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Your shrinkwrap experience is why I have never shrink wrapped up here in Ontario. My outlook is that we often have clear sunny winter days and cool winter nights so when a plastic bag is placed tightly over a boat one will get condensation as the air inside changes temperature so much without a really good airflow that vents often don't allow.
So I have always tarped my boats over a framework to ensure no snow buildup to tear the tarp. The tarp is tied down under the hull, bow and stern pretty loose so it allows air to pass up and over the gunwale while keeping snow from being blown up. I also leave the hatches, side windows partially open and make sure that nothing is in contact with any material finishes on the inside and the V berth cushions are standing on their edges so that the vinyl underside is open to air.
Save the money and tarp it yourself.... with the theory of stopping snow ingress and maintaining air flow kept in mind I'm sure you will be more than happy in the spring.
I used wood 2x4 for my frame but have seen people use rigid plastic piping and aluminium tubing also.... nowhere for me to store a more expensive frame like that for reuse. Downside of downsizing to a small apartment in preparation for liveaboard retirement living.
Michael
Rum is the reason Pirate's have never ruled the world
Done Dreamin'
1987 President 43' Twin Lehman 225SP Turbo
Highfield 310 Ally 15 HP Yamaha 2cycle
1978 F32 Sedan twin 318 Chry SOLD
Safe Cove Marina, Port Charlotte, FL
There is nothing wrong with shrink wrap as long as you have enough vent in it. My boat has been shrunk wrapped during lay up for the last 20 years with no mold problems. I have seen boats covered with mold, but that was when it was wrapped by people that didn't install enough vents in the wrap, or covered everything inside the boat with plastic. If you get a circulation of air inside the boat you won't get mold. No matter what you cover the boat with, if you restrict the flow of air you will get mold.
I have not used shrink wrap for 15 years. Last time I did, I filled my boat with mold as well. I had always used the 1 gal buckets to absorb water, and kept a solar charged fan to move air around. Never again.
I have a couple of 8' folding "saw horse" legs. One on the bow, one on the bridge. I have some 16' 2x4s that form a ridge pole from the bow pulpet to the first stand, then up to the next on the flybridge and off that stand down over the transom. I place some life jackets over the sharp corners and then I stetch over a 40x60 tarp. I get 2-3 seasons out of the tarp depending on snow load and wind. My annual cost is < $125 (could be less if the 2x4s didn't end up in projects around the garage during the summer).
The tarp is not a super tight fit, A little air flows through all winter. Also, I can untie a corner and visit my ship when I miss her.
Current Fleet:
2000 Carver 450 Voyager
1991 Thompson 21' Carerra Cuddy
1994 Scout 15'
2005 Caribe LCX9 dingy
1981 16' Hobicat
Former Owner - 1973 Trojan F-36 "Light and Variable"
Our marina shrinks about 400 boats per year of all sizes. Mold is not a problem. They use good sized vents. Us woodies use a different method though, (we shrunk a 42 fdmy woodie last year with no problem) We like to call it "Inside Storage".
I have been shrinking my boats for the past 25 years and have never had a problem. I use plenty of vents and keep the windows open a bit. I also use the moisture absorber.
I normally get 3 to 4 years out of one cover.
I too have been shrink wrapping for years. Never had a problem. As with all things boating there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. Venting is key. In addition, I leave my windows and hatches open, remove all linens, mattresses,always put in a shrink wrap door, can get in and out of the boat all winter to do projects.
In my years of boating I have done it all, bubbling with no cover and with cover, inside storage, constructed conduit frame with canvas tarp and shrink wrap. And have never experienced a mold issue. As some of you have already stated the key is ventilation. For the past ten years or more I have had my marina shrink wrap, for the simple reason of convenience, give them a call and it’s done. The one thing that I see them do a little different is where the line is at the bottom of the shrink wrap they put hard foam blocks to keep the wrap away from the hull to allow air to come in under the shrink wrap along with good large vents topside. I also have them install a door so I can get in after the wrap is up and open everything up (hatches, windows, engine hatch and anything that will open) along with pulling the forward drain plug, I feel that as small as that hole is it allows that convection affect with the hot air rising and escaping up top and drawing air in from the drain plug hole and air from under the wrap at the hull.
If you watch what you are doing, you can get numerous winters out of shrink. I always make sure I have more than enough support and I am careful not to overshrink the material.
And when you take it off, I cut the band at a stern corner and slowly work it loose. It helps to have a small army when you remove it.
On my aft cabin, I have to cut it up about 6 feet or so but it still works well. I just have to repair the cut when I put it back on.
Plus one on the drain plugs..... I have three of them in my 12 Meter and you can feel the air coming up through the hole so I leave them out and put a piece of screen in.
I think I motored passed you on the way out perch fishing when you were docked at the yacht club [sorry about the wake ]. You have a very nice vessel. I am docked at Huron Lagoon's Marina just a little farther down the river. Small world. One of these summers we should have the Trojan reunion on the Great Lakes.
Peter wrote:I think I motored passed you on the way out perch fishing when you were docked at the yacht club [sorry about the wake ]. You have a very nice vessel. I am docked at Huron Lagoon's Marina just a little farther down the river. Small world. One of these summers we should have the Trojan reunion on the Great Lakes.
I think there are enough of us around here that we could do that! The last one I went to was years ago and it was held in Vermillion. That would be a Great place to have it.... or on one of the Islands.
]. You have a very nice vessel. I am docked at Huron Lagoon's Marina just a little farther down the river. Small world. One of these summers we should have the Trojan reunion on the Great Lakes.
