Is it really necessary

[KREW2]

To keep a cover on the back through winter?
I have a seaward 25 I keep in Weymouth Harbour Marina which has a cockpit cover similar to the one in the picture below. Lots of owners keep them on through the winter, but I have to ask why.
It was very handy as a sunshade this summer, and of course is great when it rains.
My reasoning is, rain isn't going to damage anything, in fact it keeps the fibreglass and interdeck paint clean, and the cockpit drains well, but in the bleak mid winter strong winds and torrential rain just put unnecessary wear and tear on the fabric of the cover, not to mention seagull poo.

 

[The Q]

My motorboat cockpit isn't self draining.. So yes it is necessary..

 

[Tranona]

Would not leave that enclosure up for the reasons you list. Tecsew made this cover for my Bavaria 33 tecsew.com/boat-covers/tonneau-covers-zip-attached-to-sprayhood/bavaria-cruiser-33-tonneau-cover-zip-attached-to-sprayhood/

I moor my boat in Poole with the stern facing the prevailing wind and this was brilliant. Zipped to the sprayhood and can be accessed from either side. Kemps are making a similar one for my "new" Golden Hind - final fitting Thursday.

 

[johnalison]

Winter can be hard on a cover, especially if you are anywhere near a commercial port with all that dirt. The answer is going to differ from boat to boat, but generally I prefer to leave a cover on, though I didn’t last year. I kept an old cover and normally use that in the winter, which is probably an ideal solution.

 

[srm]

How often do you go and check the boat in winter? Once something works loose its going to be flapping around and damaging itself if not something else until you can secure it. With a self draining cockpit I would be inclined to take the cover off, unless you live nearby and want to have somewhere to hang wet coats when on the boat.

 

[LadyInBed]

Keeps the Seagulls and weather out.

 

[KREW2]

Would not leave that enclosure up for the reasons you list. Tecsew made this cover for my Bavaria 33 tecsew.com/boat-covers/tonneau-covers-zip-attached-to-sprayhood/bavaria-cruiser-33-tonneau-cover-zip-attached-to-sprayhood/

I moor my boat in Poole with the stern facing the prevailing wind and this was brilliant. Zipped to the sprayhood and can be accessed from either side. Kemps are making a similar one for my "new" Golden Hind - final fitting Thursday.

What you have there is just a protective cover. Mine is almost an extension of the boat. So in the summer when its raining I want it to be in good nick, and not weather beaten.
However you have given me an idea, I may get a small tonneau cover made up.

 

[garymalmgren]

You could cover the cover with a cover.
That way you could leave it up and it would be protected.
In spring just uncover the cover from the cover.

I am being serious here.

gary

 

[William_H]

Least canvas the better during strong winds. Leave it off. o'lwill

 

[ChromeDome]

Over the 50+ years, I have owned boats that have spent the winter outdoors, it has been proven that covers lose twice as much life in the winter as they do in the summer. Or rather, that it lasts more than twice as long if used only in summer.

On the other hand, a winter cover is a must (for me), to keep dirt, sand, dust, bird droppings, leaves and the like away from the Gelcoat. These things often cause discolouration, which is difficult or impossible to remove - really annoying and time-consuming in spring.

I use a dedicated winter cover. For smaller boats, I just bought a universal fit PVC or polyester solution and otherwise a summer cover which was worn and approaching EOL.

For the current boat (30' mobo w/fly) no universal or easy solutions are available, so one of these days it will get a custom-made, breathable Fibertex cover for the whole boat. Carried by its own stand, designed to withstand storms, snow and other pleasantries.

Model photo:

So when the boat is lifted out it will be thoroughly cleaned and wrapped.
To prevent wear or rubbing damage between the two types of fabric (and keep the warranty), the summer cover is removed before the winter cover is fitted.

 

[lustyd]

rain isn't going to damage anything, in fact it keeps the fibreglass and interdeck paint clean

You have very different rain than the rest of us. Rain will bring Saharan dust and other debris as well as encouraging green and black growth.

 

[KREW2]

You have very different rain than the rest of us. Rain will bring Saharan dust and other debris as well as encouraging green and black growth.

Exactly, all this Saharan dust, bird poo and black/ greeny yellow growth is what I want to avoid on my cover. I can get to the boat in ten minutes so I go down regularly if it looks Sh!ty I can clean it. Fibreglass is relatively easy to clean with a hose, soap and brush, but the cover takes a lot more effort.

 

[Sandy]

Is it really necessary

Really up to the owner, one of the joys of being on the water is we can do exactly what we want.

Perhaps the owner likes to visit the boat, put the kettle on and read the paper.

 

[capnsensible]

We lived on our Moody 33 for over 20 years. When not sailing, the cockpit cover was rigged. Regular cleaning, being properly s3cured in strong winds and re waterproofing with a suitable aerosol spray gave us an extra cabin. Brill. Especially in winter.

 

[salar]

I have a Harley 25, almost exactly like a Seaward. I have a cover, not a bulky canvas cabin so it is less liable to wind damage. It's in a marina where they keep an eye on it for me. I keep the cover on to protect the cockpit, deck and engine covers because in my opinion the less water and bird mess in there the better! Seems to be a 50/50 split in opinions as either option has advantages and disadvantages.

 

[johnalison]

A properly secured cover shouldn't flap itself to death. Most of them seem to be clipped all round and unlikely to come loose, but there will still be wear on the panels from winter winds. On the other hand, having a nice clean cockpit available at all times is a considerable benefit.

 

[Fimacca]

I use my canvas cover, I give it a waterproofing with fabsil before the winter, and it seems pretty good thus far.

Some posh motor yachts are shrink wrapped for the winter. I know it is an expensive item, but I fear for the waste and environment with that attitude. I saw one a swanwick last year over winter,
IMHO.

 

[Tranona]

What you have there is just a protective cover. Mine is almost an extension of the boat. So in the summer when its raining I want it to be in good nick, and not weather beaten.
However you have given me an idea, I may get a small tonneau cover made up.

That is the whole point - different purposes, different covers. That boat had teak in the cockpit and a teak table which did not get dirty and the design linking it with the sprayhood meant there was standing room at the companionway. You would get much the same with your wheelhouse.

 

[Praxinoscope]

I use my canvas cover, I give it a waterproofing with fabsil before the winter, and it seems pretty good thus far.

Some posh motor yachts are shrink wrapped for the winter. I know it is an expensive item, but I fear for the waste and environment with that attitude. I saw one a swanwick last year over winter,
IMHO.

A few years ago I gave a talk at Yale University, it was mid winter and I noticed as I travelled up from NY, that at least 60% of the boats that were laid up over the Winter were shrink wrapped, but like Fimacca I thought it a bit of an environmental no-no.

 

[srm]

A few years ago I gave a talk at Yale University, it was mid winter and I noticed as I travelled up from NY, that at least 60% of the boats that were laid up over the Winter were shrink wrapped, but like Fimacca I thought it a bit of an environmental no-no.

More so in Toronto, close fitting or shrink covers on almost every boat and almost every boat was out of the water with masts down, but then they sail in fresh water, winter temps of -20 are not unknown, and there is snow cover for a few months. In Orkney and Shetland no one with any sense would consider a winter cover either afloat or ashore and no masts up ashore as sustained winds of 60 to 80+ knots were possible.

Its a case of what is appropriate for the local conditions.