Quote:
Originally Posted by SEMIJim
We purchased a heavy-duty tarp from Harbor Freight and we're going to build a frame out of 6" dia. PVC (for the spine) and the heavier-duty sprinkler system pipe tie-wrapped to the stanchions. The advantage to the sprinkler system pipe is it's pre-curved. Saw two other boats doing this yesterday. If you put the spine up high enough, you can get the sprinkler pipe to curve right to the top of the stanchions, thus eliminating them as a trouble spot or having to remove them. Also: If you build the thing high enough, you can work in there in the winter. Or just hang out  .
I haven't decided what I'm going to use to elevate the spine. It seems everybody else uses wood. I'm wondering if using the same PVC as the spine, or maybe 4" dia., slotted into the spine with T-fittings, and with the bases also formed of 4" PVC with T-fittings, might not work better? The only thing is the potential added expense.
Jim |
I did this for a couple of seasons, but have given it up for a [better] method. What I did not like about the heavy sprinkler tubing is that the pieces you need to span an 8.5' beam are really unwieldy to transport from the boatyard to the house. Also the only way I could fix them to the stanchions was to slide them over. Convenient? Not really, because I had to take down my lifelines
But if you are going to follow this method, it is much easier to get the curvature you want after pouring some hot water into the black tubing to soften it.
My current method involves PVC plumbing tubing. I think it is 3/4 in. I cable tie these to the inside face of the stanchions, then join them into a hoop by overlapping and cable tying and using duct tape to reduce wear on the tarp. The spine is made from lengths of 2" PVC joined together with PVC couplings and screwed together. It is inside the hoops and connected to them by duct tape. It is there only to keep the hoops from moving, not to support any weight. The spine is supported by the bow pulpit and 2 wooden fixtures with carpeting underneath to protect the deck.
The advantage of either method is that the tarp is forced into a convex shape so that it does not form pockets to collect snow or water.
Finally, to hold the whole thing together, I use tarp grabbers (not the grommets) to gather in several thicknesses of tarp, joined under the hull using bungees and rope. Each connection has one bungee even though there may be some rope at either end. This is more effective than trying to tie it up tight or using antifreeze gallon jugs or ... It works well because when a gust of wind hits the tarp the bungees yield a bit, relieving the stress that would have ripped out the grommet or tarp grabber. Last year I did not have to retie anything. For me that was a first.