[SanderO]

I am not especially concerned about freeze thaw cycles but I can see that this could could serious problems.

Bottom line if you pay attention and aren't absent your boat will be ok. Dirt can be washed away.

 

[Arcb]

Bottom line if you pay attention and aren't absent your boat will be ok. Dirt can be washed away.

I dont see it that way. This assesment might be true of places with moderate climates (yes, I realise you are in such a place), but in colder places with more snow covering up is a good idea unless you enjoy shoveling snow and busting up ice with a with a wooden mallet from the top of a ladder.

My boat is in my drive way and its covered.

 

[mbianka]

I've done homemade tarps and also paid to have the boat shrink wrapped here on Long Island. Now I do neither. But, I do check on the boat at least every couple of weeks. Only once did I have to shovel the snow and ice off the boat. I find the boat remains cleaner both inside and out with it is not covered. Also the solar panels keep the batteries topped up. My solar panel covered Bimini also keeps the cockpit pretty clear too. Times when I've covered the boat I had mold issues inside the cabin that added to spring cleaning duties.

 

[MikeOReilly]

I think you'll be fine SanderO. As most have said, whether you need a cover is dependent on your boat, and it's location, and perhaps how much care you can give it over the winter.

I still think a cover is almost always a positive (assuming ventilation is provided), but it's not needed for most of you folks way down south along most of the USA northeast. And while it is relatively easy to build and set up one, it still takes time and some money.

And I just thought of another possible downside to a cover: boat damage caused by a cover that gets damaged in the wind. A flapping cover can cause damage to the hull. I've seen covered destroyed in high winds, sending their ribbing bashing against other boats. So there is some potential downsides to a cover.

As with most things in boating, there is no One Right Answer for everyone.

 

[asdf38]

My new boat fits in a garage. Problem solved.


If I bought a big boat again I'd go for a proper winter canvas cover because they're cheaper than shrink wrapping after only 2-3 years and better than tarps.

I see the winter cover as a great way to slow the aging of the boat when it's not in use. It seem to me a sound boat with few leaks should be fine either way but keeping UV and rain off the boat for months when you can't use it anyway seems wise to me.

Though on the other hand I think tarps and associated tie downs etc risk scratching paint doing other damage. I made a few mistakes over the years and chafed up my paint job in a few places because of sloppy covering. And as mentioned, the boat got dirty as hell under the cover with no rain to rinse it off.

 

[TomMaine]

I've covered a boat in New England several different ways. The methods all have their pro's and cons.

This simple system works pretty well for my boat (mast unstepped, easily removable stanchions) on the coast of Maine.

4 A frames (now 10+ yrs old), fit various spots to make set up fast. I'm right on the water edge so winds can be very strong. The A frames are locked to the boat at their feet by lengths of plastic plumbers plumbing strapping. A central X triangulates the fore and aft A frames when the 2x6 ridge is fit into the slots. Foam Sill Seal pads the ridge to prevent leaks from abrasion to the tarp.

The idea is a steep enough pitch that the tarp doesn't need intermediate 'rafters' and snow will slide off. It works about 95% of the time but I do end up clearing very wet snow that can catch at the toe rails. However, left alone, a little wind loosens and slides the remainder of snow off but I live close by.

My tarp, 30 X 50' runs down over the topsides. The tarp is 'clamped' at each jack stand and roped beneath the hull.

Each end: A 4-5' piece of 2x4 is rolled up at the stem and stern and a another 2x4 is screwed into the inner one. This encapsulates the hull with the tarp but leaves no flogging edges to do wind damage. Each end has a dry adjustable opening that allows great ventilation. Ports and hatches are left open below. Most everything stays onboard as the storage conditions are very good below.

With a new tarp ($200 today), there is 100 percent protection against rain and snow, below. You can get more than a season out of a tarp with a few leaks but if I want to perform some work in the off season I'll get a new tarp. The used tarps are all repurposed.

With a new tarp this costs $200 and a day of time. In my area, shrink wrap for my boat is about $5-600.

 

[Donna_F]

I don't think covers, including shrink wrap, do anything other than suck money out of your pocket. I don't feel the freeze/thaw thing is prevented by them as there's going to be condensation getting into cracks/grooves etc. and freezing/thawing even under the best cover. I guess they mostly keep bird poop off.

We're on the no cover side, too. We did the shrink wrap thing the first year or two. I went down to the yard one January and saw more boats without than with and thought hard about what the advantages are. When we first started boating I did it because other people did it. I didn't come up with any reason to have it done so we haven't ever since and have had no problems. Make sure the pink stuff is in the head and galley lines, we disconnect the water from the tanks and the hot water heater and haven't had a problem.

A boat in our yard had a canvas cover that the right amount of wind got under and upended it. That boat took out two others. We learned that the same boat had done the same thing in a different marina the previous season.

I think the only reason why I'd want to cover our boat was if it was stored under trees. We saw some really dirty boats under trees when we were shopping.

 

[SanderO]

As for the head it's easy to disconnect the hose and let it stay dry for the winter.

 

[MastUndSchotbruch]

Very informative post, thank you.

Quick question: you say you repurpose the old tarps. What do you do with them?

 

[MikeOReilly]

Here’s a couple of pics of my canvas cover and frame. Like Tom’s, mine is quite steep, which really helps shed snow. My frame goes over my stanchions, so no removal is required. And I had it designed so that I could use it with mast up, or down. Also included two large zippered hatches near the cockpit for easy access. It’s been good, but not cheap, and not easy to haul around.

 

[paulinnanaimo]

TomMaine

You are putting my life in turmoil. I look at your photos and am thrilled that our 26' sloop is so much cheaper and easier to maintain than Christmas. Then I look at your photos and can picture myself being very content at the helm of Christmas...it surely is a beautiful boat that clearly shows dedicated care by the owner.

 

[TomMaine]

Very informative post, thank you.

Quick question: you say you repurpose the old tarps. What do you do with them?

Some have been used by myself or others, to cover lumber or anything large (another boat) that needs a 'fairly dry' outdoor cover.

I store them folded and tied, until I either find a new user or another use before having to dispose of them.

 

[MastUndSchotbruch]

Some have been used by myself or others, to cover lumber or anything large (another boat) that needs a 'fairly dry' outdoor cover.

I store them folded and tied, until I either find a new user or another use before having to dispose of them.

Thank you.

 

[SanderO]

If you have beautiful teak decks it DOES make sense to protect them in the winter. I have 5 teak "panels" in the cockpit which I remove and store below in the winter. UV damages almost everything..

 

[Rockter]

Even a modest cover will help enormously, and it doesn't need to cover all of the boat.

 

[fallard]

Here's a couple of photos of my setup taken last month. The frame and canvas cover were made by Fairclough 5 years ago. The ridge is fairly high, helping to shed snow (most of the time), and allowing storage of the dodger in place (although the Bimini comes off--frames and all). The 1 x 3" furring strips are secured with 1/2" fiberglas strapping tape and specifically offload the lifelines.

The cover is fitted and had shrunk to a tight fit during the first season (Fairclough knows how to cut these covers!) The tie lines under the boat are doubled, which helps to gather the canvas and maintain a tight fit to keep the flapping down.

Some might argue it is not necessary to cover down to the waterline, but check out the gloss on the hull, which is the original 28-yr old gelcoat. You are paying for the extra material of course and the cover is rather heavy, which is why we had the back section split into 2 parts this fall (note the second zipper near the aft vent.)

The cost for the frame and cover compares to the cost of 5 years of shrink wrap, so we are at the break even point and this cover will go another 15 years, as demonstrated by the existing 20 yr old fitted canvas cover (tired, but still serviceable) on our 28-yr old ********.

I prefer a fitted cotton canvas cover, having had a sunbrella cover for the previous 17 or so years for the sailboat. The cotton fit is better,--almost like shrink wrap, doesn't wear off the zinc on the metal frame members, and it outlasts polyester canvas. Many years ago, I used tarps for my boats, but was never able to get a satisfactory tight, flap-free fit.


The last photo shows another winter (actually year-round) cover in the background at Mystic Seaport. That cover protects the Mayflower II and shipyard workers during a multiyear restoration in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the Plymouth Rock landing. BTW, that structure is known locally as "the mailbox".

 

[RobGallagher]

I am about to start putting together the frame of my 'new to me' winter cover on my 'new to me' C36MKII. It is similar to Fallards and has the frame of what appears to be a full size T-Rex. Wish me luck :O

My last bot had a cover was the type that tented the boom and went to the toe rail. I could put it on in less than two hours by myself.

Either way, they are worth the investment.

 

[Guyfromthenorth]

Throwing my 0.02c in as I've always covered my boats, especially after witnessing uncovered boats up here. I will also echo the "it probably depends on where you are and what your definition of winter is". The winters here in Northern Ontario start with fall (Sept. usually) rains that pour and pour. We then freeze up, usually first week of November has some -20c nights, October is good for snow as well before that.

Last week it was -32c without the windchill (for reference).

A friend of mine has a G23, he bought it for 800$ and tends to treat it that way. One fall I was wandering by his boat and he did not have the cockpit covered (this was mid-november). The fall rain\snow\rain\snow\freeze had filled his entire cockpit up to the lazarette lids with a block of ice. To not exaggerate it was at least the size of an engine block from a pickup truck. The trailer it was on blew 1 tire from the extra weight and the axle was looking scary (bending). Now maybe if he was there every day to visit the boat he would have shovelled out the snow\slush slurry that was forming and compressing into ice. My boat was 10ft from his with a 60$ (CND funds) tarp on it leaving it bone dry and not a snowflake ontop.

The weight of snow\water\ice is significant to say the least. I tarp my boats the second they are out of the water because not only do I stop snow from piling up but I also stop the soaking fall rains from pouring into every nook and cranny. Tarping it in the fall let's the boat dry out a bit before the big freeze happens, and I find it makes a big difference in crazing, leaks, and dank smells\mould.

Here's how we tarped my Mirage 33 this fall, it took 100$ of tarps and a wood frame that came with it when we bought her. The biggest downside is the time effort it takes (a day) to do the tarping. I was quoted about 3500$ Canadian to have a custom cover made with an aluminium frame. I may go that route if for no other reason than the custom cover will go up faster and need less "tweaking". The silver tarps are tough but with several 30, 40, and 50kt storms occurring each winter I consider them disposable because they almost always find a spot to chafe through leaving small tears.

Pic attached. For reference there is a small opening at the transom to let airflow in, and where the tarp goes down the hull below the waterline it is tied to the cradle so the boat can also breathe vertically along the hull. We remove all canvas and sails, and all pillows\linens and put them into indoor storage.

EDIT: Don't ask me why the tarped pic is upside down. The pic is rightside up on my desktop, just like the frame pic.

 

[Jac123]

I always thought a slow snow melt would allow water to saturate anywhere a void (small cracks)existed.

If finances allowed I would cover with a

1) Canvas Cover
2) Shrink Wrap
3) Tarps - (See Below for current financial status)

 

[rbrasi]

I use mine in Southern California because I painted the deck and I really don't want to have to do it again for a few more years. UV protection is really the only reason to do it. that, and it came with the boat. I keep a light on below to prevent mildew.