What types of tarps to cover my boat?

[Budell1996]

I'm in the SW Michigan area. We own a large pontoon boat for going out on the lakes and I'm trying to look into what I could use to cover it up for dealing with the wide range of weather we deal with up here.

I just got the boat this past summer and I've covered it up for now with some basic poly tarps but they are already showing some signs of damage just from the few days of winter weather we've had so far.

If anyone has any advice it'll be greatly appreciated!

 

[sarabande]

Most of this forum's activity is within Europe, but i'd suggest you consider scaffolding sheeting .


It has re-inforcing fibres, comes in fireproof version, and UV stable ones, if you wish, and has fixing points and elastic bung.ee points.


Check out "scaffolding containment" typically

Scaffold & Construction Containment

 

[Budell1996]

Most of this forum's activity is within Europe, but i'd suggest you consider scaffolding sheeting .


It has re-inforcing fibres, comes in fireproof version, and UV stable ones, if you wish, and has fixing points and elastic bung.ee points.


Check out "scaffolding containment" typically

Scaffold & Construction Containment

Thanks for the reply. Would some scaffold sheeting like these work? I have plenty of bungees already so I'm good there.

 

[MontyMariner]

Lorry Tarpaulins are often used as boat winter covers.
Eg Lorry Tarpaulins | Recycling & Waste | Manutan UK

 

[14K478]

This is assuming the boat isn’t wooden. If she is you must have a breathable material

 

[sarabande]

Please explain why a steel or a GRP boat doesn't need ventilation.

 

[14K478]

Please explain why a steel or a GRP boat doesn't need ventilation.

They can be sealed and dehumidified, which is the best answer, but is impossible with wood. Wood should be kept at ambient temperature and humidity ie a howling draft and breathable sheeting over.

 

[ctva]

I have found over the years that the most important thing to keep any tarp in place is to use heavy taught ropes over it to take the strain when the wind wants to lift it. Just watch a tarp in strong winds without this support. Even better is if you can get a section of old commercial fishing net over the top. We are on the west coast of Scotland where a 'bit of a breeze' over the winter is failrly common. I use Costco tarps at about a tenner each and they last years with the ropes over.

 

[Tranona]

They can be sealed and dehumidified, which is the best answer, but is impossible with wood. Wood should be kept at ambient temperature and humidity ie a howling draft and breathable sheeting over.

I used polytarps for years on a wooden boat. Just need to provide for a throughflow of air. Quite easy with a ridge framework.

 

[Poignard]

I have found over the years that the most important thing to keep any trp in place is to use heavy taught ropes over it to take the strain when the wind wants to list it. Just watch a tarp in stron winds without this support. Even better is if you can get a section of old commercial fishing net over the top. We are on the west coast of Scotland where a 'bit of a breeze' over the winter is failrly common. I use Costco tarps at about a tenner each and they last years with the ropes over.

Got any pictures of that set up, please?

The net over the cover, I mean.

 

[Poignard]

Deleted.

 

[MontyMariner]

On my cockpit cover tarp it is tensioned by bungees rather than ropes so that the eyes don't get pulled out in a strong gust, but I have a couple of slack ropes tied over the top of the tarp to limit how much the bungee can stretch.
If this arrangement was used over the whole boat, you certainly wouldn't need breathable material

PS A variation on the bungee and rope arrangement is to tie individual slack ropes in parallel to the bungees to limit their stretch. A similar principle to mooring lines snubbers.

 

[ctva]

Got any pictures of that set up, please?

The net over the cover, I mean.

Unfortunately not as I only use ropes. A couple of friends use the nets but I've not been able to source any.

 

[Pump-Out]

Lorry Tarpaulins are often used as boat winter covers

Nothing better, and canvas types breathe, which overcomes the venting issues.
With a line or six over the top, best solution.