Expensive Date
New member
Want to do some work on my boat in early spring so thinking of not shrinkwraping this year.Does anyone do that? Would buy a full cover.
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Cover vs shrinkwrap
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MOBILEMERCMAN
Founding Member / Competitor
Shrink wrap and have a zipper installed. Covers are a pita
NJgr8ful
Charter Member
Hey Tim, I cover with full mooring, down past the rub rail. I know it's far less expensive than even half tank of fuel 
... But I just refuse to pay the $300 / yr to THROW AWAY a cover 
I paid about $1K for the cover, but have owned boat now for 5 winters 
Even if I need to get into boat it has a draw string that helps make that very easy
... But I just refuse to pay the $300 / yr to THROW AWAY a cover I paid about $1K for the cover, but have owned boat now for 5 winters Even if I need to get into boat it has a draw string that helps make that very easy
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Ratickle
Founding Member / Super Moderator
Before I had a big enough garage, I would build a homemade carport type deal. But, with how cheap the ones you put up with canvas cover are currently, I'd probably go that way. Plus, if you want to work on it in the winter, you just throw a propane salamander in there and go to work in about an hour.....
Offshoredrillin
New member
I was thinking the same thing, i have a full cover, but the winters and extreme cold can really mess with the fibers. I think I'm going to remove everything that needs to be worked on, then shrink wrap in late Nov early December and then remove first of March providing no snow then. that way I'm covered right during the worst 3 months.
Sean Stinson
Founding Member/Contributor
Full cover is the way to go if you are working on it.....What happened to the Marina deal?????
Geronimo36
Charter Member
I use my full cover half of the time (fall/spring) and wrap over the winter. When I'm doing a lot of work I raise the engine hatch and build "fort apache". Also, one year my buddy had a car-port frame and I shrink wrapped over top of the carport and over the bow, all the way down to the ground and put two doors, one 10 ft door and one 4' door so he could get in it. It was basically a full garage.
I've seen many a couple $G covers ruined by snow getting into the fibers, especially freezing rain. The canvas gets very brittle when it gets moisture, even with waterproofing and the snow needs to be brushed off the canvas, opening the door evne more to be ruined. If a shrink-wrap cover is high enough you won't need to sweep the snow off.
Also, I notice there's a lot more moisture in the boat when I use the cover vs. the wrap. Properly vented wrap will keep it drier from my experience.
The past 10 years I wrap about a dozen boats a season but when I was working at the marina I did about 100 a season. Tim, if you need shrink wrapping done I can take a ride down and do it for you. If you're interested give me a buzz.
Frank
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Geronimo36
Charter Member
www.uline.com
You can get 150 x 16 roll for about $150 the torch is a little high at 600 but once you are set up do yours and degray the cost with a few freinds its not very expensive
You can get 150 x 16 roll for about $150 the torch is a little high at 600 but once you are set up do yours and degray the cost with a few freinds its not very expensive
MOBILEMERCMAN
Founding Member / Competitor
I guess it is a personal preference. I agree with Geronimo. Shrink wrap will keep it drier. The full covers are nice and expensive. They will last 10 years or more but, they are not designed for snow and ice. If your boat is subject to snow laying on it and you don't wont to sweep it off every time Shrink wrap it. Shrink wrap is completely care free. All other alternatives require some level of care.
fund razor
Founding Member
I used to think that shrink wrap was completely carefree until I found an inside storage place for about the same price as shrink.
MOBILEMERCMAN
Founding Member / Competitor
My biggest fear with winter covers in CATS. Those dam things find there way in everything. Thy even find there way in to some inside storage.. I purchased a critter repellent sound devise. I have seen what cats can do.. It can get real ugly. Never seen them get in a shrink wrapped boat.
Yes, indoor is great. I think Shrink wrap is next best thing. I can't count the hours I have spent in my life sweeping snow off covers...
Yes, indoor is great. I think Shrink wrap is next best thing. I can't count the hours I have spent in my life sweeping snow off covers...
The most important par tof shrink wrapping is to make sure the boat is completly dry and put a LOT of vents in the shrink wrap. They will provide some air flow and prevent the petri dish effect once it warms up in the spring.
When I lived outside Detroit three friends and I bought a torch, bunch of tape and a couple rolls of wrap and we self taught how to wrap. Can't do it on a windy day and don't drop the torch. Otherwise it's easy to learn and once the boat is ready to cover you can do four boats on a weekend.
you can find other uses for the wrap also. I stack all our outdoor furniture, BBQ, flowerpots etc and shrink the whole pile. Saves room in the garage.
Also if you're careful you can reuse the wrap a another year.
ed
When I lived outside Detroit three friends and I bought a torch, bunch of tape and a couple rolls of wrap and we self taught how to wrap. Can't do it on a windy day and don't drop the torch. Otherwise it's easy to learn and once the boat is ready to cover you can do four boats on a weekend.
you can find other uses for the wrap also. I stack all our outdoor furniture, BBQ, flowerpots etc and shrink the whole pile. Saves room in the garage.
Also if you're careful you can reuse the wrap a another year.
ed
fund razor
Founding Member
The next door neighbor at my old house had cats in his center console once because he tarped instead of shrink. I am not sure, but I think that he paid a guy to come take the boat away. :ack2:
wananewboat
New member
If you have any snow load at all I would shrink wrap. If it's done correctly the snow will fall right off. I can't tell you how many boats would come into the marina with broken windshields from people trying to build their own tents or use the covers. My dad had his Sea Ray wraped for three years due to health problems, when I opened it up it was like the day we put it away. Put in plenty of vents and use drier sheets to keep the rodents out.
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