Greenheart
Well-Known Member
This week has been dry, and the short days were bright so it looked to be a good time for paint and epoxy work.
I hadn't considered how cold it is. Several old-timers have told me to ignore the boasts made by paint sellers and manufacturers, about how low a temperature their products can be applied in; these (I'm told) are recipes for imperfect adhesion and finish. I've listened to a lot more advice too, about heaters and sheds, or just waiting till May.
Has anyone tried covering a low-height boat with a clear tarpaulin, in order to recreate the effect of a glasshouse?
Not saying it will work, just looking at whether it might. The alternatives still involve some sort of tenting, but with long cables and plug-in heaters, or even generators. So the significant cost of a high-quality clear tarp begins to look reasonable; and it would remain useful for many years.
Granted, the best ones have fibre woven through, which won't admit sunlight. And a dark opaque tarp may attract more warmth than a partly clear screen. I began by thinking that stopping icy draughts is the main factor, until I realised a dark screen would still need lighting beneath, for work. But using the sun's free heat and light would be a winner.
If nobody knows any better, I'll buy one and give it a try. At the worst, it'll make wet-weather maintenance more fun.
I hadn't considered how cold it is. Several old-timers have told me to ignore the boasts made by paint sellers and manufacturers, about how low a temperature their products can be applied in; these (I'm told) are recipes for imperfect adhesion and finish. I've listened to a lot more advice too, about heaters and sheds, or just waiting till May.
Has anyone tried covering a low-height boat with a clear tarpaulin, in order to recreate the effect of a glasshouse?
Not saying it will work, just looking at whether it might. The alternatives still involve some sort of tenting, but with long cables and plug-in heaters, or even generators. So the significant cost of a high-quality clear tarp begins to look reasonable; and it would remain useful for many years.
Granted, the best ones have fibre woven through, which won't admit sunlight. And a dark opaque tarp may attract more warmth than a partly clear screen. I began by thinking that stopping icy draughts is the main factor, until I realised a dark screen would still need lighting beneath, for work. But using the sun's free heat and light would be a winner.
If nobody knows any better, I'll buy one and give it a try. At the worst, it'll make wet-weather maintenance more fun.
Good point about clips for holding the edges securely, though.