WINTER COVER?

[greatwhiteway]

LIVING IN NEW ENGLAND I''M LOOKING FOR
A NICELY MADE COVER FOR MY CATALINA 310,I DON''T WANT TO DO THE PLASTIC WRAP DEAL EVERY YEAR,

[clayton]

I live in NE and have a 33'' sailboat. I build a frame from 1x3 starpping, deck screws and cover it with a HD plastic tarp. Cheap and easy. And if you label the pieces you can re-use them the next year.

[clayton]

I live in NE and have a 33'' sailboat. I build a frame from 1x3 strapping, deck screws and cover it with a HD plastic tarp. Cheap and easy. And if you label the pieces you can re-use them the next year.

[paulk]

The blue plastic stuff lasts a season before disintigrating. Fairclough makes the nicest winter covers I''ve seen. They fit well, can be made for dry and/or wet storage, and seem to last forever because they don''t flap in the wind.

[Constantin]

We use a frame and cloth construction. Works great and the first one lasted since 1995 with only limited wear and tear.

I agree that numbering the "ribs" inside the vaulted space is a must. Also ensure a high, peaky ceiling so that any accumulating snow will slide off. This costs more (cloth) but also gives you superior workspace in the off-season.

Cheers! Constantin
(see http://www.vonwentzel.net/Prout/10.TenderCare/01.WinterStorage/index.html for details)

[tiz_1]

I have a Fairclough cover and am very pleased with it. It is made to fit while the boat is in the water and has ''doors'' on port & Stbd to allow easy access from dock / ladder.

Important to number fram parts but very easy to set up / take down.

I''ve tried my own frame with blue plastic tarp and also shrink wrap. I''ll never go back.

--Kevin

[nauticalrich]

What does something like that (Faircloth) cost? It must be expensive.
I just purchased a 31 ft and am keeping it in water for the winter. I plan to use the blue tarp over the boom tied off to the bottom of the stanchions.
Fortunately for me I get to check on my boat almost every day if I so desire. This way I can keep an eye on it and try to keep up with any snow build up.

[RobGallagher]

If you are on a budget like me you can use a cheap tarp if the mast is down. Secure the mast at the bow and stern pulpits. Take off your life lines and stansions (this will allow snow and water to run off nicely and you can bring them home for polishing over the winter). Drape the tarp over the Mast and lace it up nice and tight. Use a seperate line for stern lacing so you can easily untie and get inside. Don''t tie anything to the poppits!

Cut tennis balls make great anti chaffe devices.

Yes the tarp will wear thin or through, but you can reverse it and get 2 years out of it. Buy a tarp large enough to allow you to lace both ends nicely. The less places for breeze to get under the tarp the better.

[bjoc2314]

I bought a catalina 310 this year and just ordered a Fairclough cover for just over $2,000 w/installation (which I will likely do myself in the future). It''s expensive but, in the long run, probably cheaper than shrink wrap.

Brian

[clayton]

$2,000 for a winter cover ? Will pay for itself in the long run? Nuts! For under a $100., a frame made from strapping and a $50. plastic cover makes it a no brainer. Common guys, $2,000 vs. $100 ? Do the math!
Jeeze, what were you thinking ?