DIY boat cover

[pcatterall]

I'm considering covering my boat 10m (motor sailor) this winter but cant afford a tailor made proper job.
I am thinking of using sheets of heavy duty(say 200gsm) clear montotex or similar laminated woven mesh stuff.
Whilst as per the thread below I would prefer 'proper canvas'
I think that with care in avoiding snags and sharp edges a laminated sheet can perform quite well.
I need the cover to go over the toe rail and rubbing strake as I want to protect the teak decks. Consequently I will have to make slits in the tarpaulin edges to fit around the stays and stanchions. I will get a kit so that I can add eylets around these slits to stop them lifting and tearing. I plan to use (recycle) plastic milk bottles full of water as weights at each eylet
Questions are ... any advice on the tarpaulin type and supplier.
..... Any advice on strengthening the cut slits.

Any other ideas??

Regards Peter

 

[PeterGibbs]

4 main solutions:

1. lightweight "tarpaulins" - the type you see blowing in the trees around many boatyards - ripped off by the first wind. Advertised as super strong etc. Useless.

2. Green canvas - acryrllic usually - very smart, manageable and lasts ok. Expensive, of course.

3. Tuftarp - heavy weight black plastic sheet - actually pretty good, can be purchased shaped. Often used on dinghys etc. Have used - not at all bad and reasonably priced. Supplier - ?Lakeland tarpaulins.

4. Lorry sheeting: very tough heavy guage fabric, with eyelets and ropes. I bought 3 of these 10 years ago to fit my boat - still going strong. The real thing, and not excessively priced. I hold mine down with buckets of water etc - as you are contemplating. Google for suppliers - I may have a note of my source if you're interested - PM me.

Moral of the story - it pays to go heavyweight.

PWG

 

[MrCramp]

I use the light weight cheap blue tarpaulins that PeterGibbs sees blowing in the trees. They are cheap, they keep the water out and they let the sun/light in.

They should be tied down well and then you need to put more ropes which go right over the boat on top of the tarpaulins. I normally use four such ropes on a 30 foot boat. A couple of these cheap tarpaulins should cost no more than £15/£20 total and I find they last at least 2 winters.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
Lorry sheeting: very tough heavy guage fabric, with eyelets and ropes. I bought 3 of these 10 years ago to fit my boat - still going strong.

[/ QUOTE ] Yes had one cut to my dimensions. It lasted over 20 years but by then was getting very stiff when cold and had developed a few leaks along the centre.