Shrink wrap VS Cover

[Jimmy Buoy]

I have a cover I had made 3yrs ago for my last boat and I'm considering having re-made to fit "Island Rythm" which is 2' longer, 2' wider, and considerably higher. It was made from a material called "stamoid". The cover went from the bow pulpit, over the bow, windshield, and arch and snapped to the transom. The boat had ugly snaps just above the rub rail from the bow to the stern, but they held well all winter.

Stamoid is much thinner and lighter than canvas or sunbrella material. The entire cover can be folded and carried under one arm. It is VERY strong and resistant to tearing or wear and will NOT leak or shrink. The downside - is cost. This top was almost $4,000 so I wasn't about to give it away with the old boat!

I've seen others make their regular camper tops from stamoid but it. like vinyl does not breath at all causing mold problems. For a winter cover though, you just add venting which solves these issues.

It looked very similar to John's when installed leaving some areas around stantions exposed. On my boat, these stantions are on a angled surface so I would think it's not as likely to have problems with standing water - right?:huh:

I've been paying $3000/winter for heated/indoor storage and can store outside for $950 using my own cover or $1500 and have them put shrink wrap each winter.

Decisions, decisions....

 

[wakeup 19]

You can re-use use your shrinkwrap for 3-5 years if you take it off carefully. It goes back on in 1/3 the time as well. I would never spend 4k on a canvas, just me.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

You can re-use use your shrinkwrap for 3-5 years if you take it off carefully. It goes back on in 1/3 the time as well. I would never spend 4k on a canvas, just me.

Neither would I. A sunbrella cover came with the boat, but a fire in our home destroyed it and my boat policy paid for the replacement. Fortunately my boat policy, although more expensive than average does not depreciate canvas. The boat top maker suggested that "stamoid" would be far superior to sunbrella for this application and the insurance co. just went with it.

Now, I'm having to decide if it is worth maybe another $1000 to have it expanded to fit my current boat vs paying for shrink wrap continually.

 

[Dasch Boat]

I will continue to use shrink wrap, the heavy snow loads we get roll right off and the wind doesn't cause the wrap to flap against the gel coat like a tarp would. We hang several mildew bags in the cabin, make sure all the cabinet doors are left open and vent the wrap. I also don't put a zipper in as we store in a boat yard a ways from our home, this keeps uninvited guests out and gives the yard crew notice if someone has been on board. Twenty plus years and no mold or mildew and the spring wash and polish goes a lot quicker.

 

[Havana Shamrock]

in the recent months here we received about two feet of snow and for the $300 of shrink wrap my canvas is nice and protected in my garage. the shrink wrap holds up nicely

 

[tdschafer]

in the recent months here we received about two feet of snow and for the $300 of shrink wrap my canvas is nice and protected in my garage. the shrink wrap holds up nicely

For $300 I would be shrink wrapping too. My last boat was ~ $225-250 to shrink. This boat they want $700. Thats quite a jump for a throw away product.

"wakeup 19Re: Shrink wrap VS Cover
You can re-use use your shrinkwrap for 3-5 years if you take it off carefully. It goes back on in 1/3 the time as well. I would never spend 4k on a canvas, just me."

I don't know where you are but I am sure that the shrink wrappers here will not re-use old wrap just for liability issues and since I dont do it myself that option is off the table. The Fisher cover is Cotton based, heavy I'm sure , but safe for gelcoat and looks to be tight on the vessels I have seen. W'ere not talking a HD tarp and a couple of bungees. The price I got is $2700, not cheap but certainly not unreasonable. My biggest concern is the weight and longevity.....I hear they last in excess of 10 years and if this is true I think my only concern is then the weight.

This is RONDDS's boat with his Fisher cover installed. Looks pretty good to me.....:grin::grin::grin:

 

[hbishop3]

Shrink wrap for sure...I've looked at all the boats with canvas (under three feet of snow with the canopy bows crushed into the cockpit) and decided that snow doesn't slide off canvas like it does shrink-wrap. I don't know if you can roll up shrink wrap and save it for the next year, but may try it. Regardless, I didn't ruin my canvas this year under the loads of snow...

 

[wakeup 19]

I am up in Boston at a private YClub so we can kind of do what we want. There is one guyat the club, he is a stoggy old timer, who used his wrap for 6 years. The secret is don't shrink it too much. More money for gas!!:smt038

 

[tdschafer]

I am up in Boston at a private YClub so we can kind of do what we want. There is one guyat the club, he is a stoggy old timer, who used his wrap for 6 years. The secret is don't shrink it too much. More money for gas!!:smt038

So do you do your own wrapping? I gave that a thought because thats the only way I can do it @ my marina but, having never done it before I decided against it. If I could bring in my own guy I never even would have posted. My guy will do it for 8 bucks a foot which is fine by me. But @ 20 a foot I feel like the marina should be wearing a mask or at least give me a kiss while they f$%*k me!!!:smt013

 

[rondds]

B/c of the weight and the sheer height of this boat, I sometimes wonder if I'd do it all over again. My frame needs usually at least one touch-up during the winter and the cover had to go back a few times for mods or repairs. BUT, none of the guys I know with express-type boats have these problems. So if you ask me "Is this a practical alternative for a bridge boat?", I'd have to think long and hard about my answer, and I'd say NO outright if the boat is bigger than about 36' LOA. If I were to make a lateral move to a express-type, up to a 40' LOA, I'd do it again.