Getting ready for the dreaded winter season

[Motormaniac801]

Hey guys, quick question. Getting ready to store the boat for the season and Im stuck in a toss up here. My local marina wants $12.00/ft to shrink wrap my 21ft Renken. That's something like $250bucks. Or on eBay I can get a $60.00 all season cover. My plans are to store it inside a barn. But worst case it'll end up in my backyard. Anyone have any thoughts? whats the advantage to shrink wrapping (assuming its done correctly)? and would an all season cover be acceptable inside a barn or at worst in my yard all winter? And yes, we get snow and freezing temps here in "sunny" Rochester, NY.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Getting ready for the dreaded winter season

Done both and the shrink wrap is way better. No barn mice, or chipmunks getting in and the way the boat is sealed is the way you find it in the spring. Just clean the dickens out of the inside and come spring your that much closer to putting it in the water.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Getting ready for the dreaded winter season

I will be paying $15 per foot for shrinkwrap and storage from 11/1-4/15. So your in the ballpark. If its in a barn covered from the elements you may not need SW but like the poster above said, nothing is going to get in.

 

[KBHumphrey]

Re: Getting ready for the dreaded winter season

I am a big fan of shrink wrapping and this fall I'll be wrapping four boats. Last year I decided to do it myself and it just isn't that hard. Almost anyone can do it with a little practice and common sense approach. I think the roll of film was something like 12 foot wide and 175 foot long for around $120. More than enough for you to wrap your boat for several seasons. Oh yeah, I bought a cheap propane heat gun from Harbor Freight to make the job easy and just figured its cost the way I do any tool, its a long term investment.

Any tips on what you learned shrink wrapping your boat from the first time to the last? Maybe the best pattern to follow or the number of layers to wrap?

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Getting ready for the dreaded winter season

Lots of Youtube to help.
Just one to get you started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE1LgJb_ti8