Winter Cover

P

pamacme

New member
Hi,

This is my first winter with my boat. Any idea what size tarp I should buy? Lowes has a 30 x 20 and I found a website that has 30x16. I live in the Mid-Atlantic area at the North end of the Chesapeake. I know this is a basic question but ant help is appreciated.
Thanks.
 
A lot of guys use oval pool covers. THey have a drawl string to keep them tight. I haven't tried one yet.
 
Osteps is correct. A winter Pool cover is the way to go. Get the best one and it will last you for many many years. I usually order the "Gold" cover. Yes, it's the most expensive but it also lasts the longest, and when you compare it to an actual "boat" cover it's hundreds of dollars cheaper.

https://www.nationalpoolwholesalers...mi2yek747h3givzudich25wgbmeaayasaaeglms_d_bwe

Get the 12 x 24 foot 15 year cover. Remember that these are pool covers, so there's an extra 4 feet of "skirt" all around. Normally that would hang down on a pool side, so really the cover size is 20 x 32. More than enough to cover a "V", the outboard and most of the tires. The 8 year is way too thin IMHO and while the 12 year is good, for the few extra bucks I like the 15 much better. I swear, for the number of people from this site that I've sent to them they should pay me. lol But they are a good company, with fast shipping and a responsive service dept if it's ever needed.
 
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Pool cover on link indicates " allows water to seep through."

Maybe I missed a waterproof unit as option but I'm looking to replace the " heavy duty" waterproof tarp I replace every year with something more durable........and also waterproof.
 
I used a 10x20 harbor freight canopy for the last 2 years. It wasn't new when I put it over boat. Still get a little water in unless u put a tarp on the front or back. And u can get under it to work on plus it gets air. THey have an aluminum frame, cost is around $100 I think.
 
There always seems to be this 'belly' in any boat cover (on a dual console) about half way between the helm and the transom, I made a 'strut' out of 2X4s to hold the cover up so that everything is like a roof and water rolls off as opposed to collecting. If you dont do this you can have some HUGE puddles inside your boat. I theory you just leave it and the water evaporates in the spring I guess....but I dont roll that way.
 
I use 1" grey electrical pvc tubing. Put one end in gunnel rod holder, bend it into the rod holder on the other side.
 
I took 1" EMT (Pipe used for running electrical wires) and used my hicky (pipe bender) to bend a curve in the one end. That mates into a 1' x 4" x 4" that has a 1" hole bored most of the way through it. The rest of the pipe goes up and over the windshield and all the way to the stern just over the engine. Two build them yourself sawhorses hold the pipe up in the middle and at the end. I use a pool noodle that i slit lengthwise that I place over the top of the windshield and overhang the corners about an inch so there are no sharp corners to pierce the tarp. then I put the VisQueen over the whole thing and then the tarp. Draw the whole thing tight with the steel cable that comes with the pool cover then tie the grommets to the trailer frame so there's no puckering. Never have had a problem with snow, water intrusion or wind lifting the tarp up and off.
 
Thanks for the link Destroyer.
We order a cover for our 29' Stamas Express.
She should be coming home this week from getting the exhaust kits done.
 
Thanks Destroyer
We looked hard at the Grady Marlin and 29 Wellcraft.
The Stamas has better access to all the systems which is important to me.
The ride is surprisingly quite good considering it doesn't have a deep V and I'm comparing it to our 35 Bertram which was a beast.
 
I use bungee cords to the tarp grommets - rain never gets through. Only watch out is for heavy snow but still doesn***8217;t push through.
Downside is the tarp lasts 1 year max
 
bgreene said:
I use bungee cords to the tarp grommets - rain never gets through. Only watch out is for heavy snow but still doesn***8217;t push through.
Downside is the tarp lasts 1 year max
Click to expand...

Greenie, we're in the same state. I know you get a little different weather pattern than me because of our locations, but for the most part we get the same weather. Get yourself an oval winter pool cover. NOT the 8 or 10 year type. The weave is too thin. Get the one that's warranted for 15 years. They cost about $65 give or take. They will probably not last the full 15 years but I guarantee they will last several seasons. I'm on my 6th year on one that's on my V21 boat and it's still like new,and the 3rd year on the one on my Airslot. My V20 has shrink wrap on it so I cannot comment on that one. Seriously though. They really are worth the money. They come with a vinyl coated steel cable and winch that draws the whole thing tight around the bottom. You can attach your bungee cords anywhere along that cable to tighten specific areas. I don't know what you are paying for your tarps right now but I know they are expensive. Look at it this way... what have you got to lose? :head:
 
Thanks but to me keeping water out is 1/2 the purpose of cover.....the other is sun protection.

I cover my boat after each use so having to fuss with two covers would be a hassle.
 
bgreene said:
Thanks but to me keeping water out is 1/2 the purpose of cover.....the other is sun protection.

I cover my boat after each use so having to fuss with two covers would be a hassle.
Click to expand...

I agree, and having a winter -pool cover as a year round cover would be a hassle just because of the physical weight. Understand, you DO NOT need the second cover. I use the Visqueen only because I tend to overkill, To the best of my knowledge I've never had an instance where the winter cover leaked. I just use the clear plastic sheet as a redundant safety measure.

Actually, it sounds to me that you would benefit from having one of those canvas garages that they sell. Not recommending one from Harbor Freight, just showing a link for the pic of what I mean. There are quite a few dealers of better quality and larger sizes on eBay. My point is that instead of taking the cover on and off after every outing why not just park it inside the garage?

https://www.harborfreight.com/10-ft-x-17-ft-portable-garage-62860.html
 
Nice - but still no go due to various reasons......that would likely include my neighbors displeasure when a 60 mph wind gust turns that into a kite.

But you get an A for effort.
 
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