Reusable winter cover design

  • December 18, 2012 3:41 PM
    Message # 1162784
    Anonymous
    I live in the northeast (Maine) with short sailing seasons and many months with the boat under cover.  I'd like to design a wind and snowproof frame/tarp system that allows me to move about on deck (without crawling) and also have access to the bulwark caprails for finishing chores.  Simple, affordable and reusable are key.  Any suggestions?. 
  • December 18, 2012 7:16 PM
    Reply # 1162893 on 1162784

    Paul, I live in the Northease, New Hampshire, but keep our WS42, Harmony, in Marion, MA.  With all of our prior boats, we always struggled with covering the boat affordably and effectively, while providing the covered space to do projects. 

    The old method was to construct a framework of either wood trusses, pvc pipe, or electrical conduit and tie a blue poly tarp over the structure.  Unfortunately, the poly tarp did not provide a great environment for working.  Second the poly tarp was prone to ripping in the wind thus becoming a big sail with a threat of pulling the boat off the jack stands.  The boat yard prohibits the polytarp method now.

    Next, the boat yards went to shrink wrap with a zippered door.  With the proper venting condensation is minimal, working is limited by the framework height, but the reusablility is tough after a year.  Which makes the cost an annual issue.  For the WS42 the annual cost was $1500 and we worried about recycling.

    This year, we invested in a canvas cover which came with a standing headroom on deck framework.  Its projected useful life is between 10 and 15 years depending on care.  I'll use 10 to be conservative.  The cost is approximately $100 per total feet of length including bowsprit and boomkin.  The WS42 doesn't have a boomkin, but is about 46 feet with bowsprit.  There is a large zippered door which allows access.

    Given that a shrinkwrap cover is about $1500 per year, the canvas cover pays for itself in 3 years.  I can get to every part of the boat except the caprails.  However, in the Spring I plan on extending the side framework and use a poly tarp to do all of my varnishing including the caprail.  We used our trusty sailmaker and got a custom cover.  It works for us.  We are in the middle of a complete gut job restoration of Harmony which will proceed through the winter.  I begin rebuilding the inside furniture in a couple of weeks.  For the long term with storage in the winter on the hard, the canvas cover works for us at roughly $460 per year. 

    However, if you have a fairly protected storage area you might get away with a strong poly tarp system.  If that is the way you would want to go, I would use galvanized electrical conduit for the framework and design an overhang over the bulwarks.  The conduit can be pipe clamped or taped to the stanchions You can get a relatively strong poly tarp at Hamilton Marine in Portland for $168+ (30'x40' Silver heavy duty) that should cover a WS32 including overhangs.  I imagine the tarp should last a couple of years or more if cared for.

    I would enusre that you have sufficient flow through ventilation to keep moisture to a minimum.  A close friend who lives in Freeport bought our old Pearson Vanguard and is working on a winter cover similar to what I described.

    Good luck.

    Doug

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