Winter Cover

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I've experimented with winter covers in the past, by buying several of those cheap lightweight covers sold in places like B&Q. They didn't last and it wasn't long before water came through in some areas.

I've recently had to cover up building materials in the garden and used some black 'damp proof course' material.

It is a little 'stiff' but 100% waterproof and very strong and I paid around £40 for the roll, which would cover a couple of boats like mine.

S.

 

[LadyInBed]

The thing that I have found with boat covers is that they should not be tied down tight, as wind gusts get under them and rips them.
I use bungees to hold mine with ropes laid over the top of the cover to restrain how much the bungees can stretch and how much the cover can lift.
I have seen others use weighed ropes that allow some lift to do the same job.
One other thing that can ruin a cover is pooled water as it's weight stops the cover lifting in gusts.

 

[VicS]

I've experimented with winter covers in the past, by buying several of those cheap lightweight covers sold in places like B&Q. They didn't last and it wasn't long before water came through in some areas.

I've recently had to cover up building materials in the garden and used some black 'damp proof course' material.

It is a little 'stiff' but 100% waterproof and very strong and I paid around £40 for the roll, which would cover a couple of boats like mine.

S.

Yep I have used DPC to cover my tender when at home for the winter. Same piece has been in use for at least 30 years although it is now splitting where it was originally folded. Certainly no signs of UV degradation.

I also made a cover for my Mirror from something similar. Pond liner I think. That's even older. It has suffered some physical damage but otherwise no signs deterioration.

Heavy duty self adhesive joining tape will repair damage. (Gaffer tape no good)

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

I advise a foundation of rope ties over the boat before putting on the dpc/canvas. I first used cheap polypropylene but this stretched and defeated

the object of giving support to the dpc to stop the pooling of water.

S.

 

[onesea]

I would recommend not tieing the cover to the boat or its cradle. Using weighted paint cans or buckets or to tie down the cover, if the weather gets exceptional windy boats have been picked up and dropped by the covers....

 

[sarabande]

I would recommend not tieing the cover to the boat or its cradle. Using weighted paint cans or buckets or to tie down the cover, if the weather gets exceptional windy boats have been picked up and dropped by the covers....

Perhaps that refers to dinghies only ?

The idea of wind being able to exert a lifting force of, say, 20 tonnes on a 30 or 40 ft boat in a cradle needs some research.


Starting here

A Force 10 wind (btw 55 and 60 mph) exerts a force on a flat vertical surface of btw 59 and 70kg per sq metre.


Source

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/weatherstation/technical/Windforce.html

 

[onesea]

Perhaps that refers to dinghies only ?

I know of one 26' Stella that its happened to in high winds, as I recall the description the wind picked her up an dropped her. A stella might not be big by modern standards but certainly no dinghy.

Boats do get blown over from time to time covers round the boats might not be the sole reason but may well contribute, the pulling and tugging cannot be good for the boat or its shores and cradle.

Maybe some research is required....

Lets take my boat 10m If I cover her say 10x5m that's 50 square meters so that's 3-3.5 tonnes of force my present boat weighs in at 4t so I am 3/4's of the way there :ambivalence:.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Never tie down a cover to props!

 

[ctva]

I've always used Costco tarps which are pretty heavy duty and about £14 for two 4x3m. They usually last me two or three winters. They are tied tight over the boom to the gunwhales with a rope lattice over the top to take the pressure. To help with the wear issue I use pieces of pipe insulation taped over anything sharp or pointy.

As to the 'lifting' force on a boat, and not having done any research, I would think the eyes in the tarps would fail long before any big force was exerted. I could see the sideways force being more of an issue but given the number of tarps I see compared to the number of blown over boats, I'd say it was not an issue. More likely to be a badly set up or faulty cradle. As I said, no scientific research, just an observation.