On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 13:57:16 GMT, teleq wrote:

Our first full season as boat owners is about to end. We have a 20+year old
33-foot Carver Voyager on Lake Michigan in Northern Illinois. We're
storing it outside on the marina property. Is it necessary to shrink wrap
the boat? What does that accomplish? This is a tall boat with an upper and
lower (inside) piloting station and a very high upper radar arch. Thanks.

Shrink wrapping is just an extension of the time honored tradition of
flipping the boat over for winter or covering it with a frame and
tarpaulin.

Basically, it helps with spring cleanup, keeps the rain/snow/sleet/etc
out of areas of the boat where it can cause ice damage, helps keep the
interior salon and cabin dry - in short keeps the weather out of the
boat. There is some consideration for things like UV fading on the
plastic piloting station windows, etc.

As to tall, any boat can be shrink wrapped - it's not a very hard
thing to do and most yards are set up to handle it quickly,
efficiently and with little muss or fuss. Ask them to put an access
hatch in it so you can check the boat out from time to time.

You can do it yourself, but the initial investment doesn't begin to
pay off for a few years. I do my own shrink wrapping and have for
years - my stuff has paid for it'self

Take care.

Tom

"The beatings will stop when morale improves."
E. Teach, 1717