Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

[jimdd810]

This thread is not me stating this is how things should be done but a couple of ideas that have worked for me and my customers over the years.

After I do winterizations and need to store my boat outside i do a couple of things to help keep them dry and critter free.

1st I add about a dozen dryer sheets throughout the boat. This seems to keep critters away from the boat.

2nd I add a couple of decon bait traps for those critters that dont mind the dryer sheets. I also add a couple of those keep dry dehumidifier chemical thingys to help keep the moisture down.

3rd I put on the boat cover with pvc pipes for support and instead of tying the cover to the boat (which with snow seems to never stay where I put it) I take plastic milk jugs and fill them 3/4 full and tie them to the loops in the cover. They then freeze in the winter. The weight holds the cover in place and the wind dosnt lift the cover.

4th I put a long wide tarp over the cover for extra protection again using the milk jugs to hold it down.

5th I lift up the tonge enough to let any water that might get in it to drain.

I know wrapping the boat will probably do alot of this but in Northern Wisconsin the winters are harsh and wrapping the boat dosnt seem to hold up very well with snow loads, plus this is alot cheaper.

just some of the things thats worked for me.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

So Jim Can I ask your opinion?

I built a pvc frame I assume similar to yours basically a spine from bow to stern, I didn't place my bow and cockpit covers on since they need repair and I figure to do that over the winter so I made three pvc vertical supports 7' tall that give me a fairly steep angle for my tarp(blue 20'X30' from home depot). I then used 1/4 inch poly rope tied from the spine to the cleets to stabilize the spine and the tarp. Tarp is laid over the boat completely and ties to the trailer below. My question is do you think with my steep angle on my tarp I will have an issue with snow load or do you think it will shed snow easily? I think the angle is pretty close to a 45 degree angle at its flattest but I have never gone this route before so I figure since your experienced I could really use your advice.

 

[jimdd810]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

45 degrees is pretty steep so snow should slide off of it. If we get a wet snow then it freezes then it might be a little problem. I do go out and brush the snow off when it gets to be looking like it is to much. Your set up should work pretty good.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Going to do the "A" frame thing myself this year.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Funny thing is when my neighbor and I were building my frame (ironically we were using my boat as the test study instead of his 20 yr old 17 foot trackerLOL) he made the crack that "well if the snow sticks to it we can just spray pam all over it that should help!" and we both laughed it was really funny and then it sank in and we realized that it was actually a pretty good idea! I really wanted a steep angle since getting 20 inches in a day is fairly normal and 30 inches isn't unheard of so..... I built it so that if I need to I can build the vertical supports bigger if need be although I'm not sure I will need to, we also had 60 MPH winds today and everything looks fine. Time will tell

Thanks guys I appreciate your input!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

So Jim Can I ask your opinion?

I built a pvc frame I assume similar to yours basically a spine from bow to stern, I didn't place my bow and cockpit covers on since they need repair and I figure to do that over the winter so I made three pvc vertical supports 7' tall that give me a fairly steep angle for my tarp(blue 20'X30' from home depot). I then used 1/4 inch poly rope tied from the spine to the cleets to stabilize the spine and the tarp. Tarp is laid over the boat completely and ties to the trailer below. My question is do you think with my steep angle on my tarp I will have an issue with snow load or do you think it will shed snow easily? I think the angle is pretty close to a 45 degree angle at its flattest but I have never gone this route before so I figure since your experienced I could really use your advice.

Did that last year. Had a 45 degree slope on a 20 foot pontoon using 1 1/2" PVC. Had 6 supports front to back. Supported the frame to the deck railings. Covered with a tarp and tied down to the trailer all around. First snowfall was a 4 foot dumping. It collapsed.............but it sure was pretty. Going back to 2x4 this time.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Did that last year. Had a 45 degree slope on a 20 foot pontoon using 1 1/2" PVC. Had 6 supports front to back. Supported the frame to the deck railings. Covered with a tarp and tied down to the trailer all around. First snowfall was a 4 foot dumping. It collapsed.............but it sure was pretty. Going back to 2x4 this time.

you know two guys with similar interests (Jeep Man/LippCJ7) you would think that since were both into Jeeps you would at least know to lie to me!

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

In response to LippCJ7's comment about spraying the cover with pam cooking spray - it might work well. I used to regularly coat the inside of my snowblower auger and chute with pam to keep it from clogging in wet snow. Worked perfectly and would last a couple of uses before I doused it again. When we built the new house, it has a 1/4 mile driveway. I ditched the snowblower, bought a plow for the truck. First day out, the snow woudln't roll on the plow - out came the pam. Again, it worked great and I was able to roll heavy snow right off. I now have a poly plow and it works as is. Someone should try it and report back. As for me, my boat has a 2x4 structure over it (garage roof!)

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

So Jim Can I ask your opinion?

I built a pvc frame I assume similar to yours basically a spine from bow to stern, I didn't place my bow and cockpit covers on since they need repair and I figure to do that over the winter so I made three pvc vertical supports 7' tall that give me a fairly steep angle for my tarp(blue 20'X30' from home depot). I then used 1/4 inch poly rope tied from the spine to the cleets to stabilize the spine and the tarp. Tarp is laid over the boat completely and ties to the trailer below. My question is do you think with my steep angle on my tarp I will have an issue with snow load or do you think it will shed snow easily? I think the angle is pretty close to a 45 degree angle at its flattest but I have never gone this route before so I figure since your experienced I could really use your advice.

I spray my tarp with silicone. It helps the snow to slide off, & offers some waterproof protection. You can use Camp Dry but it's more expensive & it's the same thing. I also use it on my snowblower.

 

[backyardhockey3]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

I put on the regular cover. Then 2 x4 from bow to stern. 2x4 is supported at stern by a tree and I duct tape another 2x4 vertically to trailer at bow for my front attachment. Next is attaching 2x2's to the 2x4 spine. I then pound thoose green metal "posts" (5' high?) into the ground next to the boat. Low end of the 2x2 "rib" attaches to the post. Now a slippery tarp goes over the whole thing. The great part is there is air between the two covers except when we have tons of snow, so things stay dry. I also brush off after every snow. Might try a chain this year insted of the 2x4 spine

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

I'm still working on my setup, but I have my normal 'summer covers' on, which are a 2 piece design that snap all around the cockpit. They're vented.

I've parked the boat in front of a tree and used an old (thick) dog lead cable strung from the tree behind the boat to a 6 inch piece of pvc that I attached to the front of the trailer with ratchet straps.

I've got a 24x12 tarp/billboard I'm going to use to make a 'charlie brown tent', of sorts.

This, I hope, should give it room to breathe and also keep the elements out.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

I think we've similar ideas.

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Worked on my setup last night.

I pulled the boat in the lawn, by my shed in front of a tree. I leveled it up and had to dig out the back so I could put the outdrive all the way down...that was fun. Fortunately we're doing a neighborhood haunted hayride, and I made a fresh grave site with the dirt I dug out.

Anyway, I found an old dog lead, which is a stout piece of cable, and wrapped it around a tree behind the boat, about a foot above the top of the boat.

I then scavenged in my yard and found about 8 feet of 6 inch PVC. I used some old ratchet straps to attach it to the tongue and winch tower in front of the boat, ran the cable across the top of the boat, down thru the PVC and attached another ratchet strap to it and outside up to the top of the pvc and cranked it tight. I then used one more ratchet strap run from the top of the PVC forward to the front of the hitch and pulled everything tight.

I can hang from the cable and not really sag it, so I think she's good!

Next, I hung my 12x24 foot tarp, which is a used billboard I bought off ebay. It's black on the back, so I put that side facing out. The tarp is plenty big to cover the boat forward past the winch and back past the outdrive (18 ft. boat).

The billboard has a rope channel all the way around, so I plan to make it into a sort of charlie brown tent...I'm going to secure the leads with those corkscrew dog tie outs on all 4 corners and pull it tight as I can. If I need to, I'll put two additional tie downs in the center.

That's the plan!

 

[backyardhockey3]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Yes, I dig a hole for the outdrive also. But the grave...you sir have gone to a new level! Outstanding timing.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Most important rule if it hasn't been stated at least 10 times:

PULL THE PLUG!

my dad did the final winterization on mine last year, did everything right except that. Back of the cover wasn't tight, and not sure how many hundreds of gallons water snuck in but it was ugly.

 

[jimdd810]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Yes pull the plug. I didnt mention that because I do that for my customers when I winterize there boats. I put the drain plug in a zip lock bag and zip tie it to there steering wheel or tiller handle so they dont forget it.

 

[E_Man]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Hey,

I winterized recently and have yet to build my structure. I will probably be using 3 4x4's vertically along the spine and the structure will be approx 200 pounds that will resting partially on the bow seats and stern engine cover. Is that too heavy? The structure will be 8.5 feet above the boat's floor.

Also, I pulled my drain plug and raised the trailer jack to the highest position but the water won't move to the back. It seems to go forward. Any advise?

 

[E_Man]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Anyone?

Hey,

I winterized recently and have yet to build my structure. I will probably be using 3 4x4's vertically along the spine and the structure will be approx 200 pounds that will resting partially on the bow seats and stern engine cover. Is that too heavy? The structure will be 8.5 feet above the boat's floor.

Also, I pulled my drain plug and raised the trailer jack to the highest position but the water won't move to the back. It seems to go forward. Any advise?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

I wouldn't place any supports on seats. Not that they couldn't take the weight, but you'll ruin them for sure. If I understand your spine plan, you're looking for lateral support. How about tie down straps from your cleats to the top spline with the 4x4 verts? Then a strap off your bow eye and another from your ski hook (if equipped) or a bridal from your stern eyes for aft/bow stability? What I'm thinking is the top chord doesn't have to go beyond the engine cover if you're intending to go that high in the first place.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Ideas for winter storage outside in the snow.

Anyone?

I have a similar situation, what I do is place cribbing(wood blocks 2x4 OR 4x4 Placed in a perpendicular pattern level by level ) under three points on my trailer, stern on both corners and under the tongue, remove the tires, and lower the rear cribbing to about 6 inches above the ground then jack the front up until you have enough pitch in your boat and crib appropriately in the end the boat should be rock solid, all you have to do is wrap your hubs in plastic and your done until spring and store your wheels inside.

I wouldn't place any framing on the seats or engine cover my vertical supports go to the boat floor.