Boat Shelter Maintenance

[robert graham]

I keep my boat under one of those "temporary shelters" from Harbor Freight/Tractor Supply, it's 12'X20' tube steel frame and silver tarp held down with bungee cords...works pretty well, but the cheap polypropylene tarp can't take the UV/Sunlight and it cracks and has to be replaced every 2 years(about $50 for the tarp). Always cracks right along the top where the tarp is supported by that white steel pipe. Well I bought a couple of cans of that black automotive undercoating and sprayed the outside of the tarp right along that top ridgeline, and it protects the fabric from the UV, coats and strengthens it, stays flexible, stops the cracking....figure I may get several years out of a top with this method!...just wanted to share my idea with anyone else having this problem! Good Luck!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Right on! Good idea!

 

[lakelover]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Stingray606zp]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Cool! I've thought about getting one of those type canopys myself, but i was more scared about it falling in on my boat or blowing away. You get much snow?

 

[matt167]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

I'v had my mowers/snowblowers and generator in 1 of them for a couple years ( HF 10x16 ). Hurricane Sandy's winds destroyed the cover. Several 8"+ tears. Repaired the rips from inside, and put a grey tarp over it from the outside.. Neat idea with the undercoating.

My boat is in a Shelterlogic "Garage in a Box " from TSC

 

[atika]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

great idea !! thanks for share, infact i was also doing the same, but never thought of sharing...

 

[robert graham]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Cool! I've thought about getting one of those type canopys myself, but i was more scared about it falling in on my boat or blowing away. You get much snow?

Most dry snow will blow or slide off but a wet snow can stick to the tarp and build up to the point of failure. Sometimes during a wet snow I'm under the tarp with a broom sorta pushing it up and making that snow to slide off....so far, so good, but if we ever get an all-night snow storm I doubt I'll be spending the entire evening up there with the broom!....I have actually untied the tarp bungees to just let it hang down so snow don't pile up and ruin it....so the boat gets some snow in it!...no big deal!:happy:

 

[robert graham]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Cool! I've thought about getting one of those type canopys myself, but i was more scared about it falling in on my boat or blowing away. You get much snow?

Of course we don't get much snow down here in South Carolina, but I doubt these canopy style shelters would last long or be suitable for northern areas with a good bit of snow and wind!

 

[64osby]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Of course we don't get much snow down here in South Carolina, but I doubt these canopy style shelters would last long or be suitable for northern areas with a good bit of snow and wind!

I've had mine for 7 years with the original tarp. It now has a large hole at the peak.

The frame did collapse 2 years ago and I replaced all the round tube with heavy square tube using the original corner fittings. Had to do a lot of hammering to make a round tube fit it in a square hole.

I use 5 gallon buckets filled with stones and lashed to the frame to hold it in place.

I'm waiting for a response from a CL add for a 14 x 45 billboard sign / tarp to use as a new tarp. I think that should last a few years. Maybe I could get paid some advertising $ if the banner is showing.

I do the broom trick to clear off the built up snow also.

They do a nice job keeping the snow, rain and sun off the boat and the canvas cover.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

Most dry snow will blow or slide off but a wet snow can stick to the tarp and build up to the point of failure. Sometimes during a wet snow I'm under the tarp with a broom sorta pushing it up and making that snow to slide off....so far, so good, but if we ever get an all-night snow storm I doubt I'll be spending the entire evening up there with the broom!....I have actually untied the tarp bungees to just let it hang down so snow don't pile up and ruin it....so the boat gets some snow in it!...no big deal!:happy:

We had a fatality here a few years ago ....someone was under the tarp doing just that with wet snow accumulation. The structure collapsed and they suffocated.
Clear the snow from the outside!!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

We had a fatality here a few years ago ....someone was under the tarp doing just that with wet snow accumulation. The structure collapsed and they suffocated.
Clear the snow from the outside!!

I'll be thinking about that if it comes a big wet snow and i'm under there with a broom!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Boat Shelter Maintenance

I'll be thinking about that if it comes a big wet snow and i'm under there with a broom!

I'd suggest that you think about it BEFORE you get "under there with a broom!"