Winter Cover Styles

[Southpaws2]

I am planning to buy a new winter cover for my MkII next fall. (Yes I am planning early!) I was about to buy the usual "tent style" cover when I came across a vendor who was selling a new "blanket style" cover which does not go over the stanchions. Rather it lies on the deck, goes down about 12" over the toe rail and only requires 3 support tubes for the cockpit. The vendor says that 80% of all their sales are now blanket style covers. Very attractive for me with limited storage space in my condo locker and apparently these covers are very easy to put on by only one person. Does anyone out there have any experience with these?

Rick Verbeek (Southpaws)
Toronto
MkII 1763

[Pat T]

I didn't want to continuing to pay the $600 plus (and rising) anymore. Besides the boat yard didn't do such a good job and they did it when they were ready. So I broke down and I purchased this winter cover from Boat Tailors in WI this past Fall.
It is 2 piece and lightweight. I can easily carry both pieces up a ladder if I had to. It doesn't take up much space either. Figure about half the volume of your mainsail. It is conneced by zippers about midway. Access is aft at the ladder via zipper also. Five vents are sewn in along the top. Venting is also via the base of the stanchions but this also allows a little snow in too. It has 2 supports underneath made from 2 X 4's. One supports the boom and the other runs from the mast to the bow. Other support and shape is provided by running lines from the forward support and boom down to the deck. By going down to the deck you get a steeper angle and thus snow cannot build up as easily on the cover. This was always an issue when going over the lifelines. Snow would always build up and put a lot of weight on the lifelines and stanchions. I was always knocking snow off from underneath when I made my monthly visits. As you can see I have removed my lifelines. This is not necessary but I take them home to clean and preserve them.

We did get a couple of big snows so far and some snow did come to rest on the cover. I knocked it off as long as I was there but I believe it would have eventually melted away with no issues. Next year I will probably add one or two more wooden supports to the aft part of the cover rather than using the lines underneath going from boom to deck.

The cover is designed to be installed by one person. The vendor did install the first time which is why it looks so good now. As with anything I will be able to provide better comments in a few more seasons.

[windward]

Pat,

That is a nice looking cover. I should be thinking about getting one too. What did Boat Trailers charge for this? There was a vendor at Chicago Strictly Sail that as I recall was charging about $2000 for a similar cover although I think his design used the jib halyard to hold the tent over the deck and the topping lift or main halyard over the boom. I have his card somewhere with the brochures.

Richard
Cat36 #1347

[Pat T]

Richard,
I think this was about $3300. On the expensive side yes but I tried cheaper with my past boat first. Boat Tailors will come out and measure each boat and would not assume your 36 is the same as my 36. Then, as I said they ensure a good fit by making the first installation themselves. I had my dodger/bimini work done by them also earlier in the year so I was pretty confident in their workmanship.
Sounds like the other company you speak of at Strictly Sail is the Canvas Store. I know other have had luck with them but I ordered a cover for my 30 and the thing didn't fit. Had a real bad experience with them which I won't detail now. Their cover is very heavy weight and lighter in color. A dark color helps melt the snow away.

[Southpaws2]

Well the prices north of the border are almost exactly what you guys are quoting. $600 for something I will only use for 6 months then throw away is what got me started too. I like the sytle of your cover Richard esp since it doesn't go over the stanchions. I definitely what to keep the wieght of all the snow off them. Looks like the cloth is very light weight. Likely a coated polyester. I think I'm headed in the right direction. Thanks, Rick