Okay,
We have the boat all cleaned out for outside storage, as the 19 will NOT fit in any of our garages.
What do you all use for boats stored outside, Winter cover.?
Went online and found covers for mast UP. Would rather not here, we just had 50 mph winds!!!
Throw a tarp over it? What about lifelines? Stanchions?
Do you build a frame?
Thanks,
Doug142
Sweet Dreams , Cp-19, 1983year
I just use a cheap plastic tarp over the mast as ridge pole. We don't usually get enough snow to worry about, just a few inches a couple times each winter. What we do get is lots of rain and wind. Winds of 45+ mph aren't unusual but in the winter they're from the south so my garage blocks most of it. If I do my part securing the tarp I have no problems. The tarps need to be replaced every other year... if I'm lucky.
I don't know if this would work where you are though.
mel
Best thing is a full custom cover made out of Sunbrella or similar. Expensive, but should last 10 years or so. My Horizon is up in NJ now with one on now. It's totally sealed up, I don't think a bee or wasp could even sneak inside. The lowered mast serves as the main support (like a tent).
Doug:
I can email you photos of the cover and support system that I use for my 23. It is a one-piece canvas cover using the mast as a ridgepole set on 2x4 supports with 3/4" pvc hoops run over the mast and down to yet more 2x4's which are set on top of the stanchions. The pictures will show it much clearer than my verbal description.
Bob23
Bob23,
Thanks. Please do send.
I am open to any design for this.
Doug
Does anyone know of a vendor that has made sunbrella (or similar) full-boat covers for Com-Pacs? I'm looking for one for my Eclipse, and I would rather not use the local upholstery shop, although they said they would give it a shot if I couldn't find someone who already has a template. Bob, I would be interested in seeing your photos as well. Many thanks.
Mike
Find a canvas shop who knows what they are doing. There's a bunch of them - look in some of the magazines or google it (sunbrella boat cover ?). Many of the better places already have the pattern for your boat. There's a good one on Long Island but I forgot the name. Maybe get some names of previous customers and call them.
For a winter cover I don't think you would want Sunbrella but would want cotton duck canvas.
I don't know if they have made a cover for a 19' but try Fairclough Sailmakers in New Haven, Ct.
http://www.faircloughsailmakers.com/
They are who made the cover/frame for my 23 and it is fantastic.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2435/3618505202_8dacacbe13.jpg?v=0)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4398947925_33841e9f65_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4399711542_284c334f3e_b.jpg)
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4398946125_9678265a3b_b.jpg)
By not using the mast as the ridge pole the slope of the fabric gets much more vertical and the cover usually sheds snow on its own very easily. Also gives lots of room to work under it during the winter.
Shawn
This is what my cover frame looked like in fall 2004. This was not the first year with this design. (Note: old photo, I still had an outboard).
(http://localweb.orleans.occnc.com/photos/2004/20041202-boat-cover/photo03.jpg)
Then after 2 1/2 feet of wet snow in Jan 2005 when it got crushed by the weight of the snow.
(http://localweb.orleans.occnc.com/photos/2005/20050202-snowed-in/photo02.jpg)
After rebuilding it a little stronger it still had a problem pooling ice in the stern.
(http://localweb.orleans.occnc.com/photos/2005/20050304-boat-cover/photo03.jpg)
But with slight modification its still going last winter.
(http://localweb.orleans.occnc.com/photos/2009/20091220-snowstorm/photo15.jpg)
I thought I had a recent photo of just the frame but I couldn't find one.
The point is the frame needs to be strong if you might be carrying snow on it and if you experience a lot of wind over the winter these blue tarps only last a few years. An oversized tarp that is closed at the bottom seems to last longer.
Curtis
Beautiful cover and frame, Curt.
That is sort of what I've done except I use the mast as a ridgepole which gives me more than standing headroom in the cockpit. I usually have some winter projects going on so I need to move around inside the cover.
My one goal was to have no part of the cover or frame touch the hull. An covering the boat down to the waterline really helps keep her looking pretty.
I also tried the blue tarp route, then upgraded to the green and silver tarp and that lasted a little longer. My canvas tarp is heavy and that also helps withstand wind and snow. Plus I love the smell of canvas! Being a traditionalist, it works for me. The cover costs me about $450.00 or so and covers the entire boat. The only pain is that it is so heavy it really is hard to haul up the step ladder and over the mast to install. But I wanted it in one piece so I'll pay the price.
Bob23
Bob,
There is room inside but going to the foredeck is a pain since I have to climb through the framing.
I'm usually doing interior work over the winter if I'm doing anything or working on something I can bring inside and do things like mount things on the foredeck in the spring with the cover off.
btw- Shawn - I looked at your photos again and that is a really nice cover.
Curtis
I think the cover I built for our CP19 is just about right.
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt211/greene2108/New%20Garage%202009%20-%202010/g1.jpg)
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt211/greene2108/New%20Garage%202009%20-%202010/g2.jpg)
Even our Wisconsin winter will have a tough time getting through that cover.
Mike
Greene,
Our house came with a boat garage but the doorway is way too low for a CP23. The original owners kept a daysailor in it. The boat garage is 2 car garage sized with a one car garage door. Its under the car garage which has a heavily built wood floor and a steel beam down the middle. It wouldn't be easy raising the boat garage door on account of the steel beam header over the door and there is no way to get it high enough for a CP23 even if the beam could be removed.
So we have a boat garage with nothing in it cause its damp, and over that we have a car garage with no cars in it but with boats, three kayaks (used to be four) and a sunfish, plus a lot of tools, and we are temporarily storing some furniture. Obviously the garage is on a slope and we don't have a car garage on the second story which would make it hard to get the cars in. We definitely need to work on better using this space.
The Wisconsin boat cover is real nice. You obviously have your act together on this way more than I do.
Curtis
Yeah it is pretty nice to just back it into the garage when we are done sailing each time. Hopefully I will sell this house before I buy the next boat because it won't fit in this garage either. Your 23 might fit in this one, maybe we should just trade boats?
Mike
Quote from: Greene on November 08, 2010, 05:08:44 PM
Yeah it is pretty nice to just back it into the garage when we are done sailing each time. Hopefully I will sell this house before I buy the next boat because it won't fit in this garage either. Your 23 might fit in this one, maybe we should just trade boats?
Mike
Nice try Mike. Wouldn't work anyway since my boat garage door is only 6' high. The previous home owner had an Oday daysailer and tried to sell that with the house (but was asking too much for a daysailer that was in OK shape but probably could stand to have sails replaced). The daysailor fit nicely, and my son's sunfish and the kayaks would fit nicely too. I could move the sunfish and kayaks there any time but I'd leave the sunfish sail in the upper garage where I'm more confident there will be no mice in the winter.
OTOH if I move up to a CP27 or something else, I'll know that you are looking for a CP23.
Curtis
Well I've said it before, but that is one heck of a nice cover, Shawn!
For now my boat is in a barn at my grand parents in-law. They are getting pretty old so at some point I'll have to store it elsewhere (probably my in-laws farm).
I don't use a cover at all because it will just trap moisture and give the mice something to climb up on. So far haven't had any mice problems.
Thankfully it fits...and I mean just barely! 1" in front and zero clearance in back with rudder and motor mount board removed. 24' barn length.
Ultimately though, I really like your setup Greene. Close to home, plenty of space to work on it, secure, dry and low risk of critter invasion.
boy do i love my garage
Thanks everyone for your input to my question of Winter storage. We have snow on the ground here now. This Winter the boat will be corvered with two BIG tarps. We bought a new steel car port to be built in the Spring. It will help keep Sweet Dreams out of the sun in the Summer also when not out sailing. And,AND we will be ready for NEXT Winter.
My garages are to low to get the boat in. Darn.....
Think Sailing.
Doug
Now that I've joined the elite group of photo-posters, here are a few shots of my winter cover system:
The framework:
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt260/Bob23_photo/pvcribs90801.jpg)
The Cover:
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt260/Bob23_photo/Fishercover1.jpg)
And, just for kicks: The Arch in Cabo San Lucas which separates the Pacific from the Sea of Cortez:
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt260/Bob23_photo/TheArchCabo.jpg)
Cheers!
Bob23
Liked the Wisconsin boat cover, better than the tarp we use on the 16 in the backyard. Now I understand how live aboard can really work in the far north...
this is a good example of how inventive sailors can be.
I put the CP-19 in a storage building with the Ford Model 'A'.
skip.
Well, It finally happened! We got our Winter cover for Sweet Dreams, our Compac 19 sailboat. The boat port was built 4/19/2011 and before it happened we had 20 yards of gravel/sand mix delivered and then my brother spread all that with a bob cat he has. Nice. Hope we won"t be doing tarps this next Winter.
See at my Photobucket page.
Doug
Hey, that's no cover! :) It's a small hanger!
Does anyone have experience with the covers at this link? http://www.mytarp.com/boat-covers.aspx
My 16 lives on the trailer and a tarp works fine. I'm just looking for an upgrade from the standard poly tarps.
MHardy,
Not I, but the link looks good for those using tarps. I just had to build the boat port. With 4 or 5 feet of snow, the tarp thing just was not cutting it. If you know what I mean.
Seen some really nice pvc and tarp covers on this users site. Check them out.
Doug142
Nice cover Doug. All you need is a couple of lions, a few elephants and a trapeze so you can charge admission! A Big Tent she is.
Mike
Mike and Mike,
Yeah, tis a little bit big, but I can stand up in the cockpit while working on Sweet Dreams under cover. Those darn trapeze's keep hitting my head tho.
We are planing to close off the West end with lattace trellis and climbing vines. The wind blows pretty good from that direction.
Pics of new blue rudder will be on my photobucket link shortly, I want to go put it on the boat. I like the hanger idea, wish I had the plane to put in it. We have the clear field right behind us for take-offs and landings. Think my boat will fly?
See you guys at CLR 2011.
Doug142
Compac 19, Sweet Dreams
Doug - Maybe you can add your Photobucket link to your profile so it is easier for everyone to find.
Mike,
The link to photos is on my profile. Also I think it is the little globe thingy over here on the left side.
If it isn't working let me know and I will change it.
Thanks,
Doug
My buddy found out the hard way about using those huge Wal-Mart blue tarps.
He covered his CP-19 and let gallon jugs of water hang from lines in all the grommets.
The combined weight stretched the tarp tight UNTIL the snow piled up and pulled the tarp
down over the stanchions and safety lines....opps kind of sort of pulled the screws out of the
deck and things needed repair in the spring. Support the trap but not with the deck items sticking up.
skip