Boat Cover (26M) Pictures?

[Andy26M]

WW -

I'm not sure what you get for winds, but the wooden structure I've pictured above with the HD green tarp went through two storms with in excess of 50 mph winds - the boat was in a fairly exposed lot on a hill overlooking the Narragansett. During one of the storms the wind got bad enough that the tongue blew off the concrete blocks I had it sitting on (yes, even with all 4 wheels chocked). Later on, it went through a Nor'Easter which had a bit less wind but dropped over 4 feet of snow. I didn't get much snow accumulation because of the steep pitch and the fact that the wind kept a lot of the snow clear. After each storm I had to replace a few bungy cords and tidy up a little, but the structure held up.

The cover hvolkart is picturing would probably not work for me because of snow load - it is too flat on top. I'd have to go out and sweep the snow off of it all the time.

- Andy

[waternwaves]

hmmm

those frames pictured seem to be close to buidlings.......

My boat is stored open on a hillside, no building, no shading, and we typically see 70 to 90 mph winds after our ice storms.

with previous homes I always had a building to shelter behind..300 ft from the water.......18 miles of fetch........

I go through a lot of tarps on all the boats.....
Last year I tried putting up the mast and the enclosure and tarping fore and aft of the mast....... makes it too difficult to use the boat on those nice weekends...

So I will do the mast tube and small tarps again.....

Or buy this house and put on a decent sized garage.......

[tangentair]

For what it is worth, since Bill hasn't waded in here yet, I was told that it is best to leave the boat uncovered to prevent ice from building up when the snow and water pools in places not supported properly. The additional weight can become excessive and overload trailer etc. I can see his point and will tarp all surfaces forward of the cockpit flat and cut around the life lines and pulpit. I will also block the trailer frame in multiple places. I will probably make a greeenhouse like enclosure for the aft so I can work there. But I am in a pretty sheltered yard location. My problem is leaves, squirrels and other critters.

[Frank C]

. . . and we typically see 70 to 90 mph winds after our ice storms . . .

That's Alaska, right?
( . . . not Puget Sound )

[waternwaves]

Frank.......

Nov, we were hit with a small sno and ice storm, and even puget sound froze a good way out....... power out 4 - 5 days, 2 weeks later Seattle got hit with another storm, and we had the winds and rain.....lost it for 2 days that time........ later had a small january outage........1 day

2 - 3 times a winter........ we will have those windstorms....... and then we all sing to the merry droll humming of chainsaws out here on this island...... We like the sound so much ........that we accompany it with our generators.......

Seriously.....
We have lots and lots of trees.... because of all that wonderful moisture.... and when it freezes .... that moisture takes a great many down......

and we are out of power for 3 to 5 days......

Oh well.......
you just put the contents of your fridge in your cooler on the porch.....that way you dont lose any food......


the first year I moved out to the island I lived in a small home on the end of a beautiful private road....... (translate as ...... The absolute last and lowest priority for reconnection of electrical service.... power out 5 days).

You'll get used to owning a chainsaw and generator.!!
Seriously Its not like it is a tornado or anything...... just a bit of wind.... and rain........and occasional ice.

[Phillip]

I'm in the Horticultural Industry, and covering our crops is part of life. Hence I know a little bit about different materials that stand up to the elements and their appropriate fixing solutions.

You can use plastic, 200um, with UV inhibitor, in either clear or white. The white gives about 40% shade.

A better product is the solar weave. Again comes in clear or white, depending on the % shade you want. It dosn't tear easily due to the weave.

Another product is the shade cloth that is waterproof. It comes as a knitted or woven option and has good strength.

For a boat cover, the simplest way of fixing is to use a 'butterfly clamp', made of plastic. One side of the butterfly has pins, the other side holes. You fold the butterfly 'over', with you material between, and clamp it closed with pliers. On the leading edge you have a 2" long hole you can pass rope thru for tying down.

All these materials are cheap. You buy them from a Horticultural Supply Company....one that supplies the industry. You can get them in various widths starting at about .9m thru to 12m.
Talk to these people...ask their advice.....they should know their product and suitable applications.

If I have lost you, thing back to when you last saw a commercial grow tunnel......chances are it was covered in one of the above materials.

My last suggestion: These Horticultural Supply Company's will have a business that does all their sewing and welding. Just believe me, I can buy a new cover for our propogation tunnel, that is about 10 times bigger than a boat cover, for about 20% of the boat cover cost.

Just a suggestion.
Cheers
Phillip

[Bluecrab]

A friend of mine with a 1994 Mac26 has been storing his using a tarp. He raises the mast 2 - 3 ft with 2x4's bolted to the front pulpit and rear crutch support. Then just ties a tarp over it. With the mast up 3 ft the sides of the tarp over the safty lines will shed snow really well.

My question is, could the leverage of the mast being that high create too much stress where the pulpit and crutch bolt to the deck? He say's he has had no problem.

I am planning on trying it with my 05:macm: .

Thanks,
Wally

[JonBill]

Along the same lines, does anyone know of a good “best bang for my buck” cover for an “M” with the mast up?

I call that a mooring cover and when I have time to measure mine I'm going to have a mooring cover made. I store my M on the trailer with the mast up most of the year as I've got no overhead obstructions between the storage spot and the boat launch ramp.

Spoke with Bob at The Sailors Tailor and he has made them for the X and a couple for M's. He insists on getting measurements just to prove out his pattern and maintains there are enough variances between exact stanchion locations, etc. that he needs the boat measured and whether or not you have extra things like stern rail seats or other things attached to the deck then he needs to allow for them.

I just haven't had time to do the measuring but plan to this winter. He gave me an estimate of approximately $875 and said to expect the cover to last a good 7 or 8 years minimum and possibly up to 10 or so. That's some pretty good material and sewing.

He doesn't have an actual picture of an M or X with his mooring cover on because he said none of them he's done have sent him a picture back with the cover on. I will when I have it made unless someone beats me to it.

http://www.thesailorstailor.com/

Kind Regards,
JonBill

[richter372001]

Hi
Has anyone tried the tarp Dowsar sells for the 26X? Pics?

[waltpm]

I can't understand why anyone thinks that a product designed to be left outdoors needs a cover when not being used. I have owned Macs for 30 years and never cover them. My 26x sits outdoors In Buffalo, NY. Yes, the cockpit fills up with snow and ice (sometimes 3 ft. deep ), but it has never done any damage. IMO, unless you are in a very dirty environment, a cover is just a lot of work and expense.

[Paul S]

covering a boat, at least in new england, is desirable. Ice and snow, as well as leaves leaving stains, etc.

When we cover our boat, in the spring, it is as clean as when I put it away. THe first year we got our boat (in the winter) it took a lot of cleaning to get it reasonable.

To me, it is more a cleaning issue than a snow/ice issue.

I just use a cheapo walmart $20 20x30 tarp, going on the fourth winter on it. I make a superstructure of pvc. Cover it, bungee it down. Good to go.

Paul

[JonBill]

I can't understand why anyone thinks that a product designed to be left outdoors needs a cover when not being used... My 26x sits outdoors In Buffalo, NY.

Try baking it under a South Texas sun and in one season unattended it will chalk up and oxidize so bad it will change colors to some chalky looking pastel grey with previous black hull makings looking really faded out and bad. If you want a nice looking boat down here with our sun (and granted some people don't care what their boat looks like they just want something that floats) then covering is a lot easier than restoring the finish every 6 months.

BTW can you get a tan in Buffalo with out using something from a bottle?

We had a great sail today in shorts and tee shirt, it was 89F with 12MPH wind. What a day! It's too hot to be outside down here in July and August so we really love October and November for sailing.

Kind Regards,
JonBill

[pokerrick1]

My boat is stored open on a hillside, no building, no shading, and we typically see 70 to 90 mph winds after our ice storms.

Ice storms

I'd move

Rick

[Catigale]

Too cold to sail in Buffalo in winter,,,too hot to sail in Texas in summer..

what to do, what to do, what to do...

Maybe we could get Ted Stevens to build us a TEXBUF canal so that we can

Mac back and forth of course!!!!

[Sleepy]

Plus in august down here we get the doldrums and or the infamous SW wind which makes it even hotter!