To shrink wrap or not

This is my first season in Connecticut with the boat on the hard at Portland Riverside Marina on the Connecticut River. I agonized over shrink wrapping the boat. Here are some of the pros and cons I considered:

Pros:
1. Keeps the snow from blocking scuppers, freezing and maybe causing a flood when it thaws.
2. Keeps the snow from working a thaw, refreeze cycle on deck fittings causing water to get into the laminate.
3. Keeps winter grime away.

Cons:
1. Costs $500 to do my whole boat, $200 to do aft 1/3.
2. Limits access to the boat for winter checkups.

So, after some thought I decided to do the aft third. This deals with pro #1, which is a real issue on my boat as if the aft scupper freezes, water will get down in the bilge, dilute the antifreeze, refreeze and damage the bilge pump. OTOH replacing the bilge pump costs 1/4 of the aft shrink wrap job.

I am still subject to pro #2. I am hoping that well bedded deck fittings won't get water in them and then refreeze.

Any thoughts for next year?

David

For as much damage I have seen done by canvas and shrink wrapping...I believe it should not be the whole boat for the most part.


Dirt washes off....bent rails do not.


I would only shrink wrap areas that might collect snow/water otherwise and only if a heavy snow/wind load wouldn't destroy anything under the wrap.

The vast majority of people that store their boats outside here shrink them. If it is done correctly, there should be no damage from snow load. You do need to make a frame on some boats to make a slope in the shrink. The shrink is very slippery and usually the snow slides off on a sunny day. As to getting access, you can put in a zipper door so you can climb into the boat.

We did it when we left our boat in WA and went to AK to return in 6 mo.
It was expensive but we found the boat just as we left it months later in the spring.

Well yes...like anything done correctly.....


The trick is the unusual or mistake for what I see as very little gain except frozen drains.


The sun is so weak that time of year in the Northeast, UV damage is almost non-existent and washing a little in the spring to remove dirt is definitely easy enough and worth it when it comes to the price of wrapping many boats.


Again...my complaint is with what happens when it fails....and what little benefit I see in doing it over the whole boat. Cockpits or needed for winter work is another story.

I have always enjoyed spring in the boatyard. Some of my favourite "boat bonding" times have been sitting under the shrink wrap, warm and dry while there is still frozen stuff on the ground. Here in Canada after a long winter it's nice to be able to go aboard in comfort to putter around, clean and do maintenance a month earlier that would be possible if the boat wasn't covered. And WRT con #2, a well done frame and zippered door allows access to most areas under cover. Count me among the supporters of the full wrap.

I've done full wrap for 25 yrs and like it.
Cleanliness & protection from the Wx biggest + in my book.
Hatches & portlights sometimes leak - I'd hate to find one that's been leaking for several months.
You can save $ if you DIY - a few of us did ours for many yrs. Material isn't insignificant but if done correctly we reused our wrap for 2 - 3 yrs...then the real savings are gained.
Agree you need to do it correctly or you can get damaged... it's not rocket science - observe & talk to some experienced folks.

To each his own but I prefer full cover.

I have a friend in Michigan who uses inside heated storage which is probably the best choice for winter storage. But I wouldn't trade my in the water, covered slip winter storage for his shorter season, I was still boating in December when his was put away in October and I'll be out in March when his is still packed away with a bunch of other boats.


Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum

I would shrink the whole boat.

I don't know who shrink wraps at Riverside, but Justin who works out of Yankee Boatyard does an excellent job and is extremely neat meaning you won't find sawdust or shoe marks. And he doesn't shrink the material too much so he won't screw up railings.

It's worth the peace of mind to me to get our boat out of the elements. So far, this winter has been mild, but when the weather turns to s**t and I can't get down to the boat to check on it, I sleep better with it wrapped. Have them add an extra large door and access is not an issue.

Anyone have any experience with winter thaws letting snow melt get inside deck fitting fastenings, refreezing and causing damage?


That is my big concern.


David

djmarchand said:

Anyone have any experience with winter thaws letting snow melt get inside deck fitting fastenings, refreezing and causing damage?


That is my big concern.


David

Click to expand...

Water has intruded into my boat deck (roof over the sundeck). It's ribbed and mostly hollow, I'm told. Last winter, in the deepest cold in northern Delaware, it froze solid and damaged the underside in two places. So I guess it can happen. This was not a problem for the boat's previous owner in Florida. I plan to drill weep holes to let any water out and rebed everything on the sundeck with butyl rubber.

I've been shrink wrapping when in cold climates. I think the biggest threat to the boat is accumulated snow and ice and the resulting freeze thaw cycles cracking gel coat and who knows what else. It also makes it much easier to work on the boat which I typically do over the winter. The shrink wrap can be fitted with a zipper door that makes entry easy, and vents can be installed to ensure good air flow. To me, it's worth every penny.

Up here a good wrap job includes multiple vents and a zippered door. The yard crew opened most of the windows in the boat under the wrap so it breathed inside and out. I wasn't going to do it, but the yard crew messed up and wrapped it for me "for free". After a winter with it, I will wrap it every year. Keeps people and critters out, dry as a bone inside, and you can heat it right up to a comfortable temperature with a small electric heater if you have projects to work on inside. I did not see a down side except cost, about $400 for my 30' boat. They provided all the framing to support the shrink wrap free of charge. JMO

This from Alwgrip's Application Guide.

Do Not

Awlgrip and Awlcraft 2000 winter storage

Do not "shrink wrap" or tightly bind Awlgrip or Awlcraft 2000 Topcoat surfaces with plastic wrappings.

When tarping a boat for storage, the cover system should be ventilated to allow the coating system to "breathe". Covers and tarps, whether synthetic or natural fiber, should not be pulled tight to surfaces painted with Awlgrip or Awlcraft 2000 Topcoat. This condition can trap and hold moisture on the surface and may result in loss of gloss, blistering, or delamination of the topcoat.

Larry M said:

This from Alwgrip's Application Guide.

Do Not

Awlgrip and Awlcraft 2000 winter storage

Do not "shrink wrap" or tightly bind Awlgrip or Awlcraft 2000 Topcoat surfaces with plastic wrappings.

When tarping a boat for storage, the cover system should be ventilated to allow the coating system to "breathe". Covers and tarps, whether synthetic or natural fiber, should not be pulled tight to surfaces painted with Awlgrip or Awlcraft 2000 Topcoat. This condition can trap and hold moisture on the surface and may result in loss of gloss, blistering, or delamination of the topcoat.

Click to expand...

Hogwash.... I've been shrinking my awlgripped center console for years with absolutely no issues.

"Anyone have any experience with winter thaws letting snow melt get inside deck fitting fastenings, refreezing and causing damage?"


Yes - absolutely , many years back before we began shrink wrapping each season we saw many affects of freeze/thaw cycles on any gaps that were left to be exposed and wetted down. Some of these were not so obvious with just ne season out in the open but after a few the problems with lifted bedding and compromised caulk joints became much more obvious. Keeping the boat dry and avoiding all the crud that comes along with the leaves and other 'stuff' has become well worth the efforts and/or costs.
A good shrink wrap job will not have the wrap against the hull area at all and shed the snow and rain easily - sometimes we have done it ourselves and sometimes a boatyard handled it depending upon the area.

Shrink wrap or not the key to successful winter or long term storage must usually be added to most boats


A garboard drain.

Whitecap 1/2" Tapered Thre...
$7.80
Global Industr...

West Marine Garboard Drai...
$9.99
West Marine

Used to shrink wrap my last few boats every year but when the cost got to the stupid level I decided to make a reusable tarp cover. The plastic tarp cost $75 and took me a few hours to make. I simply draped the tarp over the boat, then walked around the boat & trimmed off the excess about a foot below the gunwale. I then double folded over the raw edge and ran it through the sewing machine. I then folded the seam one more time with a light poly rope tucked inside & sewed it again. The poly rope was used as a draw string. In the fall I would simply drag the tarp over the boat & pull the draw string tight & was done. Each custom made tarp would last about 5 seasons.

You may also need to make a simple light frame to keep the tarp sloped for run off. Note that even the plastic tarps are very heavy and not likely feasible for boats over 35ft unless you had help. Over this length the draw string is also difficult to pull tight enough and requires several ties spaced along the length running from side to side under the hull.

In our area up north the price was going over $700, the problem was I hauled in Dec and relaunched the end of March, not much protection time. We had sunbrella canvas made up for the cockpit and bridge, 15 years later and the canvas is still good and plenty of money in my pocket and no environmental mess with all that plastic and wood. In my grandfather days they had no shrink wrap and somehow they survived, piece of mind and all!

Well, coming from someone who has never pulled a boat out of the water for the winter, but I have observed some issues with others winterizing and storing.

If I didn't have experience I would have the marina do the entire job including shrink wrap. Knowledge, expertise, accountability. I've seen marinas that wrapped many boats with no problems and I've seen boats wrapped by individuals that would have been much better off left open. Plus I'd want a marina or yard that did regularly check their work.

After discussing this on TF last year I decided to shrink wrap our boat located near Deal MD. The boat was clean in the spring which is nice but the additional interrnal heat expanded the full fuel tanks and some fuel vented out. The marina charged me for the clean up.

In the mid Atlantic you spend two years fixing all the things ruined by each year of not shrink-wrapping.
It started at $300 and is now around $750. It is still worth it for a teak heavy Taiwanese trawler. Especially one with it's original teak decks.

Been shrink wrapping my boats for 25 years, all three were painted hulls. I've never had any damage from the wrap. This year it cost me $120 for the wrap and $30 to rent the propane gun.

PS. Those costs are in Canadian dollarettes.

I just ordered a custom cover made of treated polyester for next winter. Just over $US2,000 with frame.

http://gencomarine.com/winter-covers/

Last year I bought enough shrink for two seasons and borrowed a heat gun so that I could do it myself. A friend and I did it ourselves but it was a pain. The gun didn't have a long extension on it but it came out OK for the first time and it lasted the winter just fine, not pretty but effective.
This year work is getting in the way and I haven't done it yet. It's ready but it has been very mild so far. I do have a few window leaks and I would rather wrap it. The boat is on stands behind my warehouse so I can check it everyday. If you're in a boatyard, they may not allow you to DIY because of the danger of fire.
The later in the season it gets, the more I DON'T want to waste the shrink on it. It seams a waste to use it and then throw it away in April.

Real men don't shrink

I have a custom cover, made for an Ocean Alex 52, that I bought a couple of years ago, thinking I would give up my shelter in Vancouver and moor year round at Saltspring Island. I couldn't pull the trigger on the shelter, so the cover sits unused in my basement. I fitted it to my boat, and it worked OK. My 44 with the 12' Caribe on the back end is just over 50, so there wasn't much baggy material and with strap adjustments and longer poles it fit OK. It is in excellent condition, made by Lohman, the Nanaimo guy who seems to have the entire canvas cover market in this part of the world.

I paid about 1/2 of new price for it. New they are just over $100 / ft of overall length, so $5200 new.

Moderators: If you want to move this to the classifieds, go ahead. I post it here as guys who don't know they are considering getting a cover are likely to read it here.

I do a half wrap in water. Because I'm a liveaboard it's easy enough to just shovel snow off if need be and then you don't have to worry much about the extra weight or melt. Although if there are any kinds of leaks or cracks on the decks these must be taken care of before winter if you do a half wrap. Water will get in, freeze, and expand the cracks.