Winter covers

[ianc1200]

Is it possible to cut/join/generally alter polyethylene tarpaulins? My late 50's has it's mast laying down in a tabernacle up to the wheel house roof, and I would like to cut, reinforce the edge, and then tie the tarpaulin, and I would also like to cut in two areas of clear polyethylene to be over the solar panels to keep the batteries topped up over winter while the cover is on. Impossible?

 

[wilkinsonsails]

Fairly easy to do with double sided sticky tape and sewn reinforcement .A domestic sewing machine should cope with the thicker bits.
If you put eyes in it you will need a least 4 layers to get thickness for the pressing.
Cindy

 

[BACUS]

boat covers

I have just put a tarpaulin over my boat and used mono cover tarpaulin clear with yellow grippers from Tarpaflex ,they clamp around the cover and do not make a hole in the tarpaulin and appear strong(time will tell)
Hope this helps
Regards
Bacus

 

[PetiteFleur]

Easy to do with a domestic sewing machine but make sure you get proper Polyester thread from someone like Hawke House or Kayospruce. As said use double sided tape(Venture tape) and reinforce eyelets. Eyelets are best at about ½ metre apart. Pad well any sharp edges and edges. My cover has lasted 5 byears to date and I'm expecting it to last this winter and then replace it. Get decent tarpaulins not the cheapy B&Q type. I've used these people:- http://www.tarpaulinsdirect.co.uk/T...tegory.asp?ctgry=All+Tarpaulins&cookie_test=1
Use the topgrade and fit extra eyelets. The 'rope' they supply is too thin at 3mm - I use 6mm diameter.

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks for the replies. The tarpaulin is about 10 years old (!) and is a very heavy grade, believe it was from Tarpaulinsdirect. As it clearly does need replacing, I thought it would be worthwhile having a go at alterations as not much to lose. Amazing it has lasted so long.

 

[Poignard]

Very attractive boat Ian.

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks. It's by ARC Marine (of Littlehampton) to their "Everyman" class, built 1951. About 40 built, always interested if anybody sees a sister boat, please let me know.

 

[FlyingDutchman]

Dunno about the tarpaulin, but it is a beautiful boat! In Duch we cal it a 'bakdekker' due to the typical shape of the hull. But I have only seen them over here as mobo?

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

Lovely little ship Ian.
Whatever you do I reckon it really pays to cover up boats in winter as long as they can still breathe through it all.
The damage done to timber, seals and equipment due to sitting out in the extremes of winter can be emmense.
I've recently 'shed out' on a full top cover that I can walk under most of the way, after having had the last 6 years under cheap B&Q type tarpaulins where the cockpit was the only standing area. This means I can work on the deck area and also store odds and ends there too.
The cheapos definitly helped but I was always having to repair and reposition them as the winds took control. During the last year I had 3 layers of plastic and tens of metres of rope so the boat looked like a badly trussed turkey.
I used to put as much rope underneath to hold the tarpaulin up as I did on top to stop it blowing away.

 

[johnphilip]

coverall

Monaflex tarps are used extensively for cladding scaffolds and are pretty tough, last far longer than polythene surely. Try a scaffold supplier such as SGB Youngman for prices. For fabric covers try a lorry tarpaulin maker (I used Ipswich Tarpaulins ). Whilst they will not tailor a sheet like a sailmaker they cost a fraction of the sailmakers charges.They competently made a tapered sheet to fit the bow of our boat, stopping the difficulty of tying the oversize corners you get at the bow with a rectangular sheet.