MacGregorSailors.com

THis is stupid thing that took me many seasons to figure out, but if you cover your boat, the companionway slider will still freeze in place in the cold climates.

If you just leave it ajar enough so that you can slide the vertical piece up, you dont need to move it of course

Mine sits 45 miles West Of Chicago.. On a Trailer Open to the weather ... Its done so for 5 seasons with no apparent harm..
Just be sure ( check it often..) That snow and ice do not some how weigh down on the mast and or the spreaders..
I will add.... Those south of the Snow line DONT cover their boats ...and summer weather can be harder ion your boat than winter/UV etc.

Yea, covering a boat may not be necessary for everyone.

For me, it keeps the sun off the boat. I can't cover the boat in the summer or I would also for that reason. Our sun is wicked harsh on things. My cover goes all the way down to the waterline protecting that nice blue hull from the sun's rays.

The other reason is to keep snow and ice out of things. Just like ice damages streets and sidewalks, it can get into cracks, through deck fittings, windows, freeze and create voids. I feel better when I check on the boat covered with snow and ice knowing it's not on the deck finding its way in someplace it shouldn't.

If I wasn't going to cover the boat, I would make sure I put her away with some kind of wax UV protection.

And for you guys living in warmer climates and sail all year, just shut up.

--Russ

I have been checking Nice Aft all Winter for problems with snow on its tarp. I installed the PVC pipe system for supporting the tarp, and have been pleased with it so far. That is until the last snow storm. We have been averaging about one a week for the last six weeks. This last storm was the straw that broke the camels back All of the PVC pipes have collapsed from the weight of the snow and ice.

Today I crawled under the tarp, and pused off the ice and snow from the underside of the tarp. I was able to pull the pipes back into position. I was amazed at how flexible the pipes were in freezing weather. Everything is back in place, and now I am waiting for the next storm. The system seems to work.

Ray

NiceAft wrote:I have been checking Nice Aft all Winter for problems with snow on its tarp. I installed the PVC pipe system for supporting the tarp, and have been pleased with it so far. That is until the last snow storm. We have been averaging about one a week for the last six weeks. This last storm was the straw that broke the camels back All of the PVC pipes have collapsed from the weight of the snow and ice.

Today I crawled under the tarp, and pused off the ice and snow from the underside of the tarp. I was able to pull the pipes back into position. I was amazed at how flexible the pipes were in freezing weather. Everything is back in place, and now I am waiting for the next storm. The system seems to work.

Ray

I also live in PA and had similar problems with the Ice & Snow buildup... I put up a ladder and removed large chunks of ice & snow as it was starting to bow the mast from all the weight, I don't have the pipe set up like some of you do.

Frank L.

The pipe set up works well. Next year I am going to add more hoops of PVC, and tie the tarp in a way to make it tauter. As I said, the system works well, we just had some unusual snow amounts, and storm frequency this Winter in the Delaware Valley.

Rayy

Ray,

Yea, my boat lost a couple of PVC "arches" with heavy snow. As you said, they pop right back in. It's still a great solution.

--Russ