Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

[mickjetblue]

The overwhelming weight of snow-ice on the cover of my 19' Bayliner
was too much for my center post under the boat cover, and collapsed
it twice.

The second time, a wise old man mentioned "ladder", so I put my 6'
stepladder in the middle of the boat as a post. This should work, and
I needed an excuse to buy an 8' stepladder for the house, anyway!

Anybody else have their cover post collapse from snow-ice weight?

 

[DJ]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Wouldn't it be easier to brush the snow off?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Wouldn't it be easier to brush the snow off?

And a lot cheaper than a ladder.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Perhaps he is like me and the boat is not at his house.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

i have several 4 foot ladders in use, left over from construction days. but i don't have to deal with snow.

 

[DJ]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Perhaps he is like me and the boat is not at his house.

Good point!

If the "peak" is high enough snow shouldn't stay on it, especially if it has one of those blue/grey plastic tarps over it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Ayuh,..........

Anybody who lives in Snow Country knows that Flatter is Badder,......
And,........
Steeper is Better...........

If your Winter Cover Collapses,........ It Needs More Pitch...........

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

It happened overnight, both times. You're right about the height,
as the 6' stepladder gives the cover more pitch now. The cover just
makes the stretch front to back with the additional angle added.

I have a tarp over the cover, so no water got inside. I never felt really
comfortable on the 6' aluminum stepladder, anyway, when I used it. I'm
switching to an 8' fiberglass stepladder for painting, etc. in the house.
I'm glad I got a new cover from the iboats special sale. Good deal!

 

[woodchip]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I have a couple of bins with gear under my cover to slightly tent the cover,but then I park in a car shelther to keep the snow off.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Good point!

If the "peak" is high enough snow shouldn't stay on it, especially if it has one of those blue/grey plastic tarps over it.

Shame on me, but I have the same snow issues but, this still didn't work to well, I put 2 large plastic garbage pails, & covers, back to back in the middle of the boat, and 2 large plastic rubbermaid storage boxes in the bowrider, with a plastic bucket in the middle, and a big blue plastic tarp, all I have is peaks, and yet the snow, & water, still settle in the cover all around these!, despite my constantly trying to keep ahead of it, But 5" of snow yesterday morning, & 3" of snow this morning, is a little much lately. My wife, & I are totally spent right now, and looking to collapse after just doing the steps, & sloped driveway, for the 2nd time in 2days, Wet snow to boot, clogging the snowblower, & causing us each the fall on our face at least once each day.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I hear ya! Northeaster Ohio secondary snow belt 2-4" today additional 5-8" tonight, snow Wed and Thurs. I'm no stranger to things collapsing under the weight of snow.
I pull my boat up on a set of car ramps, this enables me to lift the tongue way up to sit on the top step of a 6' ladder which put it at about a 60 degree angle, no snow accumulates now but had to definately point it west into the wind.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Those living in heavy snow fall areas know that it really doesnt matter how high you set the adjustable pole, it wont support the weight. I build a support system out of 2x4's underneath the tarp out of old wood for the winter months. Gives me the peace of mind of not having to worry about brushing it off, etc...

 

[HyperFox]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I keep my little boat in the garage for this very reason.. Up here has been the oddball winter. Weve got a good 3 feet on the ground right now..

Some people havent got that luxury tho. My nieghbour keeps his bayliner in the back yard. he has the shrink wrap done and the Canadian tire special tarp over his boat. He ran a string through the middle and tied it between 2 trees, then pegged down each corner, making a big tent, his hasnt fallen yet!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I have a 6' stepladder with a big hunk of foam on top to keep the ladder from ripping the cover on my Tempest Bowrider. Holds well. Can see it in the pic below behind the tree

This year, my Grew is under it's new $200 10x20 car shelter from Costco. It's working GREAT!!!

powder coated metal frame!
zippered door!
unbelieveable quality for the same price as a cheapie boat cover.
I bought a second one and put them up end to end, so I have 10X40 with zippered doors at each end. The boat is on the railway in one end, the 73 Chevelle is in the other end.
Kayaks and outboards and tons of other stuff in there too.
I love it!
The snow slides off the roof and makes a wall around the perimeter which keeps snow from blowing in... slick!
I went in once and used a broom handle to make big hunks of ice slide off after a thaw.
I recommend for anyone with the space!

 

[Lone Duck]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I am from northern B C Canada. take your 6' step ladder and set it in the center of the boat. Then take the proper extension ladder and take each section 1 from bow to step ladder and 1 from stern to step ladder. Use red greens tape to attach all together. And then cover it. If you have heavy snow fall, set sept ladder on planks . and a plank on bow and stern for the ladder ends to rest on. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Those Costco shelters are great as said, they had pretty much the same ones on sale at Canadian Tire a couple months ago. Just check your local bylaws before purchasing, especially if your neighbours dont like you.

 

[edthearcher]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

well I guess I will add my 2 cents, I live in wis. here we have had 35 inches, I had the standard towable boat cover with the cheap plastic post, this was great for keeping water off. so I built a 2X4 frame, A single post with a 30 X 30 inch base. than I ran a 2X4 8 foot long across the top, this gives me 4 foot fore and aft of the center of the boat, ( mine is a 17 foot bass boat) I than bought a tarp from menards water proof the silver type. tied it down tight all around, snow just slides off, trouble is on the back side where my snow blower cant reach the snow is up to the gunnels, oh well

 

[Lou C]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

I've had the same problems in the past, the 2 ice storms we got last year trashed the old cover that came with my old 88 Four Winns, this year I got a new cover made for it from Overton's but I made a frame underneath from wood and fiberglass supports slats (West Marine) that tents it out as much as possible and supports it like a car convertible top. In snow country, either you do that, or make up 2 A frames with a ridge board across and put a high quality tarp over it. The poles and support straps they sell for the covers are only good for rain, not snow or ice.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

My MFG has a low horizontal pvc pipe holding up the cover (tent style), and it does collect ice, which is darn near impossable to get off due to the weight. So when I made the PVC frame for the Bayliner, I made it higher so the cover had steeper incline on the sides. Worked perfect. While the MFG requires a cleaning every now and again of snow and ice, the Bayliner has not a spot of snow or ice on it. Steeper is better.

 

[Robbo22]

Re: Snow-ice weight collapsed my cover post!

Yep, did the same ......works great......bought three lengths of 3" PVC sewer pipe (unperferated) a couple of 3" Elbows for the ends, half a dozen Tees for lateral arms and uprights. Put the whole thing together dry using large screws so it can be dismantled and stored. Gave it enough pitch to easiy shed the snow up here in Western Canada....Placed one of those moisture collector deals inside, allowed a little ventilation by placing a couple of foam blocks between hull and tarp, snow easily slides off........Works like a charm.

Manufactured based on tips read here at iboats...... great forum.