Any DYI shrinkwrappers?

[jackstraw_11@yahoo.com]

Is this a job that can be done at home and what are the costs? The cost to have it done by a marine shop is 10$ per foot. <br /><br />Are there any alternatives to shrink wrapping. I store my boat outside and we have gotten several feet of snow over the course of the winter.<br /><br />Its an 18 foot 1996 four winns horizon with a 4.3 6 cylinder volvo penta i/o with a cobra sx outdrive.

 

[bayman]

Re: Any DYI shrinkwrappers?

I've looked into it. The main problem is that you need some practice to get good at it. The danger is in causing damage to your boat with the high temperatures. Even boat yards that are good at it sometimes make mistakes and cause damage to boats. Supposing you can get the practice you need, if you get a few people to go in on the equipment it might be cost effective.

 

[tommays]

Re: Any DYI shrinkwrappers?

i place a 20 ft 5/4 x 6 deck board more or less over the center of the boat about 5ft bove the deck and support it in the center and at each end<br /><br /> and then use the bow and stern cleats and some rope to stablize the wood A frame<br /><br />what makes it work is building it at a hight that that allows a std size tarp to hang just above the rails on my trailer on my 20 ft cuddy cabin a 12 ft wide tarp fits perfect<br /><br />i can use the eyes to draw it down very tight to the trailer frame as good as shrink warp<br /><br />it has a very steep pitch because its 5 ft above the deck and the snow self cleans most of the time because its own weight slides it off as it builds up<br /><br />tommays

 

[jackstraw_11@yahoo.com]

Re: Any DYI shrinkwrappers?

tommays<br /><br />do you use a standard blue plastic tarp?<br /><br />how do fold the excess on the bow?<br /><br />Most shrink wrap jobs add a vent at the top to allow moister to escape. Again if using a plastice tarp do you add a vent.<br /><br />There are also retail moister absorbers usually placed on the inside. The place I have used for shrink wrapping usually uses two.<br /><br />Do you leave the plug in or out? I suppose out could be used for birds nests in the early spring.

 

[tommays]

Re: Any DYI shrinkwrappers?

i have found the new brown one at home depo is 10 mils thick about doubble a std blue one and the gromets are plastic welded into it and are much stronger<br /><br />on my 20 ft boat the 12 x 24 ft ends up perfect the bow end closes up animal and rain tite uesing the gromets and the stern end closes up nicely but allows air to move freely<br /><br />the way i support the 5/4 deck board allows me to snap on my mouring cover to keep out any animals and leaves but keeps the inside dry and vented<br /><br />i also owned many sailboats and when the mast was steped it was like the deck board and can say that even with the older blue tarps i did not have any cave ins or blow outs as long as the tarp was pulled tightly over the hull to keep it from flaping<br /><br />tommays