Shrink wrap and boat top

[tbirdvet]

Being new to this process does the marina remove the boat top and Eisenglass panels when shrink wrapping for the winter or do they leave them on?

 

[Henry Boyd]

Are you asking whether a marina will remove the canvas, or are you asking if the canvas should be removed before shrink wrapping?

As for the former, my boatyard does what I tell them to do, but that's just me and the silly notion that I'm the customer.

I suspect you are really more interested in the latter question, so here are my thoughts. Around here (Mass) the canvas and frames come off before shrinkwrapping. With a single ridge made up of pine strapping to hold the shrinkwrap, a peaked roof line is created and snow just slides off the wrap. With the frames in place there is a flat top that then can collect snow and ice. I'm not sure if the top frames can carry much of a snow load, but I'd rather not find out.

I also like to minimize the amount of fabric left on the boat during the winter and would be concerned about the effects of moisture trapped between the canvas and shrinkwrap.

Taking all the stuff down gives me a chance to clean and wax the frames and really clean the canvas.

Henry

 

[tbirdvet]

Yes, just wanted to know if it should be left up or taken down. If the boat yard removes it I assume they would just stick it in the cabin since I would probably not be there when they do the wrapping. Bit then in the spring I assume they would put the top back when they put the boat back in the water (or do i need to remove the shrinkwrap and reinstall the top)? I guess I will ask at the marina.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I have a cockpit cover as well so the logistics are a little simpler. In the fall I take the canvas down myself and it and the frames come home with me for storage. I leave the cockpit cover up and when the yard does the wrap they take that off and leave it in a box on the boat. I also have them install a door. When I come by to inspect the work and remove the last of the stuff I collect the box and take it home.

I take down the wrap myself. The yard has a collection bin for it to be recycled. I do this mainly because I enjoy it. I also had a bad experience with a previous boat where the upholstery got nicked. I said it was done when they took the wrap off, they said it was there, it resulted a big headache that took several weeks to correct (because at spring launch time everybody is too busy to take on last minute jobs). Needless to say that was the last year I let someone else do the shrinkwrap removal and stored the boat there.

Henry