Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

[Clothman]

I live in Minnesota and I am getting ready to winterize my boat. I have starcraft aurora deck boat with a 4.3L mercruiser. I am not going to be able to get the boat in the garage this winter so I will be storing it outside next to my garage. I have a snap cover plus a one piece cover. Would it be best to have it wrapped or is the two sets of covers okay?

Also, besides the lower unit, anything else I should do for outside winter storage? Thanks.

Chris

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

If I were storing mine outside in MN I would shrink wrap it. One of the main issues with any normal cover is that you can't tent them high enough to shed the snow.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

In addition to the covers, Build a 2x4 frame over the boat and put a double tarp over it. Store the lower unit down and make sure its covered. Put the tires on cement pads, not the grass. Cover them too.

Unless your time is worth nothing, that'll cost more than shrinkwrapping. Besides, shrinkwrapping won't save your tires.

Or........save yourself all that expense and effort and pay for indoor storage.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I'd shrink wrap in a heartbeat if I lived in the snow belt.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

JimS123 actually has the right idea - store it inside. Indoor boat storage isn't really that expensive if you look around a bit.

One of the cheapest big indoor places I've seen is the fairgrounds
Minnesota State Fair 2013-14 | Storage

But if you are out in the countryside there are a lot of mom and pop pole barn storage places too.

Luckily we've got a bunch of garage space at the lake place, so all 3 boats get their own stall there.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

If I had to store my boat in snow country,,,, well I moved south instead.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

If inside storage is not an option I would have it shrink wrapped. If shrink wrapping is out of the question two covers would possibly work but you will have to make sure the snow will fall off. Like the others said I would look for indoor storage.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I know some people reuse the shrink wrap and that they make some that are designed to be reused a couple times. But still, I hate the thought of all that plastic going in the landfills, not to mention the oil and energy to make them.

An alternative to tarps, either on the boat or to frame out a shed, is used billboard covers. Nowadays most billboards are painted on plastic tarps and are cheap to buy. You're supposed to use the reverse but you might get lucky and get a cool sign to display (beer) or not (fem products)

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I know some people reuse the shrink wrap and that they make some that are designed to be reused a couple times. But still, I hate the thought of all that plastic going in the landfills, not to mention the oil and energy to make them.

I don't think much of it goes in the landfills since the shrink wrap places have recycling programs.

 

[Boobie.Trap]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

if you shrink wrap, be sure the interior is COMPLETELY dry. Mildew will set in quick, but then again I am in a much warmer climate.

 

[canyonken]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I looked at that State Fair indoor storage flyer. I would totally use that service for the 250.00 or so for the winter if I lived in your area. A few hundred buck in boating lingo is "almost free" - LOL.

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I shrink warp if its not going inside. I will glady pay for inside storage to keep the sun from shining on the boat in the day and the condensation at night.
Outside, shrink warp is really the only way to go where I live. It gets to -45, tons of snow and very high winds.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I'm also a Minnesotan. One year I stored my bowrider out in the driveway with one of those $80 Menards strap down covers supported by a tube in the front and a prop rod in the rear. I just went out and cleared every snow off good. It was just fine and dandy. Though I don't think I'll be quite so half arsed in the future. This year its in my garage. The cruiser is another story.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I store outside,17' bowrider, just a blue tarp,but I have it built up high,with 2 by 4's. The snow slides right off,but they only last the one winter. They are cheaper than shrink wrap. Inside storage is much more in my area,I wish it was inside..... I'm looking into a small solar fan to vent it but it's never had a mildew problem anyway,just want to vent it to be safe. I even thought about permanently installing a small fan as in what your computer has,only slightly bigger,or 2 of them right from the computer scrap,and let it run all winter,heck the computer hardly ever gets shut down,it dont use that much power,the power supply cuts the power down to 12 volts anyway. Small air-yes-but moving air is what it's all about. Oh yeah,northern wisc,right on lake superior. Snow-wind-deerhunting-snowmobiling-atv'n......and most of all,boating!
Grub

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I like the idea of the fans. I've been considering the same thing for my old cruiser. I'm just trying to figure out how to go about mounting them, keeping them protected from the weather and not making the tarp tear up around the incision. I picked up a guy's Kover Klamp storage system cheap last week and was going to go that route this winter with a tarp to cover the framework. (Not my blow boat)

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I like the idea of the fans. I've been considering the same thing for my old cruiser. I'm just trying to figure out how to go about mounting them, keeping them protected from the weather and not making the tarp tear up around the incision. I picked up a guy's Kover Klamp storage system cheap last week and was going to go that route this winter with a tarp to cover the framework. (Not my blow boat)

Wow, now that is some overkill.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

Wow, now that is some overkill.

That tends to be my specialty, so maybe I don't really completely follow, but in what way do you mean?

 

[Mr. PapaGeorgio]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

I shrink wrapped last year, with the fogging it cost on the high side of $300 here in Connecticut. This year I fogged myself, and put on a custom trailer cover. If I brush the snow off, it'll be okay. I don't like that the mice can climb aboard over the transom. I've had problems with them getting into a tractor and a couple of outdoor cars in winters past. I have mothballs under the cover, and a battery-powered rodent repeller. Fingers crossed... can't wait for springtime.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Winterizing - cover vs professional wrapping and other winterizing questions

That tends to be my specialty, so maybe I don't really completely follow, but in what way do you mean?

way way way way way way too much support for the cover.... one beam down the center and MAYBE a couple more half way down with only enough angle and verticle structure to support the beams ..... tie the tarp down good under the boat

the frame doesn't need to support much more than the weight of the tarp and the force of the wind..... the one pictured would probably support the whole boat if it were rolled over