Boat tarp for winter storage

[Donald]

I need to cover my boat to keep out dust. And bird pooh. It's inside on a rack.

This year I have a convertible top made of Sunbrella that will stay up.

When I had no convertible top I just used a blue tarp.

Now I am concerned about mold or mildew between the blue tarp and Sunbrella fabric.

So thinking about a 60 or 70 % shade mesh tarp that breaths. But not sure how well they would protect against dust.

Maybe I am overly worried about mold or mildew between the tarp and Sunbrella.

In southern Delaware.

 

[SShooterZ]

What worked really well for me, was the shipping cover from a different boat that I picked up from a local marina.

 

[Boomer]

Put a few tennis balls on top of the convertible top. They are spherical and only have a "point" contact. Then put the cover over them and stretch it tight enough that there is no sag. That should allow for lots of air flow between the two surfaces.

 

[Ursatdx]

Put a few tennis balls on top of the convertible top. They are spherical and only have a "point" contact. Then put the cover over them and stretch it tight enough that there is no sag. That should allow for lots of air flow between the two surfaces.

I use a few pool noodles between top and cover.
They tend to leave less an imprint.

 

[Donald]

I like the pool noodle idea and ordered a few on Amazon. Not easy to buy pool noodles in the winter.

 

[alarmguy]

Yeah, the noodle idea is an interesting one for sure. Im done for the winter but might be tempted next year. On top of that, we have noodles on the boat.

 

[Donald]

I ended up looking how high the convertible top was and wondered how I would get the tarp up and over the the convertible top.

I ended up using the tarp to cover the cockpit area. And heaving it at that.

Not even sure I needed to do anything. There is a lot less activity in and out of the boat storage building when fork lift service is not available to boat owners. The door of the building may not even be open every day.

I did find a dead bird in the cockpit area. Yuk.

Not sure whether is chemistry or physics but every year when I pull the three group 27 marine batteries they are heavier. Cannot figure it out. I am pretty sure it's unrelated to being 72.

 

[FZ1]

I ended up looking how high the convertible top was and wondered how I would get the tarp up and over the the convertible top.

I ended up using the tarp to cover the cockpit area. And heaving it at that.

Not even sure I needed to do anything. There is a lot less activity in and out of the boat storage building when fork lift service is not available to boat owners. The door of the building may not even be open every day.

I did find a dead bird in the cockpit area. Yuk.

Not sure whether is chemistry or physics but every year when I pull the three group 27 marine batteries they are heavier. Cannot figure it out. I am pretty sure it's unrelated to being 72.

Yeah, man. They don't make 'em like they used to. Couldn't you just drop the top and cover with a tarp?

 

[Donald]

Yeah, man. They don't make 'em like they used to. Couldn't you just drop the top and cover with a tarp?

The top is a PIA to put up or drop. And dropped you have these frame ends just hanging likely to scratch boat.

And based upon previous top where it appeared to shrink and would no longer snap on the boat properly but was still in good condition I prefer to keep it stretched on the frame.

It would be different if it was not inside.

 

[FZ1]

The top is a PIA to put up or drop. And dropped you have these frame ends just hanging likely to scratch boat.

And based upon previous top where it appeared to shrink and would no longer snap on the boat properly but was still in good condition I prefer to keep it stretched on the frame.

It would be different if it was not inside.

I see. I think it's an inboard so you don't have to worry about the lower unit.

 

[nickaluch]

I cover mine with a pool cover tie down and wrap take the top off store in the bay house. I like the pool noodle idea

 

[Donald]

I see. I think it's an inboard so you don't have to worry about the lower unit.

It's an I/O.. Bur it's been winterized.