Alternative to tarpaulins that only last a year!

Zagato

Zagato

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I have been buying top grade tarpaulins for about £50 but they delaminate within a year and cover everything with tiny flakes.

I would like to invest in a decent tarpaulin made of the heavier rubberish stuff or maybe canvas. does anyone have any links or ideas to get something better that will last longer to just throw over my Drascombe it Doesn,t have to be a bespoke fit, just something to keep the worst of the weather off including the sun! thanks
 
After a bit of research 'Weathermax' seems to be the new material on the block. Has anyone got any experience of it? Or just a source for some cheap canvas I can throw over ;)
 
What about approaching a local sail maker or canvas designer and asking for odd cuts or faded bits. You never know what they might be looking rid off.

I have heard of a shrink wrap technique also but have no experience in this.

PVC should not wear too much after one year. Maybe try a different tarpaulin material
 
Zagato said:
just throw over my Drascombe
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If you just chuck it loosely over the boat then it will flap in the wind and probably tear itself to bits over a winter whatever it's made of. I go down to the yard almost every weekend over winter and see all the badly-secured coverings over semi-abandoned boats flailing away - by spring 90% of them are gone leaving just a few torn-out eyelets tied to the boat. Admittedly most are thin plastic tarps, but even the heavier ones go in the end. You need to secure the cover so that it stays tight and cannot flap.

Pete
 
Zagato said:
After a bit of research 'Weathermax' seems to be the new material on the block. Has anyone got any experience of it? Or just a source for some cheap canvas I can throw over ;)
Click to expand...

I have a Weathermax dinghy cover which I still think of as 'the new cover', but it must be 5 years old.
The fabric is still good, not sure it's 100% waterproof, but it's partly there to keep the sun off.

You can buy all sorts of canvas and make your own.
None of the good stuff is cheap.
Prv is right, a flapping cover will last badly.
UV kills most plastics in the end.
Frost damages anything once it gets porous.
 
I am in the tropics so UV is the killer out here. A blue plastic tarp is doing well if it lasts a year. The silver ones often do two years.

But there are some heavy duty vinyl materials around that last much longer. My bimini is Stamoid and is at least 8 years old. It does need replacing but that is chafe related. The basic material is still sound although the surface is degrading. However it costs $25 a yard [59 inches wide] from Sailrite.
 
Really worth investing in a custom made acrylic cover. Mine is now coming up for its 18th winter - well patched in wear points but still protects the boat. Just had a similar tailored cockpit cover made from Sunbrella for my new boat which I expect to outlast me.
 
The truckies have side panels made of really heavy waterproof tarp. However I think your problem may be mor ein the attachment and support of the tarp.
You need to check it in strong winds and set it up for minimum movement. ie multiple tie down points over multiple supports for min movement.
good luck olewill
 
Whoops my usual rushed slap dash style has been jumped on by PRV. Pete I am the same in conversation, I am always being corrected...

To clarify I buy a big enough cover to cover the hull also to stop it fading as it is dark green and tie the cover down onto the trailer. Lines are kept taught to stop any pooling of water and a big gap is left at the back to allow for ventilation (the mast is brought down on it,s tabernacle and rests in a mast crutch that has been put in place instead of the mizzen mast).

I have had two quotes so far for bespoke covers. PVC £375, Weathermax £575. As I will never sell my ole girl I think one these would be a good investment.

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Chichester Rally last weekend, sorry Pete, weather not so good for me anyway for cricket on Brambles Island!

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I have had good results from Topgun fabric which I used for my cockpit and mainsail covers both of which are on the boat all year summer and winter in the UK. The cockpit cover is 10 years old and still totally waterproof and no sign of UV degradation. I made up the covers myself after buying a heavy duty sewing machine on eBay for £5.

Colin. Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Whilst there are cheap tarps out there that delaminate, I use the 'cheap' ones from Costco, about £9 for a 3x4m. They last me three or four winters on the West coast with no problems. The main reason for retiring them is that the eyelets eventually fail although I do replace them from time to time with new ones.

So'I'd try the Costco ones for this winter and see. Nice and cheap.
 
Wow at those prices for good tarps I would be thinking of leaving it uncovered or at least only cover a small part (cockpit) of the boat. It can't be that hard to clean it up before first use each spring. My little boat 21ft is kept home all winter and certainly not covered up. gets a few leaves but that is all. olewill
 
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