Completed - Inexpensive PVC Frame and Cover

[c40eb]

Originally Posted by c40eb

Hmmm...unknown. I'll check tomorrow and let you know. I read about these tarps and they may react/cause issues with dark hulls.

I'll see if I can see any rubbing/chafe from the tarp. I doubt it, as there isn't any single point with a lot of pressure, except for where the line passes through the grommets, and I am hoping those are soft enough not to chafe.

I'll wax and buff the hull in the spring...and am pretty confident that'll take care of any rubbing.

Well, I got a chance to do a closer inspection today...and saw no chafe from either lines or the tarp. What I did find is that the lines have loosened some...more slack than when I first tied them. So, I'll spend some time checking and snugging everything. All grommets are still held away from the hull by the lines passing through them, and the tarp does not seem to be causing any problems with the hull. It is gelcoat, not Awlgrip or other paint.

[Bene505]

A few weeks ago I went back to the boat. That was the weeekend after the 60 knot winds that we had. The cover was coming off so the marina removed it. So it's back to the bare support poles again. Just in time for the 10 inches of snow we had. Of course this snowfall looks like it won't have freeze/thaw cycles behind it, only thawing.

NET NET the cheap tarps don't work in any sort of wind. That's even with many efforts to gather and bundle excess material. The fabric is just too light.

NEXT YEAR, I may try canvas. I think the winds in Sea Cliff are too strong for a cheap plastic cover. At least I have a good frame that I can use.

I'm thinking of a design that goes down to the deck, with a little vertical piece around each stancion. That way I can go with a lower ridge line and still keep a good slope.

[c40eb]

Sorry to hear that...no fun.

Just wanted to say my green tarp is still fine. Frame and tarp are holding and I've had no problems. And...we get some crazy wind regularly here in Friendship, ME.

The ridge peak is about 5' 10" off the deck...so there is windage...but very little loose flapping around and the frame is built strongly.

However, the boat is in my driveway, and that means I keep all snow off. So, no heavy weight to drag on the cover or frame. That DEFINITELY helped.

I have adjusted the lines once...as they had loosened...but that is it...and only a few weeks left to worry about it.

Originally Posted by Bene505

A few weeks ago I went back to the boat. That was the weeekend after the 60 knot winds that we had. The cover was coming off so the marina removed it. So it's back to the bare support poles again. Just in time for the 10 inches of snow we had. Of course this snowfall looks like it won't have freeze/thaw cycles behind it, only thawing.

NET NET the cheap tarps don't work in any sort of wind. That's even with many efforts to gather and bundle excess material. The fabric is just too light.

NEXT YEAR, I may try canvas. I think the winds in Sea Cliff are too strong for a cheap plastic cover. At least I have a good frame that I can use.

I'm thinking of a design that goes down to the deck, with a little vertical piece around each stancion. That way I can go with a lower ridge line and still keep a good slope.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by Bene505

A few weeks ago I went back to the boat. That was the weeekend after the 60 knot winds that we had. The cover was coming off so the marina removed it. So it's back to the bare support poles again. Just in time for the 10 inches of snow we had. Of course this snowfall looks like it won't have freeze/thaw cycles behind it, only thawing.

NET NET the cheap tarps don't work in any sort of wind. That's even with many efforts to gather and bundle excess material. The fabric is just too light.

NEXT YEAR, I may try canvas. I think the winds in Sea Cliff are too strong for a cheap plastic cover. At least I have a good frame that I can use.

I'm thinking of a design that goes down to the deck, with a little vertical piece around each stancion. That way I can go with a lower ridge line and still keep a good slope.

Just be glad you're not up here. PVC is far too weak for heavy Maine snow..

These two are not my photos they belong to Perserved Killick:

Before:

After:





These are my pictures:

More home made failings:

[c40eb]

IF you can keep the snow off, PVC may work.

My frame is mostly PVC, with 2x4 center posts (4 of them) and it is fine.

But, as I mentioned, I am able to keep all snow buildup off. Even during storms, I was out tapping the snow off.

Just a matter of circumstance, I guess.

7 weeks to go
7 weeks to go
7 weeks to go

[preservedkillick]

Hey that's my boat!

I just want to add that I'm still ok with my pvc-tarp cover, based on my situation. No it didn't survive that last storm, but this was a bad one. It started wet, and stayed wet amounting to over 24 inches in about 6 hours. We had trees down, big limbs hanging down, ect. A friend's power boat (cabin cruiser)shrink wrapped also caved in. I've got a brand new Simplicity pro model snowblower and it took 3 hours to do the driveway, it really was like 2 feet of wet cement. So, I don't necessarily think the shelter let me down, it's been through way more than I would have thought.

Having said that, it's at my house. I can see it from my window and we can easily go give it a shake if snow sticks to it. If I had my boat stored at some yard it wouldn't be looked after I probably wouldn't rely on this. For now, it's cheap, works well enough (survived last winter's record setting snowfalls here in the White Mountains of NH) and easily repairable.

After the shelter collapsed, we were able to rebuild using the unbroken parts and a new tarp. In about 4 hours we had the new shelter up, minus a few small sections. The hardest part was getting under the snow covered tarp to push the snow off. I didn't want to risk scratching the paint, so we dug out as much as we could from the top by hand, then got under the tarp pushing the snow off from below.

Here's a few more pics from that day:
Picasa Web Albums - JoAnn - wicked snow s...

[pvanv1]

We have found that a real canvas cover lasts a lot longer, and is more forgiving of weather than the plastic variety (regardless of how good the plastic tarps are). Pricey to sew, but you get 10-20 years out of them. However... They must be bone dry to store away in the spring, or they will rot.

Biggest thing we have found is that ANY cover must be snug. And no possible way to get windage under it. We use nylon cord for tie downs. Provides a degree of elasticity. Helps a lot. Always snug. Also, the canvas covers shrink when wet, stretch when dry, keeping the cover snug over the winter, and allowing tie-down adjustments on clear dry days.

We switched from PVC to a 2x4 ridge pole lashed to pushpit and pulpit, with 2x4 "crutch" legs down the center. Much more durable than PVC when cold (doesn't get brittle), and about the same price. Ours folds down like an old-fashioned carpenter's measure. One crutch at each 8' pivot point. Instead of rigid legs down to the rail, we use dacron cord. Lighter, cheaper, just as strong, stores easier, and adjustable.

FWIW, At our club, we don't allow the masts to stay up. Less windage, lower insurance, and we get to inspect our rigs annually.

[buckeyesailor]

I have two cents!

My experience with tarps is this:

Blue ones........ok but short lived.

Canvas...........great, but pricey and YEAH it has to be dry before storage.

Brown/Gray.....Best buy! more costly than the Blue and lots cheaper than canvas.....last MUCH longer.

there.......and that was my last two cents too....I'm broke again.

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by preservedkillick

Hey that's my boat!

I watched you build that over on the Plastic Classic forums and thought for sure that one, of all the home made jobs, would have survived! It was a pretty tough looking PVC frame...

That snow storm was about as wet as snow can be before it's water. Unfortunately being so close the ocean we can see quite a few storms like that over a winter...

I hope you don't mind me grabbing your photos? I did give you credit!

[preservedkillick]

Hi Mainsail,

Don't mind in the least. We're all here to learn and share. I would have posted them here too if I remembered this thread.

-jeff