On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 03:07:15 GMT,
Peggie Hall wrote:
Harlan Lachman wrote:
Courtney, the joys of shrink wrapping a boat are that almost always it
is done by a yard (one less cold weather project), it holds up great,
looks good, and keeps rain, ice, snow, debris and everything else off
one's boat. OTOH, at $20+ a foot it can be expensive and poly is not
good for the environment.

A couple more downsides to shrink wrap: there's no ventilation in a
shrink-wrapped boat..it traps and holds humidity, resulting in moldy
musty interiors next spring. You can't go aboard on any of those
occasional amazing days in the middle of winter to open it up to let it
air out, or check on anything--like finding out whether any critters
have decided to homestead your cabin--or do any of those little projects
you should do this fall, but didn't and COULD do if you could go aboard
for a day.

IMO, you're a lot better off giving your hull and deck a heavy coat of
wax to protect the fiberglass...and then cover it instead of
shrinkwrapping it.



one of my neighbours in the marina had his boat shrink wrapped last
year. They put a zippered door in the side of the wrapping, and there
was a vent with a fan running all the time. He said he had no problems
with condensation.

--
Jim Richardson http://www.eskimo.com/~warlock
Homo sapiens, isn't

"Harlan Lachman" wrote in message
...
In article k.net,
Courtney Thomas wrote:

Last year most of the sailboats [fiberglass] I personally saw [on the
hard]
in eastern Canada were not plastic wrapped, polyethylene I guess, for
Winter, but most I saw in Maine were.

Granted, I didn't see any large number in either area, but what are the
possible perceptions and motives in each case ?

Thank you,

Courtney

Courtney, the joys of shrink wrapping a boat are that almost always it
is done by a yard (one less cold weather project), it holds up great,
looks good, and keeps rain, ice, snow, debris and everything else off
one's boat. OTOH, at $20+ a foot it can be expensive and poly is not
good for the environment.

That's why around here the outfit that intalled the stuff is required
to remove it in the spring and recycle it. Never ends up in the landfill.

The benefit of the alternative of using poly tarps is that it is cheaper
to buy the plastic once -- at least for as long as they last. The
downsides are that if it deforms or rips (which it will sooner or later)
during the season, you have no protection, it creates a storage issue,
and seams can leak no matter how well overlapped (especially in
conjunction with the first downside) and poly is still bad for the
environment when it is eventually disposed of.

This year, I opted for a frame and canvas cover. The idea being that
storage would be easier (more durable and easier to put away then the
poly that often ripped in my basement) and that over four or five
seasons it would pay for itself. The downsides are the upfront costs,
having to store and build the frame each year oneself (to save on
installation to warrant the initial cost).

Up front costs are not a problem. Oops! I almost forgot, we fabricate them
so we like upfront costs

If I remember, no sure things these days, eventually I will post a
follow-up as to whether I think the canvas is better not only from an
ecological perspective, but from performance and cost.

We never use canvas per se. Ecologically, better to recycle of course.
Performance is better, but cost may be a toss up. Probably better in
the long run depending on longevity.

harlan

Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00. Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass). Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD

wrote:
Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00. Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass). Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD


If that shelter will protect the boat from rain/snow/UV damage, I don't
know what else you'd need. By shelter, I'm thinking of those 'temporary
vehicle shelters' you buy at Costco etc. (metal frame, sloped canvas
roof & canvas sides)

Shrink wrap is the cause of moisture problems. The boat is so tight
it can't ventilate.

Leave all the ports and hatches open under your shelter.

--

Roger Long



wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back
yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00.
Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I
was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass).
Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need
to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words
of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD

To be safe, I would only crack the ports and hatches. You don't need a huge amount
of air circulation to keep mold from forming. I would however add some of these anti-mold packets
(available at West Marine) scattered through the boat, especially if
you are in a mild winter zone.

Sherwin D.

Roger Long wrote:

Shrink wrap is the cause of moisture problems. The boat is so tight
it can't ventilate.

Leave all the ports and hatches open under your shelter.

--

Roger Long

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back
yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00.
Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I
was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass).
Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need
to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words
of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD

I wonder where can we buy the material to shrink wrap boats for the winter.

"sherwindu" wrote in message
...
To be safe, I would only crack the ports and hatches. You don't need a
huge amount
of air circulation to keep mold from forming. I would however add some of
these anti-mold packets
(available at West Marine) scattered through the boat, especially if
you are in a mild winter zone.

Sherwin D.

Roger Long wrote:

Shrink wrap is the cause of moisture problems. The boat is so tight
it can't ventilate.

Leave all the ports and hatches open under your shelter.

--

Roger Long

wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back
yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00.
Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I
was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass).
Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need
to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words
of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD

In article .com,
wrote:

Hi, I just bought my 25' cruiser and I hope to store it in my back yard
(alot of space) for winter. I need your help on deciding whether to
shrink wrap or not. Marina's around here asks for around $200.00. Even
if I shrink wrap it, my village requires the boat to be totally
enclosed. In order to enclose, I have decided to buy a shelter that
comes with a metal frame and tarps that closes from all sides for
around $700.00. This looks great and it comes with a warranty. I was
thinking this will save me money on the long run. The shelter will
remain permanently. The floor ofcourse will be my yard (grass). Since
I have a shelter that covers the boat from all sides do I still need to
shrink wrap? Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best and my shelter will not work for this. Any words of
wisdom is greatly appreciated. I was hoping the shelter will be
sufficient and save the $200 annual cost. Thanks,

RD


You won't need or want shrink wrap. The shelter will do the job better
anyway.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

"Jere Lull" wrote

Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best

Read some more.
Shrink wrap usually causes the moisture problems, when it's not
'vented' properly.
Think condensation - mildew. Your boat needs to breathe.
Your portable garage should be just fine. Do you have vents?

SBV

In article ,
"Scotty" wrote:

"Jere Lull" wrote

Some one mentioned about moisture problems and shrink
wrap is the best

Read some more. Shrink wrap usually causes the moisture problems,
when it's not 'vented' properly. Think condensation - mildew. Your
boat needs to breathe. Your portable garage should be just fine. Do
you have vents?

SBV

You snipped me too early or included another's post as mine, as I am NOT
a proponent of shrink wrap.

I like the idea of a portable garage, since the boat in my back yard is
getting that treatment this winter.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/