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Snow covers

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/27/2011 : 08:59:39

Did ya see the cover of the current Mainsheet? I'm gonna stop worrying about the boat cover.

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - John Russell on 11/27/2011 08:59:54

jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 11/27/2011 : 19:26:53

I had the EXACT same thought

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 06:30:53

LOL - yeah, that was a LOT of snow! The one note that I took away from the article, though, was that they don't get a lot of freeze/thaw cycles. That is, once they are below freezing, they tend to say there. I wonder (and it's pure conjecture) if they might wind up actually getting LESS damage than I'd get in my area.

As I understand it, one reason to cover the boat is to keep water from collecting/pooling onboard. The reason the pooled water is bad is that when water freezes, it expands. On deck, this really isn't a big deal because the expansion can simply grow up or out. But where the water is trapped, such as in a crack, the expanding water will cause the trapped area to expand too. Sticking with the crack scenario, this means that the crack will get larger.

During the winter, the central Atlantic (or at least the NY/Philadelphia/DC regions with which I'm most familiar) tends to have a lot of nights that go below freezing, and days that are above freezing. This means that every night, the water expands, increasing the size of any cracks. Then, during the day, the ice has a chance to melt, allowing the water to seep down deeper into the (newly widened) crack. Over the course of an entire season, this can result in some significant damage.

By contrast, the article in Mainsheet suggested that the folks in Alaska don't get above freezing very often, so their boats wouldn't be subjected to the same number of freeze/thaw cycles every season.

Well, that's my theory at least. So, where am I off base?

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 10:24:00

Of course you're right about the freeze/thaw problem. I was just enjoying the irony of all the discussions we've had here about the ideal winter cover.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 11:51:41

I'm in the middle of creating the framework for a winter cover. Main objective - protect finished teak, keep leaves off boat (eliminating major deck and cockpit cleaning each spring) keep sun off cushions to prevent fading and (naturally) prevent any water from entering cabin.

Using plastic sheet to create a template for fabric cover.

If I can muster up the courage to tell the GF, I may scrap this template altogether

and install PVC tubing from port to starboard stanchions (resting on mast) to provide more support for heavy snow (we received 28" in one day in 2009/2010.)

Edited by - OJ on 11/28/2011 13:41:41

KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 12:24:38

That cover shot is priceless! Hey OJ-- I have a similar setup as yours but I run the tarp/visqueen underneath the rails, this way there is no possibility
of sagging of the tarp and buildup of precip. I have cut slots for the stantions. Also, you'll want to trim the tarp as close to the rub rail as possible because
mold will develop under the tarp where it touching the hull. I will post a pic in a few days.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 12:43:11

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KiteKraemer
 . . . but I run the tarp/visqueen underneath the rails . . . I have cut slots for the stantions . . . trim the tarp as close to the rub rail . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I appreciate all the input Jeff!

If you look closely at the first picture you can see the black line I drew on top of the rubrail. I plan to have the canvas maker make the hem 8" above that line - allowing a gap between the cover and the deck. Does your cover touch your teak hand rails?

I look forward to seeing your pix!

Here's the ultimate goal - only this guy used shrink wrap which I'm staying away from because it is too eco-unfriendly and stupidly expensive.

http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/image/94317599

Edited by - on

KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 12:49:39

Canvas maker!? We'll you're doing the right thing! I just use a big tarp.

That cover in the link looks really nice. It's good to have some "Breathing Room".
I don't have much in the way of ventilation.

Lets see.. does my cover touch the rails...? yes I think it may. h
I have a smaller tarp that is visible on my signature pic that is
a second line of defense against H20. Stay tuned!

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 12:59:01

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by KiteKraemer
 Canvas maker!? We'll you're doing the right thing! I just use a big tarp. . . I have a smaller tarp that is visible on my signature pic that is a second line of defense . . .
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A tarp is what normal people use. Ah yes, the smaller tarp would act like a sock liner - good thinking!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 13:00:47

I really like the idea of having a gap and the tarp not touching the topsides. When I used to tarp the entire boat I had a tendency to get black scuff marks wherever the tarp or ropes touched the boat leading me to think there was some abrasion going on.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 13:29:05

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 I really like the idea of having a gap and the tarp not touching the topsides. When I used to tarp the entire boat I had a tendency to get black scuff marks wherever the tarp or ropes touched the boat leading me to think there was some abrasion going on.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I used to use a 20'x30' tarp which came down to the waterline on each side. In the spring you could see that the gel coat between the waterline and rubrail had been abraided

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 13:55:21

My cover is made the way Kitekramer suggests. It doesn't drape over the lifelines. If you make it that way, it increases the fall, so that snow and ice are much less likely to stick to it. Also, it prevents the stanchions from chafing it or poking holes in it. It has openings made for the stanchions and for the shrouds, and goes directly over the rails. It has straps that tie it to each stanchion and to the shrouds, for strength. There is no framework under it. It is supported by the boom, aft of the mast, and by a halliard forward of the mast. It's made in 2 pieces, which are connected by zippers. One piece is forward of the mast and the other is aft of the mast. It has a strap that secures it to the roller furler at the bow, and straps that secure the forward and aft halves to the mast. There's a zipper that runs from the end of the boom to the backstay, to permit entry. This is my 9th year of use, and it has only needed minor restitching a couple of times.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3462 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 15:58:34

If more than 3-4" of snow predicted, I put the cover on. After the storm, I brush the snow off and a day or so later, remove the cover and go sailing if temps climb a bit.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 16:34:23

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 11/28/2011 : 17:58:19

Thanks Steve and Larry . . . great way to minimize the hardware involved.

Edited by - on

KiteKraemer
Navigator

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191 Posts

Response Posted - 12/20/2011 : 12:41:50

As promised, here are my white trash cover pics. I know it looks ugly but I can guarantee this works great!
No framed brackets, no add'tl parts, just lay the mast down and cover it. Zero rain or Snow has got in,
it can breathe just a bit, and my rails --even though are touching the tarp, I have a smaller tarp just over the cabin top
so they stay dry. No rain or snow will collect on this either, we have had a bunch. This is my third version of the cover, and I have the pattern down almost exactly. There were grommets; but they all rusted out, so I just poked holes for the fishing line tie-downs. This spring
when I remove it, I will trace the template onto a new tarp; as this one is 3 yrs old.

Edited by - on

OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2011 : 17:35:57

Thanks very much for sharing Jeff.

If I went this route I would drive myself crazy looking for a way to divert water away from the stanchion slots

Edited by - on

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