Cover or not cover?

[KaiSchuler]

I'd like to post this to get some feedback regarding covering the boat for outside storage.
Dowsar sells nice covers, but they are more like a tent.
Shrink-wrap is another way to go, but expensive.
And when I look around the boat yard, many boats don't have any kind of cover.

Whats your take? Maybe you even have pictures to share with the group.

Thanks!!

[baldbaby2000]

I buy the cheap covers. I split foam insulation used for pipes and put along the edge so when the wind flaps it around it doesn't rub the cover color into my boat. I also wrap line completely around the boat with the cover on because the grommets just don't hold by themselves.

BB

[Rich Plumb]

Costco sells a package containing two heavy duty plastic tarps. They are blue on one side and silver on the other. These two tarps will cover the entire boat when arranged over the un-stepped main mast. This has worked well for me over the years. It keeps the boat dry and clean and also allows ventilation and access.

Rich Plumb "Plumb Crazy"
Covington WA, 26X

[Mark Prouty]

Tarp sizes

Canopy

[Rolf]

I bought a 30 foot rv cover from www.campingworld.com 3 years ago for about $300. Wasn't cheap and isn't the prettiest(gray), but only takes me 10 minutes to roll on and attach or 5 mins to remove. I do this religiously if I don't plan on using the boat within 2 weeks. Keeps boat shining like new, covers EVERYTHING from dropped mast down to tires, and I can still enter through back into cockpit where cover tents head high. Wind will make sharp contact points eventually wear through, just re-adjust cover. Should last another 5 years.
Rolf

[Tony D-26X_SusieQ]

First season I covered mine with tarps and in the spring I had to pump about 5 gal of water out of the bilge. Last two seasons I did not cover the boat and in the spring the bilges were bone dry.

[Tom F.]

Covered it with a tarp and bungee cords one year and received some damage from the tarp/bungee banging around duirng storms in the winter. Mostly gelgoat dings but had two actual holes as well. I'm mid-atlantic so we have pretty mild winters. Left it out by itself last year and had no problems.
Always thought the shrink wrap was a bit expensive for a realtively inexpensive boat. Likened it to putting away a Ford Taurus in a heated garage for the winter. Also thought it was a little weird to leave it out in the elements during a hurricane but cover it up when fluffy snow is in the forecast.