covers? I usually store it at a warehouse but I like to look at in the backyard and want to do some work on it now and then.

 

[sbw1]

Not sure about the mold question. Mine was a Boston Whaler with mahogony seats and gel coat. I'd worry more about mice than mold. SRs have a lots of vinyl trim that you need to consider. My boat stayed dry and mold did not develop. I did have to clean out a mouse nest in the spring time occassionally but that required only a little soap and water and a garden hose.

 

[rondds]

JJO
i'd bet you 25cents right now that whatever you do with that blue tarp will be torn and tattered and probalby not even within 50 feet of your boat by mid january. then, in the spring/early summer, some poor soul is going to get fragments of what WAS your tarp wrapped up in his prop or stuck in his intake.

seems like you ponied up a few bucks already, but the very best investment you could make to save your boat from the elements (UV light, rain and the weight of snow) is a custom cover from fisher canvas. pays for itself in three winters (instead of shrinkwrapping), is a selling point for the boat thereafter, and you wont have to worry about it all winter long. i am on my third winter with mine, and there are MANY other people at my marina with one. these babies NEVER move and NEVER fail when properly installed and supported.

PLEASE, no blue poly tarps with clorox bottles filled with sand suspended from grommets. be kind to your boat!!!

http://www.drlumachi.com/snowboat2.html

http://www.drlumachi.com/wintercover.html

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Ron, how come yours is the only boat on the lot with a nice warm wrap? :thumbsup: Those other boats look a little cold and neglected. :smt009

 

[rondds]

in all fairness, this non-snow pic was taken on thanksgiving day (2005?) so maybe some folks hadnt yet covered their boats at that point. maybe the shrinkwrap man was running behind. but if memory serves me, that SR to stbd was pretty much uncovered all winter long. breaks your heart! :smt009

 

[Alex F]

JJO
i'd bet you 25cents right now that whatever you do with that blue tarp will be torn and tattered and probalby not even within 50 feet of your boat by mid january. then, in the spring/early summer, some poor soul is going to get fragments of what WAS your tarp wrapped up in his prop or stuck in his intake.

seems like you ponied up a few bucks already, but the very best investment you could make to save your boat from the elements (UV light, rain and the weight of snow) is a custom cover from fisher canvas. pays for itself in three winters (instead of shrinkwrapping), is a selling point for the boat thereafter, and you wont have to worry about it all winter long. i am on my third winter with mine, and there are MANY other people at my marina with one. these babies NEVER move and NEVER fail when properly installed and supported.

PLEASE, no blue poly tarps with clorox bottles filled with sand suspended from grommets. be kind to your boat!!!

http://www.drlumachi.com/snowboat2.html

http://www.drlumachi.com/wintercover.html

rondds,
Very nice cover. I also have similar cover (don't recall the brand). It works great and as you said paid off itself just in one season.
My question is, how are these covers compare to the shrinkwrap? I'm getting a bigger boat an was plannig to shrinkwrap it for transportation. Then, I had a thought, why not do the same as for my 240 and get the custom cover. So, my concern is mold and damage while in transit.

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[Gunn]

I just purchased a semi custom boat cover, it just about covers to the rub rail and has about 6 tie downs. Now living in northern NJ we see a good amount of wind and snow, should i buy a simple blue tarp to throw over the entire boat to cover the entire hull and outdrive.

JJO, looks like you never got an answer to your question. If I understand it correctly, you bought a new semi-custom cover and have the boat covered with it. You are asking, if you should -additionally- put on a cheap blue tarp just to protect the extras that the cover didn't get to, and to protect the cover itself, right?

Good question! I bought a semi-cover custom cover for our boat last year and just used that last winter (actually, I use it year-round). It did fade quite a bit which was disappointing. But I wondered too about adding a tarp. Supposedly, this cover "breathes", and I don't think those blue tarps do. So maybe that would trap moisture inside, creating mold/mildew? Those were my thoughts anyway, and the reason why I didn't go that route.

 

[Alex F]

Good question! I bought a semi-cover custom cover for our boat last year and just used that last winter (actually, I use it year-round). It did fade quite a bit which was disappointing. But I wondered too about adding a tarp. Supposedly, this cover "breathes", and I don't think those blue tarps do. So maybe that would trap moisture inside, creating mold/mildew? Those were my thoughts anyway, and the reason why I didn't go that route.

I'm puzzled with similar question about mold/mildew. What about shrink-wrap, there's no breathing at all, from what I understand. Doesn't this creates and issue with mold/mildew?

Alex.

 

[sbw1]

When boats are properly shrink wrapped they get breathing ports at various location so there is a limited flow of air. I've even seen some done with a little solar battery and fan to keep air moving. Mildew is a real issue when you store outside. Inside, even if not heated is much better because the temperatures do not fluctuate much. It's the quick cool downs after a warm winter day that create condensation. If the boat is dirty you get mildew pretty quickly so it is crucial to put boats away clean and dry.

 

[Alex F]

sbw1,

When you say "it is crucial to put boats away clean and dry" are you talking about haul or inside? I totally understand that all inside must be dry, but how would it make a difference if you didn't vaccume the carpet? What other part do you refer?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[sbw1]

sbw1,

When you say "it is crucial to put boats away clean and dry" are you talking about haul or inside? I totally understand that all inside must be dry, but how would it make a difference if you didn't vaccume the carpet? What other part do you refer? Thanks,Alex.

I was referring to the inside the boat not the hull. I suppose you could skip the carpet cleaning but why not put the boat away completely clean? Mildew grows on dirty surfaces and spores are very likely present in the carpet pile waiting for conditions that are favorable to growth.

 

[comsnark]

Well. . . personally I think shrink wrapping is a HUGE waste of money. I therefore have been using Blue Tarps for several years on both the SeaRay and my sailboat. The blue tarps are $30-$60 depending on size. . . and generally are looking too worn to re-install the following year. I used a brown tarp (10mil vs 5mil for the blue) once that lasted two years.

Properly supported and tied down (don't let wind get under it, don't let snow sag the cover). . .blue tarps work fine. Not exactly zero maintenance in my mind -> I make a point to check it every 2 to 4 weeks. Generally make one or two adjustments during the winter.

Tarping my 28 searay was no issue last year. I have had problems with wind getting under the cover of the sailboat and "billowing" the plastic -> which ultimate can rip it off the boat (happened once during a nor' easter). My secret now is to put a few warps (every five feet) around the whole contraption to keep it down. . .this is in addition to maximizing the tie-downs on the bottom.