Winter Boat Cover

[BigAlinNS]

Hey Folks.

I read a post from last year regarding using an oval above ground pool cover for a winter boat cover. A number of people were going to give this a try. So anybody try this, or have any more ideas ? I'm thinking a PVC pipe tent makes sense. I live in Nova Scotia wind and snow country !

Thanks

Al

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Winter Boat Cover

If you are going to leave it outside then have it shrink wrapped with a set of poles to form a peak.

 

[1216bandit]

Re: Winter Boat Cover

I live out in the county and the winds are crazy in the winter. No matter what I have tried to cover my boat with it just ends up ripped to shreds...as mentioned above, shrink wrap is the way to go...you will never get a tarp, or anything else, as tight and secure as wrap.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Winter Boat Cover

sounds like its time to build a shed...

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Winter Boat Cover

I tried that. What a disaster! The PVC pipe got very brittle in the cold and it all snapped and collapsed during the first significant snow fall. Screw together a wood frame and tarp it. Reinforce the tarp at the wear points. By using screws, it is stronger and can be disassembled and reassembled next year.

 

[109jb]

Re: Winter Boat Cover

I live out in the country too and have virtually nothing blocking the wind. We get a lot of wind too. I have found the following to work well.

1 - PVC supports to keep snow load from collapsing the cover.
2 - Regular semi-custom boat cover that I use in the summer
3 - Cheap blue tarp bog enough to cover the whole boat over the semi-custom cover
4 - lots of straps or rope.

The key for me is to put the blue tarp on and tie it down as well as possible using the grommets around the edge, but don't stop there. I then go from side to side, from the trailer frame up over the boat to the trailer frame on the other side. I do this about every 2 feet along the entire length of the boat. Using just the grommets in the tarp it gets torn to shreds by the wind. the rope or straps over the tarp are what keeps the wind from destroying it. Works well and haven't had a problem with it this way. I get about 2 years out of the $20 blue tarp.

BTW, shrink wrap is a great way to go, but my boats are too cheap for me to want to do it.