Winter covers for 23's

[Mas]

Ok, just found out that the winter cover that came with our boat and been stored so that dry rot had occurred and so, to cover or not cover is now the question?

Location, lower Chesapeake Bay, probably will haul every winter so on trailer. hope to leave rigged. Not a lot of snow but we do get it as well as ice sometimes. Goes away pretty quickly.

Putting on a cover certainly has it's advantages but it also can trap moisture, attract birds, etc. It means the solar powered foredeck ventilator would no longer work. It could make any work on the boat in the off-season a bit more cumbersome.  It does protect the topsides from sun, but not so bad in winter. It would help keep it cleaner? Trying to make lemonade outta lemons right now since I thought the cover that came with her was fine, till i pulled it out of it's multiple plastic bags. Shoulda paid better attention because a full canvas cover was a selling point for me. Now that I can start over with decisions maybe some folks here can help guide my thinking.

Knowing where she is to be keep and that she will be out of the water preferably mast up rigged with sails and bimini cloth removed for the winter:

1. are covers worthwhile or no
2. does it make sense to get a mast up cover (seems to as you could conceivably use it mast up or down.)
3. what general costs are involved with a custom canvas cover. (know what Katrina tarps cost!)
4. recommendations on any particular covers/material. (not fond of non-breathable covers) That why the canvas cover dry rotted, it was stored in plastic in a humid environment
5. approximate life span for good cover

Well guess that covers it! (pun intended)

[Shawn]

This cover came with Serenity when I bought her...






It was a *very* nice cover but somewhat difficult to put on/off as that giant roll of canvas was heavy trying to get it rolled outside of the framing. Breathed well so moisture wasn't a problem. If the strapping wasn't done well chafe could be a little bit of an issue. Biggest problem was wasp nests in early spring. PO told me he paid about $2000 for the cover and that was about 15 years ago.

After I installed the wood stove in Serenity I stopped using that cover. My kids liked to "hang out" in Serenity with me over the winter. Having the wood stove going and running the interior lighting (from a 9v battery) we would just spend time in Serenity reading while she was sitting on her trailer. Helped make the winters a little more bearable. Was also great when I was working on something inside during the off season as I could heat her right up.

Shawn

[Mas]

Thanks Shawn. It also looks like your boat lives next to your home in the off-season. We live on a small farm 2 1/2 hours from our boat. I have zero intention of hauling here every winter, thus my intent to leave mast up and rigged minus all cloth and on trailer at our little marina. Free winter storage! A mast down cover had to be the choice for a boat that is hauled beyond it's immediate water home. That cover sure is impressive, would make a good summer platform tent!

I agree about the added inconvenience of removing or accessing the boat with cover on, but also in our case we will not be going to the boat much in the winter (we spend much time on the frozen stuff up here in our mountains). So getting in and out regularly is less of a concern but still is one.

Kinda thinking if cover at all, breathable, mast up, relatively easy access?

OBTW, it is kinda fun just sitting in a boat even if on the hard isn't it?!

[Mas]

oh forgot to ask, assume that cover went to the new owner?

[HeaveToo]

Nice Cover

I don't cover Saga for the winter.  I thought about building my own sunbrella cover but that would be VERY expensive.  If you figure that Sunbrella is about $30 a yard (60") piece and you would need 15-20 yards, depending on measurements.  That is doing the cover yourself.

If you think about this then I would say that it is a pretty good project to learn to do some basic sewing on.  It is a good excuse to buy a machine and start sewing stuff.

A good resource for canvas work stuff is:
www.sailrite.com

[Mas]

So HeaveToo, looks Celtic but know it's not any Celtic i know, maybe Nordic something? got me!

Døyr fe, døyr frender
Døyr sjølv det sama
men ordet om deg aldreg døyr
vinn du et gjetord gjevt

so whats the translation, well as much as it can be. Have been wondering.

No Mas

[HeaveToo]

Quote from Håvamål -- The High Ones Speech, Poetic Edda

Døyr fe, døyr frender——————————————-Cattle die, kinsmen die
Døyr sjølv det sama——————————————--You yourself will also die
men ordet om deg aldreg døyr——————————but the word about you will never die
vinn du et gjetord gjevt—————————————--if you win a good reputation

It is Norse.  Fitting for the boat name and I have some Scandinavian ancestry.   

[Bob23]

  I have a very similar cover to Shawns but with wood and pvc pipe frame and a custom made and very heavy oiled canvas cover which gives me standing headroom in the cockpit. I use an old mast for a ridge pole and run some string lights inside to give good lighting. Keeps the rain, snow, birds and whatever doesnt' belong there out. I paid about 700 clams for the cover and built the framework myself. The framework probably cost less then 100 clams. It takes about a half of a day to assemble the frame and install the cover. Once it's done, I never think about protection from the elements.
  These Fisher Canvas covers are famous in my area of southern NJ and I've seen them last 20 years with proper summer storage. Fred Fisher is a pleasure to work with and designed this cover so it cost's about half of a true fitted cover. 
  Bob23

http://www.fishercanvas.com/#

[Mas]

Has anyone used a mast up cover? If designed right it would seem to be able to be used mast up or down. Sure would love to keep her rigged since we store on the trailer at the little marina where she will have slip.

[Salty19]

Heave, last time I bought Sunbrella from Defender it was about $18/yd X 60". Might want shop around a bit.  Sailrite is fairly pricey, IMO.
There are less expensive alternatives.  Check out seatlefabrics.com too.

[Bob23]

NoMas:
   I saw a cover advertised in Good Old Boat magazine some time ago. Twas a fitted cover designed for mast up. It seemed to be geared toward bigger boats than ours but maybe they can be designef for our little yachts too. I think it was around 1200 clams. Maybe do a search on GOB website. I do not subscribe anymore.
Bob23

[Mas]

Thanks Bob. Winter is a dangerous time for us boat owners isn't it? Too much time spent thinking about things for the boat since they can't be sailed.

Anyone have a mast up cover on their 23"s. Love to hear your feedback on such.

[brackish]

If you figure that Sunbrella is about $30 a yard (60") piece and you would need 15-20 yards

$19.75 per yard at Sailmakers Supply, Gautier, MS.  They sell online, but I usually pick up since I'm down there regularly.  5% discount at ten yards, 10% at thirty yards.  Any good heavy duty machine will sew the stuff, you don't really need one of those expensive sailmakers machines.

[HeaveToo]

Thanks for the tip Brackish.  That is a good price.

I bet the Compac Owners down south are laughing at us talking about Winter Covers. 

[brackish]

Thanks for the tip Brackish.  That is a good price.

I bet the Compac Owners down south are laughing at us talking about Winter Covers. 

I had to see a picture to know what that was.  Quite a few folks at my marina put covers on but it is primarily to keep the pine pollen, algae and bird droppings from taking over the boat.