Another newbie question.
What is better or are there plusses and minus's for shrinkwrapping or a full
quality cover over the Winter (Chesapeake area).

I have friends who use covers (ones that breathe they say). Some others that
shrinkwrap. One had his shrinkwrapped and it got alot of mildew (maybe it
did not have vents?). Two friends say to get a quality cover that will
breathe and can be put on the boat while being trailored so that it can be
used all year if kept on a trailer or transported.

Opinions?

David

David Ditch wrote:

Another newbie question.
What is better or are there plusses and minus's for shrinkwrapping or a full
quality cover over the Winter (Chesapeake area).

I have friends who use covers (ones that breathe they say). Some others that
shrinkwrap. One had his shrinkwrapped and it got alot of mildew (maybe it
did not have vents?). Two friends say to get a quality cover that will
breathe and can be put on the boat while being trailored so that it can be
used all year if kept on a trailer or transported.

Opinions?

David



A good shrinkwrapper will use bands to support the plastic so the
rainwater/snow won't pool on the cover. A few heavy snow/thaw cycles may
play havoc with your expensive cloth boat cover, and even stretch it out.



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Email sent to is never read.

I use a cover on my trailered 18' I/O (which resides in my laneway over
winter) mainly to keep it clean ... it already has the standard vinyl cover.
It and the vinyl cover (I remove the side curtains) are set up to breathe so
no condensation. My boat's still a fixer upper so I will want access early
spring likely a month or so before I dewinterize. For me, shrink wrap would
be an added yearly expense and an inconvenience. Now if I had say a new
thirty footer, lotsa bucks, and did none of the spring/fall maintenance
myself ... I'd be saying haul it out, clean it up, wrap it up ... I'll be
back next summer.

"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Another newbie question.
What is better or are there plusses and minus's for shrinkwrapping or a
full
quality cover over the Winter (Chesapeake area).

I have friends who use covers (ones that breathe they say). Some others
that
shrinkwrap. One had his shrinkwrapped and it got alot of mildew (maybe it
did not have vents?). Two friends say to get a quality cover that will
breathe and can be put on the boat while being trailored so that it can be
used all year if kept on a trailer or transported.

Opinions?

David

"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Another newbie question.
What is better or are there plusses and minus's for shrinkwrapping or a
full
quality cover over the Winter (Chesapeake area).


I'd say it depends on the type and size of vessel. Covers for small to
mid-sized trailer boats are readily available, and ought to be more
economical than wrapping in the long run. On the other hand, I know one
fellow who had a full zippered cover, including flybridge, made up about 10
years ago for his 32 ft sportfisher. Cost was about $3000, in lieu of
annual shrink-wrap of about $350 at the time, and much more now. It is
still in fine shape, and has more than paid for itself. It breathes well;
he's quite pleased and never seems to have any moisture problems.

JG