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making a canvas cover for winter

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/22/2004 : 13:38:54

Hello,
I have friends who have offered to help me make a winter boat cover for Moondance, and I am wondering if anyone has a template or any advise on how-to, what fabric/where to get it, or any general wisdom to share. My friends have access to heavy duty sewing equipment and are eager to put something together- but I have no idea where to start. I am planning to keep the mast down and stored on board ad Moondance will be on her trailer for the winter. Michigan winters tend to be full of wind and very snowy... Any advise would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Karen :)

Karen Christensen
Moondance, #5465 1986 C-25, SR, FK, Honda 8
Traverse City, Michigan

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 13:50:56

Don't make it harder than it needs to be. First remove the spreaders to help snow fall off. Next pad the tops of the stanchions to keep them from stressing the cover. A 20 X 30 cover allows you to "stitch" up the ends. I like my black cover because it generates solar gain and melts snow quickly. I bought it from Eastern Marine, the same place that I bought most of my trailer parts.

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 13:58:28

Note the height of my mast and the throwable cushions used to pad the mast contact points where you will be "stitching". The height creates an pitch that sheds the snow. What you are looking at is two mast-ups, one at each end, and a piece of plastic 4x4 fence post from home depot on the mast step. The plastic post is easy to carve to shape.

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Lightnup
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1016 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 18:52:29

Frank - I wonder whether there's a C25 related question that could be asked that you DON'T already have a picture showing an answer for.

(That's a compliment, by the way, not a criticism. Your pics are always very pertinent and helpful.)

Steve

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2004 : 19:12:15

Thanks, I think it is why I was allowed to be the technical editor for the mainsheet. They figures I had a couple years worth of pictures.

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2004 : 13:48:50

Karen:

Try Sailrite ([url="http://www.sailrite.com/"]link[/url]). They seem to be a good resource for info and supplies for a lot of do-it-yourself sewing projects (although you may be able to source some materials for less elsewhere).

However, you may want to choose a less ambitious canvas project for your first one, one which would be less costly in wasted materials if it doesn't come out to your satisfaction. Using cheap, "swap-meet" material for learning sewing skills and making a prototype may be another option.

Further, regarding a winter boat cover, the Sept/Oct issue of "Good Old Boat" had an excellent article written by a guy from your neck of the woods about a proper winter cover. While my boat has never been covered, it rarely leaves the water and it never snows here, the article looked like a good approach -- choosing canvas as the material for a winter cover could be overkill (or perhaps worse).

Good luck.

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Kip C
Navigator

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USA
243 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 14:23:02

To add to Frank's method. We use hollow swim noodles (cut down one side, using a utility knife) and slip them over the lifelines and top of the stantions to help with chafing. We also weave line back and forth, over and under, the mast and lifelines to supprt the tarp. Frank's right about the size of tarp (20x30), it is the perfect size to cover a 25ft boat, end to end.

Good Luck,

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 09/24/2004 : 15:20:47

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">We also weave line back and forth, over and under, the mast and lifelines to supprt the tarp.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I used to weave line back and forth like Kip, but found that it took a lot of time to put it on and take it off. I got two lengths of about 2" diameter PVC pipe (each about 10 or 12 feet long) and drilled about 3/8" holes in them every foot. Then I cut a length of polypropylene line (about 12-13' long) for each hole in the PVC pipe. Then I put each piece of line through a hole in each PVC pipe and knotted it, so it won't come out.

When I get ready to cover the boat, I throw one pipe over the mast, and tie it down on both sides. The pipe is flexible, so all the polypro lines become reasonably taut. The lines help support the weight of any snow or ice that accumulates on the tarp. I only use it over the cockpit, because the pitch of the tarp forward of the cockpit is enough to keep snow and ice from accumulating.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/25/2004 : 10:41:49

I used to fully cover my boat with a tarp over the winter, but this past off season I tried something different and it worked better for me.

Up til last winter, I did as most have mentioned and covered my boat stem to stern using the mast tent method and ladder lines, being careful to pad chafe points. Even with taking every precaution, it would seem that the howling winter wind, piling snow, and ice would eventually takes its toll on the tarp and pull out grommets, wear through at padded chafe points, or get torn to shreds just like what happens to many boats at the boatyards around here.

Additionally, I found that even though the whole boat was tarped, I would uncover it in the spring and still find dirt and debris on the cabintop. This was because I couldn't hermetically seal the tarp like shrinkwrap and the dust from the gravel and dirt boatyard would inevitably find its way under the tarp and onto the deck.

This past winter I tried something different. With my mast up, I simply put a smaller tarp (12x10) over the boom and secured it with bungees. Underneath this tent, I placed another tarp directly on the cabintop similar to the white tarp Frank has on his boat. The bungeed boom tarp had enough give to survive the whipping winds and the tarp directly on the cabintop protected the teak, windows, and hatchboards. In the spring, I also found less dirt/dust on the decks than when the boat was totally covered with tarps(go figure?) Additionally, over the winter I could easily get inside the boat without having to untie the aft section of my former full tarp.

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 08:19:57

Lots of good advice and info here... Thanks so much!
This will be the first winter that I have taken the mast down, as I will need to trailer her to a storage yard down the block rather than keep her at the marina parking lot. The previous three winters I had a really cool custom made cabin top cover from the PO that was sewn up out of tarps and had a weighted flip up area over the companionway. It covered the windows, etc. I also used a tarp over the boom and it worked out just fine. The only disadvantage was that the tarp cabintop cover did wear on the teak. Ans last winter the wind blew it loose in a few spots and it is shredded...
So now I find myself with a wonderful boyfriend who wants to help take the mast down and I want to make a simple system up that will work for seasons to come. Steve, were there any photos of the system with the pipes/ropes? Still trying to picture it as it sounds like something simple that i could use over and over... And Frank, what are mast-ups? Great photos by the way!!!
Thanks AGAIN!
Karen :)

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 10:07:32

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Steve, were there any photos of the system with the pipes/ropes? Still trying to picture it as it sounds like something simple that i could use over and over...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> Sorry, I don't have any photos, Karen, and I gave my digital camera to my graphic artist son. But, it is very simple. Just imagine two pieces of plastic pipe lying on the ground, with 10-12 pieces of line tied from one pipe to the other. It is reusable from year-to-year. Just roll the lines up on the pipes.

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 16:59:42

Steve,
Thanks, I get the part about the lines and the pipes, that is easy to imagine and accomplish. Now, how long are the pipes, how do they tie into covering the boat, the mast, the tarp, etc. What is the point- what do they accomplish? I am guessing that they hold the tarp out at an angle in some way, but I can't puzzle out how it works, where it goes, what it does. I guess that old picture is worth a 1000 words thing really is true!
Karen :)

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 09/28/2004 : 17:45:59

Karen, look at the photo posted above by Frank Hopper, showing his boat on the trailer. The mast is resting on mast-ups at the bow and stern. They elevate the mast a couple of feet higher than the bow and stern pulpits. My device is thrown over the mast, so that half of it hangs over the lifelines on each side. Then I tie the device to the trailer on both sides of the boat, so that the ropes that are strung over the mast are under tension. The tarp is thrown over the device. The ropes, one foot apart, help support the tarp from underneath. Without them, the wind and rain and snow and ice on the tarp add weight and stress to the tarp, tearing out the tarp's grommets. Until I started using the device, the tarps that I put on my boat would rip off before Spring. The device supports the tarp from underneath, and takes the stress off the tarp's grommets.

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karentc
1st Mate

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USA
68 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2004 : 13:16:42

Steve,
Aaahhh mystery solved. Good details- I thought you were describing what I was picturing but I couldn't figure out how 12"-13" long lines would support the pipes and put them in the right location.
After reading your last post I get it- 12-13' lines spaced a foot or so apart- DUH THanks so much for your patience and great explanations. I especially like the fact that you can reuse your system every year. Any idea how much those mastups cost???
Or if CDirect is in stock on them?
THanks again!!!!!
Karen :)

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 10/01/2004 : 18:03:53

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Any idea how much those mastups cost???<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I made mine out of scrap lumber. I have seen some that members of the forum have made out of PVC pipe. Also, I have seen what look like manufactured mast ups, but don't know where you can buy them. It doesn't cost much to make them.

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