Christo wrapped buildings in fabric and created art; I wrap boats in tarps and I get what looks like an encampment. When I moved into my home in 1993, I had a lawn surrounding the house, a garage in the basement, a detached garage, and two off-street parking spaces in front. There wasn’t a hint of my boatbuilding habit to be seen. Now, 29 years later, my cars have been exiled to the street, the detached garage has eight boats in it, the other garage is my workshop, the off-street parking is occupied by a canal boat and a Garvey cruiser on their trailers, the east yard has a kayak, the west yard a gunning dory, and the lawn in the back yard is all but covered by a Caledonia yawl, a sneakbox, and a teardrop trailer. Almost all of the back yard is occupied by the Caledonia Yawl (left), the sneakbox (front), and the house for the cabin of my teardrop trailer (back). The sneakbox and the yawl both have ridgepoles to create some airspace under the tarp. The teardrop's tarp has a hole for the woodstove's chimney for warming my retreat on cold days.
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When I built my bow roof shop, I covered it with 7 mil shrink wrap, and shrank the bottom four feet only, which tightened It up sufficiently that it didn’t flop in the wind. It lasted 13 years. It is a bit spendy now, around $300 for 1728 sq. ft. rolls. It is UV protected.
Another option would be to make or purchase covers made from Sunbrella or Top Gun fabric. If you want to make your own SailRite has the materials, if you want to purchase there are many options such as SLO Sail and Canvas and others. These covers will last for years, won’t pool water or flap as they are fitted snugly with tie downs.
Here in the winter snow land the recommendation is (first heard in the ’70s) that you must get the tarp away from boat with some structure to prevent mold and rot and get the boat naturally ventilated by wind to remove the moisture that will get there whatever you do. Might be different weather conditions in your corner of the world. Also gives you room to do some work on the boat.
I had a custom-made cover manufactured for my dory in heavy duty canvas-like material which is completely waterproof. To prevent pooling of rainwater I shaped two curved (laminated) battens which rest on the gunwales. Not perfect but adequate.
I bought a 1973 20′ Simmons Sea Skiff last fall and sewed up a Sunbrella cover for it with a draw string and loops for bungees; I draped it over a 1-1/4″ PVC pipe raised at the console. Turns out the bungees aren’t needed when it is sitting in the yard. No leaks, no flapping, no pooling. Making it was interesting and easier than building a boat. The last cover I made of Sunbrella lasted about 15 years in the SC sun.
I go to my local awning maker, and purchase vinyl covered fabric used for truck tarps and awnings. I have the awning maker sew a hem around the edge and install brass grommets every 4 feet. I’m on my third cover for my Acorn Dinghy in 38 years located in the Northeast. I placed a 2 x 6 for a ridge pole from stem to stern, and tension the cover with bungee cords to the trailer. This keeps rain from pooling and snow slides right off.
Your boats are beautiful. When you consider the amount of time and money invested in building and maintaining the boats, would it not be prudent to invest a little extra and good quality custom boat tarps that last 15 to 20 years or so? The cost of one tarp would easily be offset by the multiple tarps and labor necessary to keep the boats clean and dry over the same time & provide more time to enjoy your boats.
Thank you editors for running this story. For once, we have a totally realistic and simple solution to the worldwide problem of covering boats on the hard.
I understand the suggestions of the ‘perfect cover,’ but most of us out here are just average humans who need to get the task done quickly, easily, and cheaply.
I adore seeing and reading the solutions of this sailor, and my boats rest comfortably under likewise plastic tarps. My 11′ Whitehall is now going on 50 and in fine shape after 50 northeast winters and a batch of plastic tarps.
Keep calm and carry on.
I found that unless I kept the tie-down lines very taut, I would always see ponding and, inevitably, leaking. One November, a day after election day, I walked to a fence in the neighborhood that served as a giant bulletin board for political signs. I cut down the biggest plastic sign, folded it and carried it home. Draped over the mast, under the tarp, it is stiff enough to support the tarp. In addition, when I replace the tarp every couple of years, the old tarp goes on top of the new one. The old tarp then absorbs most of the slings and arrows of falling debris and curious cats.
For boats with oarlock sockets it’s easy to make bow tarp supports with 1/2″ PVC pipe and 1/2″ OD dowels or rod. A ridge pole can be line-tied between them then to bow and stern tightly. If a hold-down is needed on tarps and there is no lashing spot a gallon water-filled jug works fine.