[Rhodes22-list] boat covers

[Steve Alm]

Brad,

Your solution sounds like a good one but, for what it's worth, here's what I
do:  I remove the tall mast crutch and let the mast rest on the stern pulpit
with an anti-chafing pad.  The other end of the mast is resting on the bow
pulpit.  When lowered into this position, the mast sits just above the cabin
and gives the boat a pretty low profile.  I put a little padding under the
mast at the cabin to support it and prevent bending.  I also put some
padding under and around the tips of the spreaders.  The mast makes the
"ridge beam" for the tarp and I don't use any lateral supports.  I tie the
tarp snugly to the trailer and the whole rig, motor and all, is protected.
As a final touch, I sew up the ends with a big needle and heavy thread--two
inch stitches so it doesn't take long.  This provides full coverage but not
air tight like a shrink wrap.  During the Minnesota winter months, I
periodically go out and check everything but last winter I didn't have to do
anything to it.

I don't like to think my season is over either but if the weather doesn't
change soon, my season was over a month ago.  It's been really crappy here
and "the prevailing weather tends to prevail."  :-(

Is it too soon to think spring?
Slim

On 10/6/02 9:06 AM, "brad haslett" <flybrad@yahoo.com> wrote:

> This is not the end of the sailing season here, in
> fact the best time is now, but my slip hasn't opened
> up yet and I'm not through working on the boat. So, it
> is time to prepare for the Fall leaf dropping season.
> My backyard is full of trees and requires me to wash
> my cars/boat weekly just to get the "gum" off.  I
> bought two blue plastic tarps 11x15 from Sam's for $15
> bucks and they cover well, but!  Previous experience
> with other boats has taught me that water gathers in
> the cockpit area of the tarp and forms a pool.  My
> proposed solution for this and to make the tarps fit
> nicely and not rub the boat as follows:
> 
> Place a 2" PVC pipe vertically in the cockpit table
> leg reciever with a "T" glued slightly above the
> height of the cabin.  Place a second 2" "T" at the
> mast step with a small riser.  Run a length of 2" PVC
> pipe from bow to stern through the T's then glue 1"
> laterals from the longitudinal 2" pipe extending to
> both sides of the boat to get the proper shape for
> draining, not puddling.  The final product will look
> something like a giant PVC TV antenna.
> 
> If this has been done before or some of you have a
> better technique or an improved method I'm all ears.
> Critique away!
> 
> If you wonder why I don't just drape the tarp over the
> mast its for two reasons:  1 - my boat would no longer
> be inconspicuous in the backyard, 2 - one ice storm
> and things could get ugly.
> 
> Brad Haslett
> "CoraShen"
> 
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