Shrink-wrap vs. Custom Covers

[Alex F]

I use custom cover on my 240DA that covers from bow to the swim platform with straps under the boat. I use it for long distance towing and winter storage. It paid off it's self long time ago.

I would like to hear everyone's opinion if a shrink-wrap is better in any way (mold, mildew is my concern)? When I store the boat for the winter I use those moisture containers from West Marine.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[Henry Boyd]

My experience is that it depends on your winter weather, and of course how exposed the boat is to the elements. In the past I have shrinkwrapped, used blue tarps, and the actual boat cover. Shrink wrap is taut and slippery - rain and snow slide right off and don't form puddles. Puddles turn to ice cubes that grow as the winter gets longer.

Some winters we have been lucky weather wise and some winters I have been out chipping 10 pound ice blocks out of the tarp. Don't get me started on how much fun it is when you realize you have saved the cover from collapsing under the weight of ice, but poked a hole in it! As you might guess we bite the bullet and shrinkwrap.

Henry

 

[gerryb]

One thing I appreciate about the shringk is that it is one less thing to have to store in my garage. I've looked into the Fischer type covers and I like them - but wow do that take-up alot of room when not in use. Also, I would be more concrerned about holes and wear on the canvas covers where that's not an issue on the shrink. Lastly, I have shopped for pricing on shrink-wrap and have been able to get to $10/ft vs $15/ft from MM dealership. Compainr that to the canvas, it would take me almost 7 years of paying for shrink wrap to equal the cost of the fisher canvas! And that includes no labor on my part (putting the canvas on is not an easy job on a 30' boat) so... for money and convienience... shrink is my choice...

 

[jhild]

Save your custom cover for the other 3 seasons. Shrink-wrap your boat for the winter. It depends on the severity of your weather, but there's certainly a chance your cover might get damaged if your area has a bad storm or two. If the cover starts leaking (or fails altogether) you’re going to have a real mess come spring. Then you’ll have to buy a new custom cover and spend time and/or money addressing the cleanup.

That being said, you might want to check with other boaters in your area to see what their experiences have taught them. Sometimes there’s just no substitute for local knowledge.

 

[Alex F]

My experiance with the custome cover is great. I've used it for over three winters. I have a nice frame to prevent snow weight build up and damaging the cover. In transit it works great as well. The only thing is when I open the cover in spring time I see few mold spots that I clean wit hno problems.

Now that I'm moving up the size I need 35' cover. So, I wanted to know if I really missed anything mold related caveties even though things looked fine in my opinion.

Starage is not an issue for me. I do agree that it take some time and effort to get it all setup. What about some comments on having the boat scratched from shrink-wrips?

Thx,
Alex.

 

[gerryb]

Alex, never seen any scratches, but have seen tape applied to the hull which was rather difficult to get off. Also, had 1 bad experience where the installers made a mess on the boat, black soled shoes, dirty foot prints on the seats, trash, etc.. my current crew does great work though. The shrink is less prone to mold as it must be installed with adequate ventilation. I always install extra MDG bags however.

 

[270SLX]

Custom Fisher canvas paid for itself in two seasons vis-a-vis shrinkwrap.
Shrinkwrap scuffed my gelcoat when they failed to wrap the boat to the water line and the wind caused the edge to rub against my colored gelcoat. I still haven't been successful in buffing it all the way out.
Shrink wrappers scratched my boat a little bit.
None of that with the Fisher cover. No mildew. No problems whatsoever. I even have a flap for the shore power so I can charge the batteries 2 or 3 times over the winter. I'll NEVER shrink wrap a boat again.

Dennis

 

[Alex F]

Dennis,
What am I missing in the calculation? I got a quote from FISHER CANVAS PRODUCTS, Inc $2396 including zipper door. Shrink-wrap cost is around $400-$450. Based on this it'll take 5-6 yrs to come out even.

Thx,
Alex.

 

[Alex F]

Did anyone have any experiance with Nautical Canvas?

Thx,
Alex.

 

[rondds]

alex
fisher canvas has radically jacked up their prices in the past 3 years. i bought mine in the fall of 2004 for less than $2000.00. it paid for itself in three seasons of our marina's massive rip-off price for shrink (now more than $21/ft for a bridge boat). i've helped many a friend get their fisher cover on and with a dancer, it is a SNAP. yes, it's heavy, yes it takes up the space of a kids red wagon when folded, but it is natural cotton, it breathes, it allows dampness to escape, and it does a fantastic job of keeping the boat dry. this is my 4th winter with mine and i was on the boat last weekend (after 2 straight days of soaking rain) and the deck was bone dry. i highly recommend them.

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

another option is the fisher spin-off company, HF Fisher. they make a lighter weight cover that isnt supposed to last as long (5 years as opposed to 10 years) but it is much easier to handle and costs considerably less. another friend just got a price quote for his 420AC of less than $1K. i'd give them a call.

my last name is NOT fisher and i dont work there. just giving some friendly advice to a fellow NJ'ite!

H.F.Fisher & Sons, Inc
200 Ash Ave
Delanco, NJ 08075

1-800-624-2868
1-856-461-2883

 

[Alex F]

Rondds,
Thanks for the info, I'll try getting a quote from them.

Alex.

 

[Alex F]

alex
fisher canvas has radically jacked up their prices in the past 3 years. i bought mine in the fall of 2004 for less than $2000.00. it paid for itself in three seasons of our marina's massive rip-off price for shrink (now more than $21/ft for a bridge boat). i've helped many a friend get their fisher cover on and with a dancer, it is a SNAP. yes, it's heavy, yes it takes up the space of a kids red wagon when folded, but it is natural cotton, it breathes, it allows dampness to escape, and it does a fantastic job of keeping the boat dry. this is my 4th winter with mine and i was on the boat last weekend (after 2 straight days of soaking rain) and the deck was bone dry. i highly recommend them.

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

another option is the fisher spin-off company, HF Fisher. they make a lighter weight cover that isnt supposed to last as long (5 years as opposed to 10 years) but it is much easier to handle and costs considerably less. another friend just got a price quote for his 420AC of less than $1K. i'd give them a call.

my last name is NOT fisher and i dont work there. just giving some friendly advice to a fellow NJ'ite!

H.F.Fisher & Sons, Inc
200 Ash Ave
Delanco, NJ 08075

1-800-624-2868
1-856-461-2883

rondds
I got pretty good numbers from them:
1. $1250 + $40 for the zipper door - canvas material, 150lb (10yrs)
2. $750 - poly (4-5yrs) - only 50lb or so.

The only thing I'm not sure is which material to pick. They made it sound like the canvas is the heavy one with 10% cotton (about 150lb). Is it the same what the original FISHER company offer for more money? The other one is some kind of polly material, they said it's like a tarp but stronger.

Any thoughts?

Thx,
Alex.

 

[rondds]

alex
depends on a couple of things. your signature says you are currently trying to sell your 240? if so, go POLY - it'll be a great selling point and if you do keep the boat for another winter, it'll pay for itself. why bother with the more costly longer lasting option. the poly cover is much easier to handle and store, although i will say that for a boat that size, you and one other person will have NO trouble hauling the heavier cover into place. if you keep the boat another 4-5 years and are then forced to replace the cover, you can do so and have still saved a TON of money over shrinkwrapping. plus, you are not at the mercy of some knucklehead as to WHEN your boat will be covered. the frame construction would be the same for both the heavier cotton and the poly material.

there's a rinker 410 at our place (IPS and all) that uses the poly cover, as well as a cruisers 3672. and, for the record, if i knew of this poly version when i bought mine, i'd have gotten that instead. but for mine, weight and lugging it up to the flybridge is the real issue.

 

[Alex F]

rondds,
Just to clarify (I guess you didn't have a chance to read the post fromt the start) my 240 has a cover and it works nicelly. We're upgrading to 320 and the cover I need is for 320DA. The company I got my cover from don't make such lage covers. This boat we'll be keeping for a while, so may be I should go for canvas type? Will I be able to put it on with my wife?

Thanks,
Alex.

 

[rondds]

hi alex
ok, i went back and read up to post #5. when i went to see what boat you had, i was lazy and looked at your signature (duh!)

not sure how strong or fearful of breaking a nail your wife is, but i can tell you my wife would NOT be able to help with a cover that size. on the other hand, if you have one buddy who can help at the marina where you winter, you will be fine. for the past 6 years my friend Rudy has been fisher-covering his maxum 3300SCR (35'6" LOA) every year and its pretty easy for two men - once or twice he did it with his son, who, at the time, was 13 or 14.

cumbersome is the best way to describe it. if two people had to move a 150# box it'd be no problem. this thing is like a dead body wrapped in chain and hefty bags.

if you buy the poly variety and it's not a windy day, you can do it yourself. if you buy the cotton one, count on enlisting the help of someone with a strong back.

for comparison, to get rudy's cover from the truck to draped onto the boat this fall, it took three men about 12 minutes. for my boat, it took three men about 30 minutes. :smt101

 

[270SLX]

The reason my Fisher canvas paid for itself in two years is that I have a smaller boat. My 28.5 foot bowrider cover cost around $700.00. Shrink wrapping was costing me $405 per year. I bought my Fisher cover in September 2006, not that long ago. They didn't have my pattern so the guy at Fisher went down to the local Sea Ray dealer and measured up one on the lot.

Dennis