shrink wrap?

[dino]

Hi All
Hope everyone is enjoying the boating season. I have heard both sides of to shrink wrap or not to shrink wrap. The last guy I asked has a 260 DA, he made a frame from conduit that can be used each year(he has the radar arch as well) he uses his mooring cover and then uses heavy duty tarps with bungi cords. Want to do the right thing so I would like to get your thoughts

Thanks

Dino

 

[Theresamarie11]

The only thing wrong with shrink wrap is that it's a big waste of material and fills up the land fill. The stuff is really heavy duty. The nice thing is a spotless boat in the spring.
I have done both, lastly with frame and tarps. You just have to be really good at sealing up all access points to varmits. I've had mice get into my anchor locker last and make a nest out of my anchor rope and chewed up some speaker wires (not a sea ray).

 

[Lazy Daze]

The other downside to shrink is it doesn't breathe. Make sure to install some vents.

Never use two covers - meaning, never put a tarp over your cover. They will both wear prematurely as they will rub slightly against each other in the wind. Tarps are cheap so it may not matter, but your canvas cover is not. Besides, the plastic cover defeats the breathability of the canvas cover.

 

[AndreasW]

I am going to have a custom canvas cover done. Same cost over 5 years (canvas vs. Shrink wrap), but this will last many more years and won't hurt the environment.

 

[IronMan]

I am going to have a custom canvas cover done. Same cost over 5 years (canvas vs. Shrink wrap), but this will last many more years and won't hurt the environment.

Great Idea!! I've never been a fan of shrink wrap. In my area the cost of shrink wrap added to the cost of outdoor storage costs about the same as indoor storage. With a cover like that, the outdoor storage would pay for the cover in just a few years.

 

[fc3]

Canvas is extraordinarily heavy. Shrinkwrap is very lightweight. A single man can shrink wrap a 34 foot boat. A custom fit canvas cover for the same boat would weigh over 100 pounds. Canvas is nice, but if you can't install it, it's useless.

My marina recycles the shrink wrap. It's just plastic. So for those who care about that sort of thing, it's a non-issue.

Best regards,
Frank