Buying shrink wrap

[Bene505]

Anyone know of a good place to buy shrink wrap on Long Island, NY, and approximate cost? I've been building a strong frame for a tarp and have started wondering if it would be more cost effective to wrap it my self instead of tarping.

Regards

[billyruffn]

Try the internet Dr Shrink - see Dr-Shrink.com - International Shrinkwrap Supplier , Wrap Anything!

Shrink wrap (material only) will cost you about the same as a tarp, probably more, but you only use it one year. That said, it does work better than tarps, especially in the NE where snow and ice are a problem. I used tarps for several years and always seemed to end up with large blocks of ice caught in the frame. I've used shrinkwrap for three years now and have had no problems (other than those of my own making).

In addition to the plastic material you'll also need tape and a heat gun. The heat gun is several hundred dollars and tape will run $30-40/year depending on the size of the boat and how much you want to use (I always use too much).

[WinterRiver]

If you're really feeling cheap, it is possible to shrink wrap a boat using a standard heat gun. The pro to this approach is that you can do all the work from the deck, no ladders. The con is that takes longer.

Next year I'm using a shrink wrap gun. Next year I'm not doing the project alone. Next year I'll know that it will take way longer than I expect it to. Next year I'll check the forecast for the next day too, since shrink wrapping in a storm is a challenge. Next year....

Still, it cost me under $200 for supplies, and I have enough wrap to do it again next year. I bought supplies from Defender, mostly because I wanted an excuse to go to the warehouse store.

I thought I was way behind getting the project done in the end of November. Bene, you make that schedule seem aggressive. Remember -- the tape doesn't stick very well when it's cold.