Winter Cover

[JWSutcliffe]

I don't often offer up product endorsements, but at the risk of offending anyone, I want to provide this morsel of information. IF you are looking for a winter cover (and please, don't use this as a starting point to debate the relative merits of different options), then let me suggest you consider ShipShape covers. Despite literally being in the back yard of the other big name purveyor of winter covers in New England, a 2 month wait resulted in no response to my request for a quote. In contrast, Jim Welinski at ShipShape Canvas provided a quote within days of my request, answered my questions quickly, and shipped a perfectly fitting cover within 5 days. Bravo and thank you to them.

[Jim Walsh]

Customer satisfaction is a great thing.

[moctrams]

I totally agree. The cover on Gabbiano made by Shipshape fits great and they work with you to get all the dimensions correct. Folks at the harbor are really impressed with these folks and I'm sure they will get more business from the folks at Flag Harbor.

[Bob Ohler]

JW, Moctrams, do you mind if I ask approximately what you paid for your winter cover? I see one of you has a CD30 and the other a CD31.

Thanks.

[moctrams]

The price was $1500 including bowsprit cover. Great people to deal with.

[Joe Myerson]

The price was $1500 including bowsprit cover.

Wow! That's significantly less than I paid from the other major purveyor of canvas boat covers in New England.
However, I found the folks at the other company (OK, it's Fairclough) easy to deal with and very responsive when I had a stupid question. (They were not dismissive, and they didn't acknowledge that my question was dumb.)

This is the first year that I've had a canvas cover--and it certainly is an improvement over shrinkwrap or tarps thrown over a poorly made wooden frame.

--Joe

[tjr818]

We used a place called The Canvas Store. The cover is now in it's fifth Mid-West winter, it has endured high winds, ice and 12" snow falls with no problems. We have used it with the boat on the hard and in the water wintering in the frozen Mississippi. We did pay a bit more than the you, but we have been very happy with it. I would buy from them again, however following a hint from another post, perhaps a "Berry" color would be better. Where DO they find those berries in the Winter

[Jim Walsh]

The price was $1500 including bowsprit cover.

Wow! That's significantly less than I paid from the other major purveyor of canvas boat covers in New England.
However, I found the folks at the other company (OK, it's Fairclough) easy to deal with and very responsive when I had a stupid question. (They were not dismissive, and they didn't acknowledge that my question was dumb.)

This is the first year that I've had a canvas cover--and it certainly is an improvement over shrinkwrap or tarps thrown over a poorly made wooden frame.

--Joe

I have to agree with you Joe, I'm on my fourth season and still very satisfied. I especially appreciate the waterline to waterline protection.

[JWSutcliffe]

About $1700 including shipping, storage bag, and attachment lines. Worth every penny.

[JWSutcliffe]

And I might add, it was a wonderfully cathartic experience dumpstering the homebuilt wood frame and well worn (5 years of service) Harbor Freight plastic tarps! Not to mention the appreciative comments from my usually supportive wife who was tired of the yearly covering effort.

[Oswego John]

Skip,

What are you now using for a support frame?

O J

[JWSutcliffe]

OJ:

The new cover uses the main and club booms as the support structure. I added a 2 x 4 boom crutch to take the load off the main topping lift.

[Bob Ohler]

Any chance that we can get some photos of these winter covers installed on the boat?

[tjr818]

Here are two of Slainte. The first is in the water in 2010. The second is on the hard in 2014 (before bottom job).

Cover 2010.jpg

Cover 2014.jpg

[gates_cliff]

Great photos thanks, I'm drooling!

Just wondering do you always leave the cover on when in the water? When docked though, I'd guess!