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This is my first year of boating and unfortunately in Cleveland area it is time to prepare for winter storage. I am going to keep my in my back yard and researching different option of covering her. I think the most expensive option in a long run is to do shrink wrap every year. But I would rather purchase nice boat cover that would last many years. Of course the cheapest option is not to cover her at all. It would be helpful for me to know how the other people winterize their boats. Thanks for any info!

What I did last year was a simple tarp from Menards. It cost me about $50 and was just about big enough to cover the entire boat. I just had to add a little tarp extender (plastic shopping bags with duct tape on them). I think the tarp was something like 30x20 or something like that. This year I am going to make a few changes. The tarp last year had holes in it by spring where the posts are in the boat. So for a few bucks I am going to get water pipe insulation (Styrofoam) and place them over the pipes and part of the lifeline. A little duck brand duct tape and it should be all set for the winter. The other problem I ran into last year was that the snow piled up in the cockpit area. After each snow I had to remove all the snow, otherwise it just sat there and would eventually break the tarp.

When spring time came, I just threw the tarp away and it had holes in it. This year I am hoping that the tarp will last 2 seasons. Maybe one of these days I will convince the wife to move somewhere warm where we can sail all year.

I should have taken a picture of the setup last year. Maybe this year I will remember.

If you do a search on boat covers you can come up with some good ideas that you'll be able to use year after year and cost less than a 500 a pop shrink wrap - which does work.

From what I've garnered from here, someone made a "rib skeleton" that ran port to starboard and was perpendicular to the mast which would resemble "the spine". I don't remember what material they used.

I used plastic 3/8 conduit from Home Depot. A 10' section is about $1.25; Last year I did it in the metal version for a little more $ but I didn't like how it came out. My boat cover looked like Frankenstein's head. It wasn't arced enough and was a real pain with some snow pooling on top

This year I'll use the plastic and be able to keep it in the future. I'll be anchoring the ribs to large 2 x 10's that I have. I still have to work out securing these 2 x's to the side of the trailer - but I always come up with something I taped the ribs in place with 2 long "spines that ran front to back and in line with the railings to diminish abrasive wind tears in the 30 x 40' tarp I bought on Ebay for the cover. Get the thicker silver one it should last you a few seasons with care.

P.S. The tarp, IMHO, should be long enough to reach the bow and be tied together, underneath, but leave a mouth opening so the air can move through. It should clear the transom and still be suspended from the mast that hangs further aft. Close and anchor the rear but leave a "breather" up by the mast. This way you're still able to get in your mac and work on it or clear the snow piles from inside & there shouldn't be any rotting or mildew issues.

Hopefully this year I'll remember to take pictures. I'll be the one with tears in my eyes because sailing season is over

Oh, I found one.
This year: wider & longer tarp, plastic ribs which arch perfectly, see front. & take down more shtuff like rear solar panel hanging on radar arch...

done

Here in NW Washington state I use two tarps to cover my 26M. I purchased them at COSTCO cheap. I connect the two together and lay PVC pipe in an X pattern to help support the load of snow and promote runoff rather than accumulation of snow. Also don't forget to winterize the engine.
http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s341 ... 0002-2.jpg

There are plenty of archived discussions on this topic. Here is a link to one with pics & description of mine:LINK

I built a cover similar to 40Toes (see link in previous reply). Living in NE Wisconsin, we see our share of snow.
I used some old tennis balls to fit over the end of the stanchions and some water pipe insulation over the ends of the spreader to reduce abrasion in these areas. I made a backbone out of 1 1/2" PVC pipe (3 10" pieces) to take the weight off the mast and to raise the peak of the cover a little higher for a better slope. I attached the bows to the stanchions using zip ties. While I occasionally have to brush off heavy accumulations of snow, It works great. It also allows for a lot of room under the tarp for air flow and work space if you want to work on the boat during the time it's covered. I think I used a 20X30' tarp. This year I loosened the lifelines to give the tarp a little better slope.

Dale
26M
Y.B.Normal

Thank you all very much for the responses and pictures! I like the idea of PVC pipe frame from the mast to life lines and 20’ x 30’ tarp over it. And this is what I will do. Thanks again!

We just get started sailing again in the fall most of the drunkin water skiers and persional water crafts have gone home and the Columbia river is just fisher men and sailers YEA

Fall and winter is a great time for sailing around here most all the drunkin water skiers and goofey persional water crafts are staying home and the river is just sailers and fishermen untill next spring. YEAAAAAAAAA