Suggestions for cover the boat..

[wipe_out]

Looking for suggestions for a relatively cheap and effective way to cover the boat over the winter.. I bought a generic "t-top" cover from the US a little over a year ago and already the fabric is ripping from the summer sun damage. It keeps ripping every time it's pulled on.. I have patched it twice now but ripped it again last weekend..

Boat is a Merry Fisher so has the pilot house area.. Something like a large tarp might be tricky because there would be miles of material hanging around the bow and stern if it's wide enough to cover the pilot house..

Thought I could use three smaller tarps, small one on the fore deck and cockpit with a larger one over the pilothouse but this would catch the wind and probably wouldn't last through the winter blows..

The quotes I have had to make a custom cover have all been VERY expensive because I want to cover the whole boat..

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Ferris]

What about shrink wrapping the boat, no idea of cost however.

 

[dpb]

May I ask why you want to cover it,?
Over the years I have found that trying to cover the boat causes more problems than it solves, mostly due to damp held under it and damage from chaffing and flapping. A good clean and polish at the start of the store period has worked for me.

 

[Nick_H]

I also bought a T Top cover from the US and so far it is lasting well after 3 seasons, but I only use it 5 months of the year over winter, so maybe it just hasn't had lots of UV exposure. The material is described as "600D marine grade polyester", and it claims to be UV resistant, so it may be worth checking whether the same material was used on the cover you bought. T Tops are very popular in Florida, which of course has a lot more sun than here, and I can't believe the yanks would stand for paying a few hundred dollars for a cover that didn't even last a year.

Mine was $500 including shipping and import tax for 24' boat.

As dpb suggests the alternative for wintering the boat is to polish it, then apply a liberal coating of wax but don't buff it off until spring

 

[Firefly625]

I guess it is a little OCD, however I too would love a complete all over made to measure canvas winter cover. There is a Nimbus stored ashore over winter at Mercury that has a full cover and I am always pretty jealous, but unless you go the whole hog I don't think tying small tarpaulins over the boat, or even one large one is ever a good idea as it will rub in places and cause wear especially when windy and end up causing more damage to your boat than having nothing. I have even seen boats with damaged / buckled stainless hand rails where covers have been tied to and a winter storm has done its worst.

I recommend giving your entire boat a polish as soon as it is out the water and another when she is about to go back in, my boat is rather older than yours (by 18 years) and only last week someone asked me if it was new... so a winter cover is not necessary to maintain your boat over winter.... just nice if a made to measure cover.

 

[wipe_out]

Yes, same one I have made from the "600D" material.. Cost about the same as what you paid.. I was surprised too that it had deteriorated so fast considering it claims to be UV protected and the UK sun really isn't all that intense.. You can actually see how the sun has bleached the material when compared to the areas that were shaded by the straps that run over it..

I also bought a T Top cover from the US and so far it is lasting well after 3 seasons, but I only use it 5 months of the year over winter, so maybe it just hasn't had lots of UV exposure. The material is described as "600D marine grade polyester", and it claims to be UV resistant, so it may be worth checking whether the same material was used on the cover you bought. T Tops are very popular in Florida, which of course has a lot more sun than here, and I can't believe the yanks would stand for paying a few hundred dollars for a cover that didn't even last a year.

Mine was $500 including shipping and import tax for 24' boat.

As dpb suggests the alternative for wintering the boat is to polish it, then apply a liberal coating of wax but don't buff it off until spring

 

[Ferris]

I should have added that have a made to measure canvas cover for the boat (broom 37). Looking back I think that it wasn't the way to go. The cover is massive for a start, even when folded up. It wears and holes on the superstructures corners and this also damages the paint/gelcoat in those areas.

The cover is very well made (Irish Spars made it) and the material, zips and straps are of good quality but by its nature, and the nature of what it is subjected too over an Irish winter, it gets damaged. Also it is a half days work for two people to fit at the end of season, similar to remove in the spring. That's why I think that annual shrinkwrapping may have been a better way to go.

With regards to damp etc., the cover is black and the heat build up this generates seems to actually keep the boat very dry in conjunction with the dehumidifier.

As regards cost it was eur3500 in 2009, I doubt that it could be made for 150% of that now.

 

[wipe_out]

May I ask why you want to cover it,?
Over the years I have found that trying to cover the boat causes more problems than it solves, mostly due to damp held under it and damage from chaffing and flapping. A good clean and polish at the start of the store period has worked for me.

Want to cover it because I store it next to the house in the driveway over the winter and the moss and other crud comes off the roof and onto the boat and makes a real mess.. Especially in the window seals on the side windows..

Also would like to keep the gelcoat from fading in the summer, I know regular polishing would also do that but it's much more work than pulling on a cover..

 

[wipe_out]

As regards cost it was eur3500 in 2009, I doubt that it could be made for 150% of that now.

Yes, I have had prices between £2000-£4000 to make up a cover using Sunbrella material.. That's too much for a cover.. I could buy 4-8 of these cheap covers for that much money..

 

[Firefly625]

Want to cover it because I store it next to the house in the driveway over the winter and the moss and other crud comes off the roof and onto the boat and makes a real mess.. Especially in the window seals on the side windows..

Also would like to keep the gelcoat from fading in the summer, I know regular polishing would also do that but it's much more work than pulling on a cover..

if you want to maintain your boats gel coat shine then you have to polish it, I don't think there is an option for this & if its in your drive way probably a big tarp could work, if a high wind is forecasted remove the cover... at the end of the day if your boats in your drive way at home maintenance is a doddle!

 

[wipe_out]

if you want to maintain your boats gel coat shine then you have to polish it, I don't think there is an option for this & if its in your drive way probably a big tarp could work, if a high wind is forecasted remove the cover... at the end of the day if your boats in your drive way at home maintenance is a doddle!

Yes, I agree that polishing is required, just figure that the cover would reduce the number of times I have to polish it to maintain it..
I also quite like heading to the boat yard when the sun comes out after days of rain and unwrapping a clean boat.. Rather than a dusty boat with watermarks all over the windscreen..

 

[PCUK]

How about a car port? Any sort of cover apart from shrink wrap will damage the corners from constant rubbing when breezy.

 

[Firefly625]

Yes, I agree that polishing is required, just figure that the cover would reduce the number of times I have to polish it to maintain it..
I also quite like heading to the boat yard when the sun comes out after days of rain and unwrapping a clean boat.. Rather than a dusty boat with watermarks all over the windscreen..

sorry, misunderstood, thought you trailered your boat home. Indeed, nothing looks so forlorn than your pride and joy covered in boat yard dust, worst of all antifoul dust as that does stain the gelcoat and is a job to get out.

 

[Bouba]

How about a car port? Any sort of cover apart from shrink wrap will damage the corners from constant rubbing when breezy.

I agree, good thinking outside the box. There are cheap, instant carports made for caravans and motorhomes that will give you the height necessary

 

[wipe_out]

How about a car port? Any sort of cover apart from shrink wrap will damage the corners from constant rubbing when breezy.

Wish I could.. Problem is that the space I have to put the boat is between my house and the neighbour and the boat just fits (with inches to spare) so not enough space for a carport or anything to be constructed..