winter cover for imroned boat

[crazy charlie]

Had my entire hull of 280 regal done with imron.It looks incredible.I have been asked on many occasions if the boat is brand new so I am very happy with it.I have recently read that winter covering may be a problem because if any moisture is trapped it will cause the paint to bubble.Now I really need some suggestions on how to cover it and avoid the potential problem.I dont see how I can cover the arch without the shrinkwrap pressing against it. Charlie

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

CC, did you check the covers here on iBaots? They can make a custom cover (or may already have one) that is made with breathable sunbrella. I just bought one of the sharkskin ones for my 28' formula and was amazed at the quality and great price. Worth checking out. They have a 40% off deal going.

 

[n0ukf]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Don't automobile body shops use Imron too? What do they say about moisture or covers? I'll see about asking my cousin tomorrow (body shop).

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

I will check them out Ralph,thanks but my concern is having the cover in contact with the paint where moisture will be a problem Charlie

 

[n0ukf]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

I just asked my cousin about Imron. He said that as long as the paint has cured completely, water shouldn't be any problem.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

CC - have you seen those instant ports - sort of look like quanset huts made from tarps? I've see them for a few hundred on places like eBay. These things are full enclosed too. Maybe just what you're looking for.

 

[Link]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

CC<br />As Ralph said you can get a 10W X 20L X 9" 2"H<br />Fully enclosed for 199.97... this is new BTW.<br />Just be sure to anchore it down! Wife and I put<br />onr together (without sides) and came home the <br />next night to a note on my front door from my<br />neighbor behind me.. the wind had picked it up<br />carried it over a 6ft fence and set it down in<br />his back yard UPRIGHT <br />I'm going to order this item tomorrow since this<br />winter I need the garage for other things than the<br />boat <br />Check it out<br /> http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=82754 <br /><br />Luck to ya<br />Link

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Thanks for the replies guys.I hope Amigadragons cousin is right but everything i have read states otherwise.The trapped moisture seems to be where the blistering can occur.I have seen what Ralph and Link are talking about but the size I would need gets a little pricey.A 31ft boat stem to stern with a 10 1/2 beam with an arch is a lot to cover.Some I saw that would fit get into the thousands.So I have to figure a way to cover it with some type of buffer to keep the cover off the paint.Hopefully a good shrink wrap guy has the answer. Charlie

 

[handball]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Hi charlie,<br />Since I have some experience with imron paint I thought I would add my 2 cents. Back in 96 my c&c landfall 43 sailboat got damaged by a boat that broke loose from a mooring in mt. sinai harbor.My boat was in a slip. Any way we went to florida that winter and had our boat repainted with a dark blue imron covered with clear coat, she had gold cove stripe and gold leaf lettering on the stern, We got complements from everyone it just looked fantastic.Back to winter covers my personal experience was to cover the boat only to the rubrail as any contact with the cover on the topsides took its toll on the finish in some places it would dull it down and would have to be polished out to get the shine back.Except for having to remove any snow sometimes covers do more harm then good.Shrink wraps tend to hold moisture in the boat during the winter and almost never have enough venting for air circultion , in turn can cause mildew in the interior.I have seen fellows put sections of pipe insulation on the tarp tiedowns and still there would be rub marks on the topsides in the spring.My last boat had a allgriped finish , (32 ft. sail)I ended up just putting a heavy duty tarp over the cockpit, and would remove the snow from the deck the next day.My advice to you is if you want to cover the boat frame it to the rubrail only and try to keep the tiedowns from the topsides. If you do use shrinkwrap tell the fellow you want plenty of ventillation, they can install clam shell vents etc.Bt the way try not to use any abrasives on the finish at all just wash it with a mild soap and watch it shine for a long time in the future.<br />The finish on my last boat was the single bigest factor in selling here very quickly and for the same money I had paid 4 years ago. The big landfall 43 I bought for 89k and sold for 130k about 5 years later, it was the finish to that sold that boat quickly.<br /><br />Bill

 

[Link]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Hey crazy charlie, didn't know you owned a<br />"real" boat... buy two of them <br />Have to agree with handball on this one. My<br />only experience was with new boats shrink<br />wrapped from the facrory... did exactly what <br />handball said..we corrected the problem by<br />replacing the wrap and putting little blocks of<br />styrofoam where needed to keep the heatshrink<br />off the gelcoat<br /><br />Link

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Hey Link,I wish I had a spare thousand or two$ I saw one of those framed covers that I would live to get.It looks like a garage,vents ,doors and all.I may look into indoor storage which is rare around here.My saving grace is that the arch did not come out perfect and the painter(who I would highly recommend)offered to repaint it.I think I will ask him if it is ok if I wait until next year to have him redo the arch.This way I can experiment with covering using styro pieces as a buffer and only covering to the rubrail as posters have recomended.If I have any problems with it ,it will be redone anyway.And this definitely is a "real" boat.It is our first season with the 280 Regal and we could not be happier.Its big,heavy,wide,dry,roomy ,and takes the chop great. Charlie

 

[Link]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

crazy charlie <br />Sure does sound like a nice ride. Post a Pic some<br />time if ya get the chance.<br /><br />Link

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Will do Link!! I have to figure out how to do it though.I am not the computer wiz that most are.I am having a tough enough time getting a sunny day here on Long Island to use the boat and take a few snapshots. Charlie

 

[seadogg2]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Charlie,<br />I have a friend that had his Wellcraft 220 Nova painted w/ Imron aout 10 years ago. He has a custom fitted coverw/ fiberglass bows for it and then uses a big tarp over that for winter storage. The boat looks as good as the day it was originally painted. Also if you do get a scratch in it the imron blends in so you can't tell it was done.<br />Seadogg

 

[neumanns]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

I was also looking for a winter solution and decided that the portables would proabably not hold up long term and the storage costs were prohibitive not top mention I would just as soon have it at home. It does not fit into my garage. The cost of shrinkwrap over several years would also add up. All things considered this is what I decided to do, so far my cost is about $400 should be under $600 when finished. I am going to drop the sides down only four-five foot to discourage rodents and promote ventilation. The size is 10h x 12w x 27l. So far I am very happy with my decision, I have completed a few more items on it today. I am going to do the back the same as the sides and on the front I will put a section that hangs on eyehooks that i will prop up with a stick sort of like a airplane hanger door. I did the labor myself to keep cost down but if you have the room you can build one to your specs for not a lot of money.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: winter cover for imroned boat

Thanks seadogg. Nice work neumann!!!!I was thinking of something similar but I would have to go too high.I am looking into seeing if my arch is easily removable.If it is this would make everything much easier. Charlie