Good start to the New Year

gofish103 · Post by **gofish103** » Thu Jan 01, 2009 11:07 pm

Drove from Columbus to Catawba Island today to check on the boat and drive around the marina's. Well,,,,the boat was not shrink wrapped as i was told it was. So I had a nice phone conversation with the guy that was suppose to do the work. swears that he didnt tell me that it was done. but i noted it on my window calendar. Swears he will have it done this weekend, so I guess I'll be making another trip next weekend.
tried to get into the boat and the door wouldnt open, the plunger on the door knob would not go all the way in and the clearance between the door and door frame is tight. Couple inches of snow on the deck didnt help matters, wish someone was filming me, I must of slipped three times! LOL
Well the ice is building up around the marinas and shore line, and winter has just begun!!
Well only a four months until the marinas open!!!!!

Hope every one had a nice holiday and best of luck in the new year!

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:05 am

with problems like that i'm glad i spent the bucks to get an aft curtain made in october and that the marina is only 8 miles from my house. either phil, myself, or both are down there almost every day just to check up on things and ''just because''. what other excuse did the marina guy give to you and is he going to pay for any damages incurred due to his lack of excuses? i'd be all over that one like a fly on stink. god that sucks. any damage to the back deck? when i had my bridge shrink wrapped in october, the guy said, ''oh, just leave the bridge open and we will take care of everything else. no need for you to be there.'' i told him in no uncertain terms that 1. it's my boat and i'm going to be there. and 2. i do not want to leave the bridge open to weather incase it might rain and you wont get there. and 3. i'm paying for this, and i am going to watch your guys shrink wrap my bridge like a hawk. i did and i was gald i was around for it just to make sure things were taken care of. unlike the mechanic that broke my seacock when i was not there to oversee everything. never again.
aaron

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:59 pm

I'm sorry,but I'd be really pissed-enough to change marinas to one that gives a crap about their customers and thier property.Where I keep my boat they keep an eye on the boats and what's going on and I know I'd get a call if somethings not right.There is no excuse for what happened.

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:28 am

i am inclined to agree with you peter...... there is no excuse for that, especially since marinas are hurting for every dollar they can muster. i keep my f-32 in the water in a small marina in the middle river, frog morter creek area of baltimore county and the owners of the marina actually live on the property. during the season there are 160 slip holders and half of that during the winter. at any given time, there are one or two workers just checking things out, and, usually several owners, myself included, looking out for neighbors.

aaron

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:38 pm

I have read that marinas should not shrink wrap past the gunwal because of blisters. They have had some boats blister up because the wrap traps the moisture in the hull. One might like to investigate that.

wowzer52 · Post by **wowzer52** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 1:09 pm

I had a really bad experience with mold when I rapped several years ago and will never do it again.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:33 pm

Here in Ohio,and points north shrink wrapping is a nessessity...unless you can afford HEATED indoor storage.It keeps the snow off the decks and subjected to the damage that freeze-thaw cycles entail.Vents are readily available to minimize moisture build up but other precautions are also advisable.All the linens, matresses,canned goods and food stuffs should be removed,all cupboards and storage areas left open.There are moisture adsorbing products available but I have never used them or found them nessessary.The shrink wrapping is done down to the water line,and with the proper use of venting techniques there really is not a moisture issue with respect to the gel coat. Blisters just don't happen with proper care.Care must be taken however to avoid chaffing issues. As with anything technology improves and experience teaches,and has taught us ways to avoid past mistakes....

YODA has spoken,my son...

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 5:13 pm

Why would you want to shrink Wrap past the gunwal . It does not make sense to me. You are trapping the mosture in your hull that is not good.
I would also think that you would want some ventilation of the shrink wrap for the cabin area. Why let the sun heat up the shrink wrap and cause condensation. I can see shrink wraping and leaving openings for air to circulate but to close one complete up. Not for me that is for sure.

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:23 pm

you're right of course about the moisture ,the trick is to ventilate so you don't get moisture trapped between the hull and the shrink wrapp...which isn't really all that difficult if you know what you're doing...also a side benefit is that the gelcoat is protected from 5-6 months of UV light and it's long term damaging effects...[just the same....bet I didn't convice you

]

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:45 pm

In the Chicago area shrink wrap is what is done if one stores outside. There are a few die hards that still use tarps, but they are few and far between. The boatyards in our area donâ€™t bring the shrink wrap to the water line, unless specifically asked to do so, but does extend the wrap 2-3 feet past the gunwales. They also install vents in the shrink wrap so there is a flow of air that dries out the moisture in the boat. Vents are important. Without them you will have a mold problem. My boat has been shrunk wrapped for at least the last 15 years and has no problems with blistering or mold. I am happy with the shrink wrap and wouldnâ€™t think of storing any other way.

reelfishin · Post by **reelfishin** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:58 pm

Now you got me curious, Shall look to see if any boats around here have ventilation on the shrink wrap. I bet they don't. I wonder how you put one in. You say the shrink wrap on the hull is ventilated? or just the top area. I had a boat shrink wrapped right next to ours while we were in dry dock. I am sure they did not put vetilation anywhere on the shrink wrap. I shall see. Our boat is back in the water now. I shall get pictures of one an put it on here.

gjrylands · Post by **gjrylands** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 12:01 am

The way my boatyards and many of the other yards in the Chicago area put vents in the shrink wrap is to use a disposable paint pan liner. The paint pan liner is cut in half (accross the pan liner not the length of the pan liner), tape each half on the outside of the shrink wrap, on the inside of the shrink wrap cut out the wrap under the paint pan liner. The paint pan liner keeps any rain or snow from getting in, but allows air to blow through. I believe there are 6 vents in my shrink wrap, 2 in the bow, 2 midway, and 2 high in the bridge. Larger boats need more, smaller boats need only 4. The vents in the bow and midship were placed between the deck and the bowrail. these surfaces are vertical so there will never be any snow blocking the vents. I have a radar arch on my boat with an open array antenna. I built a 2x4 frame around the antenna so the shrink wrap won't rest on the antenna. The rear vents in shrink wrap are very high. They are again in the vertical surface in the highest part of the shrink wrap.

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:16 am

I had my 30' done by a yard he did put vents in but I returned early in April and found the blue shrink wrap had warmed the boat and the inside was still cold. The temperature differential created moisture on bulkheads and everything else and the shrink wrap does not "breath". I had a cover made out of canvas for around $700.00 (canvas breaths and I have never had a moisture problem since. Have used the cover for over 7 years (bet it is cheaper than shrink wrapping every year). Canvas is also heavy and not as affected by the hight winds.

TC · Post by TC » Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:19 pm

I have owned this F-32 for a season and a half and do my own shrinking. About a foot and a half below the rub rail to just above the swim platform at the stern, and 4 -5 feet below at the bow. Five vents and so far no issues. This is the second time round for the shrink and I'm fairly sure I can get one more next fall. All doors, cupboards and hatches and windows open.
Also I hang one of my wifes stockings ( not mine ) with about ten mothballs in it from the flybridge just in front of the salon doorway. Mice do not like mothballs. Done that for years in the garden shed and never had a mouse problem.

chumwithabottleofrum · Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:53 pm

I'm fortunate enough to live near limestone mines (in Western PA) that are used for storage-a lot of motor homes, boats, etc. Constant 52 degrees and no real moisture problems to speak of. But in order to minimize mold and mildew I do the following: 1) make sure the bilge is dry, 2) I buy half gallon containers of dessicant (Damp rid) and use a mesh material pushed down into empty 1/2 gallon jugs that I fill with the dessicant. I also put a bucket or two filled with charcol to help with moisture and any odors. Those of you shrink wrapping might consider using these materials and systems.

Trojan Boat Forum

Good start to the New Year

Good start to the New Year

new year

new year

I shrink wrapped once, never again