Snow collapsed my cover support...

[generator12]

I noticed that the cover had sunk into the boat, telling me that the weight of the ice/snow had overcome the support (1/2 inch TW conduit). So I got out there today and had to burn about a quart of gas in the snow-blower just getting access to the boat.

Then I pulled about 150 lb. of snow and ice off the cover, drained the remaining water with a siphon, and peeled the cover back. Not too bad inside, but the support had bent downward and now supported nothing.

I removed it, re-contoured it, and reinstalled it. Then I fabbed a vertical support to place under the center of the span, thus making two short spans.

I'd had a very similar support in my previous boat for some thirty years and never had this happen. When they say that the snowstorm of two weeks ago was a doosie, they ain't kiddin' bro'.

Attached is a photo of the cover support in happier days.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Snow collapsed my cover support...

Glad you got it taken care of quickly and without major issues or damage. Is that support attached to the windshield? If so, with that much snow accumulation, I would fabricate some standing supports which will not attatch to, nor stress that winshield and frame. If it were just the weight of water rolling off, no problem. The weight of snow and ice for prolonged periods of time, though, is a lot of unecessarry stress. Again, glad there was no major damage.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Snow collapsed my cover support...

I just had the same thing happen to mine. I didn't go and check on it soon enough. It has collapsed and now was filled with a huge hunk of ice and water. Fortunately no damage and the cover held and the boat is try. I stuck a step ladder under there as a temporary measure until I can build some kind of support structure.