How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

[Mark42]

I have to wrap up the Bayliner 1600 Cuddy for the winter and it will be stored outside. I plan to make a tent frame from PVC pipe or 1x4 and drape the tarp over it with bungie cords to the trailer frame.

The boat has a bow rail that when a tarp is pulled over it will sag and collect water, ice & snow. I figure that the PVC tent frame should extend from outboard all the way to the bow to keep a pitch on the tarp so rain and snow run off.

Wondering how other members with bow rails deal with snow buildup?

Update: I was measuring the boat for the tent frame, when I got the bright idea to just remove the bow rail for storage. So I remove all the screws (except the screws that mount the base fittings to the deck). The darn rail will not budge. Not one fraction of an inch. I yanked and pulled and pounded and the darn rail will not bugde. I realized that the entire rail needs to be disassembled to remove it, including the through bolted deck fittings. I decided not to do that, as it will require re-sealing the deck fittings in the spring and quite a lot of re-assembly. So even though it looks like it will come right off, it does not unless the deck fittings are removed.

So I'm staying with the tent idea for now.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

Ayuh,........

I think you've got the Right Idea Mark,....

Whatever it takes to keep the ponding from happening.....

On My boat,.... The Hardtop keeps the angle severe enough, so it's Not a Problem,.....
I just pull the Tarp over it,+ bungee it to the trailer.......

 

[Spin 53]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

HI Mark
I have the same boat but 20ft. What I did was used 2x4 with saw horse pices (the metal conections) to make an A frame on the Bow deck secured the frame with rope to the bow rail and draped the tarp over it and secured it to the trailer It makes a good tight angled cover to increse the pitch just add to the hight.....
I hate to put my boat away..
And dont forget the mothballs or Bounty sheets to keep the critters from using your boat when you can't ............
Good luck Spin.

 

[ziggy]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

how about one of them pole things. set it front of the hatch. it just needs some peak to run off..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

An inflated ski tube set on its side has worked for me. Just tie it so it can't fall over. Put a plain plastic bag between the tube and your gel coat so there won't be any color transfer between the two.

 

[erie_guy]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

Mark,

My boat has a high bow rail as well, but the shrink wrap is supported on two mailing tubes- one on the bow and one just behind the windshield. The tubes are about 8" in diameter and 4' and 7' tall. A single strand of fiberglas tape runs from the bow rail over the bow tube, over the windshild tube and back to the stern. Six other tapes also run from the sides of the boat up to the top of the mailing tubes to give support to the sides. The tubes are tall enough to give good slope to the cover and snow and ice do not stay on the cover too long before sliding off.

I save the tubes and tape year-to-year and reuse the shrink wrap for at least four seasons before it needs replacing. The mailing tubes and tape require only an hour of so to reinstall each season and are easy to store during the boating season in the garage.

erie_guy
Port Clinton, oh

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

Waste of time...get a big enough tarp, do as shown with bungees, and it runs right out the front..

 

[Sorrento 25]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

^^ Neat idea!

I notch the PVC tube so it slips over the front of the bow rail and then curves over the windshield and to the the stern. Support it where necessary with a "T" and a vertical piece of PVC with a hard foam block underneath.

 

[vess]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

Mark- Just use a wood or fiberglass bow with the rail attachments to keep the tarp high above the deck. I use one on my boat for my open bow cover, and it keeps the water from pooling. They seat nicely on the rail, and as long as you can mount it where it won't move along the rail, you should be fine. You won't need to drill into your boat with it, which is a plus.

 

[Mark42]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

Waste of time...get a big enough tarp, do as shown with bungees, and it runs right out the front..

How much snow do you get? What about the back?

 

[Ravman]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

go to your local pool place and pick up one of those pillows that you put under a pool cover. i just picked up a 4'x5' pillow that when blown up is about 2' high. it was perfect for me.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: How do you wrap a cuddy with bow rail for winter storage?

How much snow do you get? What about the back?

Pacific Northwest..maybe a 3 inch one time wet...bungees are good enough to let it move in the back. Also have a solid silver tarp under it covering the cockpit..and covers on the motors (well really big garbage bags..)
PS..why do I spend SOOO much time keeping water from a boat!! 3 others out there too..)