Boat covering on a budget

[gwoloshyn]

I just built a wooden boat and after covering it with a tarp and a few weeks of rain, there is water inside it along with some rotting (I guess I didn't encapsulate well enough). I'm looking for a way to waterproof and cover the boat for the winter without spending the money for a real cover.

I was thinking of laying a sheet of painters plastic over the boat, and then the tarp over that. Would that work?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

No it won't. Unless you build a framework to support the tarp. The first time Lake Ontraio snow covers the tarp, it'll collapse into the boat and all your hard work will be for naught.

You didn;t say how big the boat was. If its manageable, turn it over and then tarp it.

The best solution is to get it indoors for the winter. Whatever it costs is well worth it in the long run, believe me.

Oh, and Btw, if you just built it it hasn't got any rot yet. At worst, maybe some mold.

 

[gwoloshyn]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

No, there is rot. I can see a black spot on the outside of the hull directly where the puddle of water was. It was sitting for a few weeks at least.

There is only a small open area where the cockpit is. It is a small 11' runabout, the hard topside deck takes up the majority of the top of the boat. I think I will cover the cockpit with a peice of plywood to support the tarp.

Good idea turning it over, I may consider doing that too.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

If you do not want to flip it......... use a saw horse to make a tent like peak.......... cover it first with a cheap painter's plastic drop cloth for the waterproof protection then use your other tarp on top if that. Those cheap drop cloths are cheap and work fine for a season of winter.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

At only 11' long, you could buy a 12x24 tarp for $20 and wrap it up like a burrito!

 

[americaneagler77]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

i have 90 dollars into my winter cover i threw up yesterday before the snow fell. so far so good.

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[oldjeep]

Re: Boat covering on a budget

11ft? Can't you just lean it up against garage wall or hang it from the ceiling? I've got canoes bigger than that