[discoverer37]

Well it's time to put the boat on the hard for the winter. I've never used a cover in the past, but I would like to cover at least the cockpit this winter. I would be interested in hearing what others use for frames and covers.

Paul

PSC37 #135

 

[sailingfool]

Assuming your mast is up, get a tarp large enough to cover the cockpit. Support the boom and remove the topping lift. position the tarp ascross the boom, tieing it to the backstay and forward to the mast, and then to the toerails. Make it tight. Heavy snow should slide off. Pad anything sharp on the boom.

 

[billbalme]

I had Toodle-oo! shrunk wrap last year and again this year - she's in the back yard - and without good cover I'd have half the forest in her cockpit!
Frame was simple - 2x4 uprights (4 along the length of the boat) supported by string to the stanchions and 1x3 strapping on top. Once the shrink wrap is on, the string can be removed. I put a frame up for a short door.
Wrapping cost me $300 last year - $400 this... (I've yet to discover why the increase!)
(The mast is off.)
It's great having an enclosed boat to work on through the winter... and it's bright inside...
I gave up with the tarp I used to use - it came loose and destroyed itself a couple of years ago...

Bill
s/v Toodle-oo!

 

[FirstSightPS31]

winter cover

For my previous boat, and now for First Sight, I have had a custom cover made by the Canvas Store on Long Island. His prices cannot be matched by the local canvas people (which they freely admit), because he does so many.

I get better coverage than I could with tarps, and over the years it is cheaper than shrink wrap. My mast and boom stay on the boat.

 

[JohnRPollard]

We, too, have a custom cover. It is a bear to wrestle on/off each year, but offers great protection:

 

[FirstSightPS31]

WOW that is some cover!

1. It appears you leave the boat in the water all winter?

2. You have a tubular support apparatus under the cover?

3. Who made it?

 

[JohnRPollard]

WOW that is some cover!

1. It appears you leave the boat in the water all winter?

2. You have a tubular support apparatus under the cover?

3. Who made it?

1. Yes, we stay in for the winter and haul-out during mid-summer.

2. The cover is supported by the boom and three halyards over the forepeak (genoa, staysail, and spinnaker). There is no skeleton or frame. But I do lay about half a dozen thin strips of wood (about 2"x1/4"x14') over the boom, to give the cover a bit of extra rigidity (mostly to resist flapping in the wind).

3. I don't know. It was brand new, never used, when we bought the boat. I saw the receipt (ca-ching!!) but have since misplaced it. I thought I remembered it having been made by Canvas Creations in Annapolis, but I've checked their website and they don't advertise for winter covers. It must have been someone else, and I'm near certain they were in Annapolis. There is no label on the cover.

 

[FirstSightPS31]

Canvas Creations

Dan Wood at Canvas Creations did my dodger/bimini.

He said he would do a winter cover, but he couldn't compete with The Canvas Store.

I use the thin strips of wood also, to keep snow from accumulating in sags.

 

[JohnRPollard]

Dan Wood at Canvas Creations did my dodger/bimini.

He said he would do a winter cover...

Huh, interesting. Maybe he did ours after all?

 

[MC1]

These guys have a template for the PSC37 and info on their web site.
FAIRCLOUGH SAILMAKERS INC.

 

[FirstSightPS31]

Winter Cover

I e-mailed Dan Wood with your picture and he said it looks like one of his.

he does good work!

 

[sailorgirl60]

These guys have a template for the PSC37 and info on their web site.
FAIRCLOUGH SAILMAKERS INC.

Thank you MC- this is VERY helpful to us

Sailorgirl
s/v Gypsy Palace
Crealock 37

 

[lsbrodsky]

I had a Fairclough on Asylum when she wintered in CT. Many other boats did as well since Fairclough was the cream of the crop. They even came down to the boat to install, remove, and store the cover.

Larry

 

[orientalnc2010]

Hi Paul,
I also have a Fairclough cover for my 31, it was new last winter.
Fits like a glove and excellent company to deal with. Purchased it at the Newport Boat Show Sept 08, two weeks later they delivered the cover with a crew of 3 men, assembled the frame and installed the cover on in about an hour. Highly recommended.

 

[discoverer37]

Thanks to all for the input.
I just got a quote from the canvas shop (~$3,000) for a over the rail boom tent style.
I requested a quote from Fairclough and asked about the differences in price for the framed versus boom tent etc.. The reply basically said "check out our web site". Not very useful.

However, I think I have decided to forgo a cover for this year, and spend the money on a Cape Horn self steering unit instead. I can hack together a crude cover out of parts from the hardware store. It's a bit more difficult to do that for a self steering unit!!

Thanks again.

Paul

 

[FirstSightPS31]

The covers are pricey, no question. Sounds like you have found a nice alternative way to spend your money. I would at some point suggest you revisit the cover, because they last a very long time, and are easy to put on. I was never happy with any combination of tarps, but I love my winter cover.

 

[Bene505]

I make a huge PVC frame and covered it with 2 large cheap tarps last winter. It tore itself apart in the wind and damaged my gelcoat in several places. The marina had to remove it for fear of it toppling the boat (and the other "dominoes" nearby). I did a thorough write-up on it and many other people chimed-in with their designs. See the thread here:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-maintenance/50405-completed-inexpensive-pvc-frame-cover.html

Regards,
Brad

 

[discoverer37]

Well, so much for my decision to cover the boat with tarps!!
I went down to the boat this past Sunday to do some late winterizing and work out what I was going to do for a cover and frame. It poured with rain the whole time I was there, which gave me the (unwelcome) opportunity to see that most of my port lights leak and that with the scuppers frozen, the cockpit fills with water.
In the gusty wind I could evaluate other boat owners solutions to the same problem, and the home made varieties were not faring too well.
It was also obvious that I was never going to have the time to do the job myself.
Monday I ordered an over the rail, boom tent cover from the Canvas Store. They are measuring the boat tomorrow, and claim they can deliver it the week after Christmas. I'll update this post with the results.
The upside is that my waiting so late resulted in a 20% discount on the list price.

Thanks for all the input.

Paul

 

[JohnRPollard]

Paul,

Glad to hear that you got a good discount! I think you'll be happy to have a properly sized cover.

As for the leaky portlights -- If you have the older oval style portlights, as the gaskets age and become more compressed, they do need an occasional adjustment to the set screws in the hinge. This allows them to seat more evenly on the frames. Bring your tiniest alan/hex keys.

 

[discoverer37]

I replaced the gaskets a few years ago and adjusted the hinge at that time. However, adjustment is tricky. If the hinge is in too far, the lower edge does not seat very tightly. Now, I think that the bottom is too far in, as the loop on the frame used for holding the port open, is hard up against the acorn nut on the mounting bolt.
I need to replace and reseal the glass also, so I'll look at the gasket then.

Paul