My Ty's Winter Blanket

[Jim1945]

Well, this season is really over. My Ty resting peacefully.

Also a pic of my project boat, a Catalina 27.

[tjr818]

They look all tucked in and ready for winter. However, put a rag in the butt end of that mast or you will have birds living in there all winter long. Don't ask me how I know

[Jim1945]

They look all tucked in and ready for winter. However, put a rag in the butt end of that mast or you will have birds living in there all winter long. Don't ask me how I know

Always a good idea.

[Dick Villamil]

I actually had mice living in the mast - and they chewed through the jib halyard that I normally use to hoist the mast - not fun trying to re-thread an internal halyard! I tape (use electrical tape) a plastic bag over the open end instead of stuffing a rag in it. I also use poly pipe hoops at 16 inch +/- intervals to support the cover from the snow loading over winter - most of it just slides off. Without the hoops the cover sags and the snow accumulates on the tarp over the decks and even in the cockpit. I drill a hole in the mid point of the poly pipe and use 14 gauge insulated wire to tie each hoop to the mast. I drilled holes to the ends and tie the hoop that overhangs the toe rail to the trailer. The poly pipe lasts longer than the tarp!

[jen1722terry]

Hey, good luck with the restoration of the Catalina 27, Jim.

As we speak, our next door neighbors are taking their Cat 27 from here in Nova Scotia down to the Bahamas. They got delayed with tranny failure and are only now in New Jersey, but the weather is cooperating and they're now making good southing . They have the shoal draft model with the winged keel and are hoping to enjoy the many shallow gunk holes on the trip.

Cheers!

Terry

[Skeep]

Great photographs on a clear and cold day in the north! Ditto to all the openings...critters and humans, and the wind.....

[Jim Walsh]

I actually had mice living in the mast - and they chewed through the jib halyard that I normally use to hoist the mast - not fun trying to re-thread an internal halyard! I tape (use electrical tape) a plastic bag over the open end instead of stuffing a rag in it. I also use poly pipe hoops at 16 inch +/- intervals to support the cover from the snow loading over winter - most of it just slides off. Without the hoops the cover sags and the snow accumulates on the tarp over the decks and even in the cockpit. I drill a hole in the mid point of the poly pipe and use 14 gauge insulated wire to tie each hoop to the mast. I drilled holes to the ends and tie the hoop that overhangs the toe rail to the trailer. The poly pipe lasts longer than the tarp!

Mast mice are one thing but you really have to watch out for the polyestermite. They can inflict terrible amounts of structural damage in a short period of time. Be vigilant!

[casampson]

Does anyone make a practice of taking their spreaders off for the winter? A while ago, heavy snowfall bent one of the spreaders on my Goldeneye. I've been taking them off ever since. Just wondering if others do the same.

[Jim Walsh]

I rather doubt an accumulation of snow bent your spreader. You must have had another defect which caused the failure to occur coincidentally at the same time as the snowfall.

[tjr818]

Was your spreader supporting a tarp? The snow load on a tarp can be significant

[ariasis]

Casampson I take my spreaders off. Also I support my mast from under the snow load in MI will bend the mast. I went down to check on my boat and about had a heart attack when I saw how far it bent. Got the snow off and all was well but glad I didn't wait another week.

[casampson]

Yes, there was a tarp over the mast, which was acting as a ridgepole over the boat. It was only a 19-foot boat, and the spreaders were not really that substantial. There was a heck of a lot of snow one day, and one of them just bent. I support the mast on my Typhoon in three places before covering it. Hopefully, that is enough.

[Jim1945]

Hey, good luck with the restoration of the Catalina 27, Jim.

As we speak, our next door neighbors are taking their Cat 27 from here in Nova Scotia down to the Bahamas. They got delayed with tranny failure and are only now in New Jersey, but the weather is cooperating and they're now making good southing . They have the shoal draft model with the winged keel and are hoping to enjoy the many shallow gunk holes on the trip.

Cheers!

Terry

I bought the C27 before I bought my Ty. It's the biggest boat I've ever owned and thought it would be great to have something I could spend an overnight on and make some short voyages. But after having it in the water for a couple years I realized I like small boat sailing much better than big boat sailing. And never went on any excursions. Plus I sail alone 99% of the time(family not into sailing) and handling a larger boat myself is a handful. I had planned to improve the C27 over time but it's been on the hard for a couple years now and have to make the improvements now to get it ready for sale.

[Jim1945]

Does anyone make a practice of taking their spreaders off for the winter? A while ago, heavy snowfall bent one of the spreaders on my Goldeneye. I've been taking them off ever since. Just wondering if others do the same.

Always take my spreaders off before covering.

[Jim1945]

I actually had mice living in the mast - and they chewed through the jib halyard that I normally use to hoist the mast - not fun trying to re-thread an internal halyard! I tape (use electrical tape) a plastic bag over the open end instead of stuffing a rag in it. I also use poly pipe hoops at 16 inch +/- intervals to support the cover from the snow loading over winter - most of it just slides off. Without the hoops the cover sags and the snow accumulates on the tarp over the decks and even in the cockpit. I drill a hole in the mid point of the poly pipe and use 14 gauge insulated wire to tie each hoop to the mast. I drilled holes to the ends and tie the hoop that overhangs the toe rail to the trailer. The poly pipe lasts longer than the tarp!

I have covered my Ty as pictured for the past couple years and never had a problem with snow accumulating. The mast is supported(two ends and middle) in three places.