Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

[milkyway]

Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter Storage? Ordinary plastic canvass will not suffice?

 

[MFG197]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

bubble wrap is necessary if you plan on shipping your boat in a box by ups. J/K<br /><br />Shrink wrapping is probably the best because it fits tightly and the wind does not make it flap. poor fit and the resultant flapping is what damages tarps. also shrink wrap probably deters animals and rodents from seeking shelter and using the cabin as a litter box.<br /><br />so I would say if you keep a close eye in it and don't expect high winds a tarp is fine.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

milkyway, i too have the same dilema. think i'm gonna just have me a regular boat cover. this is my first winter for boating too. plastic shrink wrap is $140 here at the local marina. the cat says the earlier i do the wrap the better, says it adhears better in warm weather, and if not done in warm weather has a chance of comming loose over the winter. i believe that as i've gone to the marina here over the winter and seen'em flapping. so anyways, i'm just gonna use a good quality aftermaket boat cover, a pole to hold the center of it up to hopefully let the water drip off. when it snows, reckon i'll be outside with my broom, bromming off the snow. i got no garage and don't want to pay, so this is the way i'm going. just didn't seem like the shrink wrap is worth it to me. also. i don't know, but think it would be good if some air was circulateing over the winter, which i think just a regular boat cover does. but i bet the shrink wrap don't breath. i don't think i want mostier trapped inside. i can only let ya know if my idea works next spring, i hope it does. just my 2 cents. jim

 

[tommays]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

what ever you use the bigest problem i have seen is snow load on long island it warms up so fast and rains after most snow that i have seen many frames fail <br /><br />you cant have to good of a frame or to much support i made one from wood that i take apart each season and find that every year i need to make it a littel bit better to get rid of that one low spot<br /><br />the big blow up balls at toys a us make a great support up by bow pulpits nice and round no chafe<br />seam to hold air all winter<br /><br />tommays

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

You know those cheap Saw Horse brackets at the hardware store... about $2 a pop.... Well multiple saw horses also help keep the snow sliding off. A single bracket will not handle the snow loads around here but multiple ones help.<br /><br />Bob

 

[milkyway]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

Thanks for sharing. My friend had his wrapped last year but couldn't stop himself from going inside his "toy" so he cut it open during winter!! I think i'll just get a tarp from home depot and cut it up to size. Have to find a way to install hook eyes so it will fit snug and tight. I opted out from using a real boat cover for snow protection cause of price and these covers are not anyway made to stand freezing temps and heavy load. Since i have my boat on the driveway, I think I'll start the engine once a week until end of October so I don't have the engine sleeping for too long, and then winterize.

 

[djvan]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

I've heard horror stories about blue tarps destroying a boat finish. I think due to the wind flapping it in the breeze. About the hook eyes, you can buy grommet installation tool and grommets a wal-mart. I've seen "grippers" at home depot that look like they might work pretty good.(don't know the right name, but they have little teeth and sort of resemble a clothespin).<br /><br />DougV>

 

[tommays]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

milky buy the BROWN tarp at home depot a littel more money but twice the thickness and much stronger grommets<br /><br />tommays

 

[Cool It]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

I would shrink wrap-- Best protection on Long Island,with the snow. who ever you pay to shrink wrap will build a frame inside. They can also put a zipper in if you want to get in to play!!!<br /><br />Hope to keep my boat in until the end of Oct!!!!<br /><br />Cool It

 

[milkyway]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

Brwon tarp with grommets it will be. Thanks.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

I'm assuming milkyway, that you meant Shrink wrap instead of bubble wrap. If so, they do make plastic zipper doors you can put onto the shrinkwrap so you can get into the boat without cutting the shrink wrap.

 

[cg2er410]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

One thing to remember about shrink wrapping, whatever moisture is inside your vessel will be kept inside by the shrink wrap. Normally, no vents installed. You need to dehumidify your vessel as best you can so you do not have a mildewed mess when you uncover it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

I did shink wrapping on boat about 10 years ago, and found you ALWAYS need to put vents in them for air circulation. Not just the small tape on type vents, but large areas. On boats with swim steps and bow pulpets it was easy to leave large area's at either end of the boat open to air but would still keep out rain and snow. (and Mold).<br />On smaller boats rolling up some old carpet and hanging it over the side did the same thing.

 

[llerrad]

Re: Bubble Wrap Is Really Necessary for Winter?

Shrink wrap no vents not good, but if you have a rodent problem and racoons shrink wrap will keep them out have seen the damage from animals that get in big stink for long time. Racoons can push open snap buttons. But if no rodent problems I find a tarp work just as good with cheap frame for snow load and I'm in the snow belt.