[MikeOReilly]

With our previous boat (Grampian 34 centre cockpit) we tarped every year. We get real winters up here on the north shore of Lake Superior, so our tarp had to keep the snow out while standing up to severe winter storms.

After a few versions I settled on making a frame of flexible plastic conduit (1" perhaps 1 1/2"). I tied the arches to a 3/8" line that I used as a ridge pole/backbone. The conduit was secured to the toe rail and tie-wrapped to the spine. The tarp was then draped over and secured down to the cradle.

The benefit of this system is that it flexes with the wind. Using this we never ripped the tarp, and always kept the snows out. It's also easy to set up and store.

 

[abrahamx]

Take a walk through the yard. You are bound to see plenty of them.

 

[JimsCAL]

I store mast up. My system consists of using the boom and whisker pole as the centerline supports and them have hoops using 1 inch PVC conduit (like Mike above) that attach to the boom or whisker pole and the toerail. Without the hoops, snow and water will collect. I use two tarps, a bit oversized and slit at necessary points to get around shrouds etc. and reinforced with Gorilla tape. I strongly recommend buying a heavy duty tarp (silver) not the light blue or green ones. MUCH more durable, don't flap nearly as much due to the additional weight, and twice as many grommets that don't pull out. I'm on my fourth season with mine. Buy them online and they are about the same as the cheap blue ones at the local hardware store.

Heavy-Duty Silver Poly Tarps at Tarp & Cover Superstore

 

[Rhapsody-NS27]

Where I live, boats stay in the water. I've only seen two or three boats that have actually been hauled and shrink wrapped. When my boat was on its trailer, I used tarps to cover most of the deck. I'm looking at making a boat cover someday out of sunbrella hoping that it would last longer than the tarps.

 

[Don L]

I never have had the plastic type tarps make it though the winter they always tear apart. The yard this year has banned them from boats due to the damage they do to the boats once they start flapping all over.

So I thinking in spending some cash this year for a good canvas tarp. But just to keep the snow out of the cockpit so I can get onto the boat in early spring.

My boat doesn't leak

 

[Maine Sail]

I never have had the plastic type tarps make it though the winter they always tear apart. The yard this year has banned them from boats due to the damage they do to the boats once they start flapping all over.

So I thinking in spending some cash this year for a good canvas tarp. But just to keep the snow out of the cockpit so I can get onto the boat in early spring.

My boat doesn't leak

You are correct that many yards have banned them because they can and often do damage other boats in the process. A flapping grommet in 25 knots can do a number on a 15K Awlgrip job......

A well done home made tarp can be fine, but they are often not "well made"...

Fail:

Fail:

Fail:

Fail:

The key design criteria up here is PITCH, PITCH, PITCH. These covers MUST be able to SHED snow or they very often fail........

Personally I build my own framing and a buddy with the tools shows up helps me shrink it. I would get my own guns but he is so reasonable it would be too long of a pay back...

Our cover design has never held snow nor does any part of the cover or frame every touch our painted topsides.

Getting ready to frame her up:

Framing in progress:

My latest cross tie design can be removed for winter work and replaced from inside the cover.

Another design I came up with is to build into my winter cover a "vestibule"... No opening a cheesy zip door or fighting to get on-board I simply walk out the barn and up the ladder.... The barn also has its own shore power outlet on the second floor...

Sleek, slippery, easy winter access and does not touch the painted hull. Most importantly it never holds or retains any snow. The minute it gets to 1/4" to 1/2" it avalanches and comes off in sheets...

 

[skygazer]

Old Indian trick

Believe it or not, buffalo hides for tipis did NOT come with grommets. So here is a genuine "old Indian trick".

Place a smooth roundish object, a small marble or smooth pebble, behind the fabric and push it towards you and tie around it so it's in a tight pocket. You should see the shape of the pebble/marble on your side with the tie rope on your side and behind the pebble. This is much stronger than a grommet, and you can do it wherever you need a tie, but where possible do it on the hem or a seam for strength. Be aware that it's heavier than a grommet, it's up to you to make sure it won't flap and flail around. Mine don't sit against the boat.

As Maine Sail says, steep pitch is everything. I also like the ridge high so I can get in there comfortably. And I like some opening at the ends for ventilation.

I have one tarp that's been on continuously for three years (stored), it just split a few days ago at the ridge. It's still dry and pleasant in the boat.

 

[asdf38]

This isn't quite the right thread for this but what are thoughts about leaving batteries in over winter?

Now that I have a proper solar panel and controller I was considering leaving the batteries on-board over the winter with the panel (on the stern rail) exposed.

I'm guessing that with the silver tarp enough light won't get through for the solar right? I've heard that shrink wrap lets in enough light normally to keep batteries topped off.

This saves me lugging them in and out and gives me lights and power over winter.

 

[Delta-T]

No need to remove the batts. as long as you have a full charge on them and disconnect them. Batts will lose like 2% a month. I would not keep the solar hooked up unless you are going to check water levels. Assuming you have non sealed wet batts.

 

[JimMcGee]

I'm always impressed by the engineering I see in these tarp threads. But every year I see ripped tarps flapping in the boatyard. Their sound is as much a part of winter as slapping halyards and wind through the rigging.

My boat came with a Fairclough winter cover (thanks to the original owner). It does a good job of protecting the boat and it's held up incredibly well -- it's now 18 years old and is showing no signs of failing.

They're not cheap, but they're a good investment and good quality covers aren't prone to failure. Mine goes on in less than an hour with two people and is fitted to the boat.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Andrew65]

I live onboard in Norway and made somewhat of a thermal blanket on a frame.

I have a tarp slightly longer than my 29ft boat and split it from the mast to the bow to wrap the mast and then sewed it up strong to the bow. I have 6 sections of 1/2 foam mat insulation (4ft X 12ft) and laid that on top. lastly, I put on my pvc boat cover and secured it as usual with line and water jugs from a gas station. I regulate the end openings for draft. It`s strong and works like a charm.

Something new to think about if you either live onboard or work on your boat during the winter months.

 

[asdf38]

I store mast up. My system consists of using the boom and whisker pole as the centerline supports and them have hoops using 1 inch PVC conduit (like Mike above) that attach to the boom or whisker pole and the toerail. Without the hoops, snow and water will collect. I use two tarps, a bit oversized and slit at necessary points to get around shrouds etc. and reinforced with Gorilla tape. I strongly recommend buying a heavy duty tarp (silver) not the light blue or green ones. MUCH more durable, don't flap nearly as much due to the additional weight, and twice as many grommets that don't pull out. I'm on my fourth season with mine. Buy them online and they are about the same as the cheap blue ones at the local hardware store.

Heavy-Duty Silver Poly Tarps at Tarp & Cover Superstore

Thanks for the link. They are $20 cheaper than Tarps Plus (for 20'x30') where I went last time so I'm giving them a try

I used the same silver tarp and I was happy with it although I only got two years from it. That's because I had a wooden frame and it chafed pretty badly on the wood. This year I'll wrap the wood in pieces of the old tarp for protection.

 

[deltaten]

Harbor Freight has cute little dealies for tying tarps. Sorta an extended, egg-like circle of plastic with a "button" hat fits/snaps inside, once pushed thu from the back of the tarp. I use 'em for tie-downs and to lace-up and close entry.
'Bout a buck apiece or less...cheap attachment and insurance that a tarp will hold where ya put it!

 

[jimgo]

DeltaTen, I looked at those yesterday when I was in the store. I was afraid the "female" part would poke into the tarp. Did you use them and did they damage the tarp at all?

 

[hriehl1]

I have gotten very good service on my 28 footer with a home-built electrical conduit frame and Kover Klamps. Kover Klamps secure the intersection of the conduit no matter what the joining angle may be.

The original making of the conduit frame took two of us perhaps 5-6 hours... mostly trial-and-error piece-by-piece bending and fitting (the Kover Klamp directions were decent). Then I made another dozen of so wood-slats-joined-by-rope that I sling over the ridgepole to create more ribs for snow support (I am in New Hampshire). The outboard slat-rib ends are secured taut to the port and starboard longitudinals with zip ties. I cover all hard-points with cheap cut-up carpet squares secured by zip ties.

This worked brilliantly for almost 3 full years with one silver 30x15 heavy-duty tarp while I did a full refit. This past summer I launched and it took me maybe 90 minutes to break-down the frame (all pieces marked for easy re-assembly). This fall, I re-assembled the frame alone and it took 4 hours... if I had a helper it would have been more like 90 minutes.

I've been very pleased with the whole setup... it is very sturdy and easily disassembled and reassembled. I did put on a new $65 silver tarp on it... based on prior experience, I expect certainly 2 and maybe 3 winters from each tarp.

PS: Zip ties may be next to duct tape in the list of God's gifts to the do-it-yourselfer.

 

[Delta-T]

@ Jimgo

No, I do not tarp my boat, sounds like allot of work. Those SS straps, I would not use for tarping. I seem to be having an issue with posting to the incorrect thread, that was meant for the Anchor rode bag storage on stanchion. Sorry. But for the $3.50 they are great to have handy. And the ones that are stocked at Walmart are only the 6" ones, online they sell a 11" ones. If used through grommets, there should be no issues using them for tarping.

If you want a mans sized plastic tie tap, go to you local HVAC supply store. They make them in up to 48" long.

 

[JimsCAL]

Thanks for the link. They are $20 cheaper than Tarps Plus (for 20'x30') where I went last time so I'm giving them a try

I used the same silver tarp and I was happy with it although I only got two years from it. That's because I had a wooden frame and it chafed pretty badly on the wood. This year I'll wrap the wood in pieces of the old tarp for protection.

You're welcome. I bought my tarps from them and was happy. Yes, avoiding chafe is key to getting multiple years out of a tarp. I use the foam pipe insulation at every corner and chafe point. Already split, cheap, cuts easily, and you just slip it over the conduit and use some duct tape to secure it.

When I got my new-to-me boat I priced out a custom cover, but the $2000 price was shocking. So far I have four years out of about $150 spent for tarps, conduit frame parts, and rope, so figure there's no way the custom cover was ever going to make $$ sense.

 

[MikeOReilly]

Those silver tarps are definitely more durable than the cheap blue ones, but I would usually get at least three years out of each blue one, sometime more. The key is avoiding chafe, but I also contend that our success came from allowing the whole shelter to flex with the wind. This allows the tarp to shed snow, and deflect shredding wind gusts. Conduit does this well, but moving to a rope spine (the vertical posts) was another key change.

I'm a bit amused by those who say tarping your own boat is a difficult task. On the scale of boat DIY projects, this has to be one of the easier ones.

 

[tommays]

The 2013 Seafever plenty of room to work on the boat in complete comfort addition

 

[CatMan22]

Since I trailer my Catalina 22 and the mast is down I use three 12 x 12 tarps with grommets tied together and covered these with a 20 x 30 tarp that after I tie down I run 4 ratchet straps around bottom of boat to snug the tarp and stop wind flap.