Full Boat Cover for the Far Reach

[John Stone]

I recently purchased a full boat cover made for a CD 36 by North Sails Annapolis. It was made in 2011 but had very little use. Maybe a season...maybe not that much. It has three parts that zip together. You can put it in the boat by yourself. It does not require a frame, unless the mast is down. It came with 18 bags that can be filled with sand and suspended from loops in the skirt so the cover can be used with the boat in the water.

It did not fit perfectly as we don’t have a bow or stern pulpit and we have two shrouds per side for our double spreader mast where a stock boat has a single cap shroud. Mostly the fit issue was we have six inch taller stanchions and they are in a different location than the original stanchions. So we test fit the cover and marked where it needed to be modified. We took it home and Gayle sewed in it for a couple hours. We added leather chafing patches and some spectra web loops.

Because we need to raise the cover six inches I incorporated a spreader bar. I will see how it works. But, I may have to add a 2x4 riser on a platform that sits in the top of the boom instead. Not that hard to do if necessary.

I was concerned about the cover and lines chafing in the topside Awlgrip paint s we pitched some pool noodles and ran the lines through them. We will keep an eye on them and see if they run the paint.

The whole point was to reduce the aging effects of weather on the boat.

[robwm]

Very nice indeed! I've been thinking about doing something along these lines for my CD22. What type of material is the cover made of and can you share something about the range in costs? Thanks,

Robert,
Hunky Dory, CD22

[Jim Walsh]

Nice fitted cover. Is that opening amidships a vent or...... ?

[John Stone]

Very nice indeed! I've been thinking about doing something along these lines for my CD22. What type of material is the cover made of and can you share something about the range in costs? Thanks,

Robert,
Hunky Dory, CD22

Robert, don’t know what the material is. I’ll see if I can find out. It has a coating on it so it is not very breathable. I bought it used. But I think in 2011 it was about $3800.

Nice fitted cover. Is that opening amidships a vent or...... ?

Thanks Jim. I think it’s just a vent to let in air and light. It is zippered on two sides so it folds back like a big triangle. It’s about 30” x 30”. Gayle sewed a tab on it so we can tie it back. I’m happy to have a cover on the boat.

[John Stone]

Because the stanchions on the FR are taller than stock ones the cover does not fit correctly when draped on the boom. For the last few months I suspended the cover at the correct height by employing a spreader bar. I was worried that snow/ice would cause problems by putting excessive strain on the tabbing and halyard. So, over the last couple afternoons I built a ridge-pole that is supported by the boom. I glued carpet to the bottom to protect the boom. It’s about 16” tall x 15’8” long. I secured it with some 3/16” line so it can’t move around. I have not removed the spreader bar yet but the weight is now on the ridge pole. Much more secure. The whole thing comes apart in 8’ sections and stores flat.

I have really enjoyed having the cover. Significant reduction in wear and tear on the boat when it’s stored for long periods of time.

[Jim Walsh]

Very nice, the increased pitch should help it shed the precipitation, frozen or otherwise. A decent fitted cover lasts for many years and is best for the boat if proper ventilation is provided.

[John Stone]

Very nice, the increased pitch should help it shed the precipitation, frozen or otherwise. A decent fitted cover lasts for many years and is best for the boat if proper ventilation is provided.

I agree with Jim, ventilation is essential. The material used in the cover is very durable but does not breathe. I keep the front open to allow air to pass. But I’d like to add some effective ventilation flaps or some other ventilation options but I don’t know how to do that. So if anyone has ideas or experience with increasing airflow I’d be interested.

Seems I remember reading about small solar powered vents designed designed to be sewn in to a cover for something like this.

As it stands, I view this cover as a “winter” cover. Better ventilation could turn it into a four season cover.

[Keith]

Hi John,

I would suggest a few vent like they use on the shrink wrap and sew them in near the top of the cover. The solar gain will heat up the space under the cover and the heat air will rise out through the vents and be replaced with colder air from the deck level at the bow and stern where you already have some openings. I was at MOONDANCE yesterday and it was 45 deg outside but under the dark green tarps it was 58 deg.

Keith

[John Stone]

Hi John,

I would suggest a few vent like they use on the shrink wrap and sew them in near the top of the cover. The solar gain will heat up the space under the cover and the heat air will rise out through the vents and be replaced with colder air from the deck level at the bow and stern where you already have some openings. I was at MOONDANCE yesterday and it was 45 deg outside but under the dark green tarps it was 58 deg.

Keith

Keith, I will look into it. What do those vents look like?. Winter is easy here. But if I were to leave the boat on the hard during a Carolina summer it’s going to require significant ventilation. Maybe mesh side curtains. It can be a 100° here in the summer with very high humidity. So it would require significant ventilation under the cover and I guess a dehumidifier in the boat.

[Keith]

John,

Like most things they come in all sizes and shapes. Just google "shrink wrap vents" and you will get a plethora of options. Here's some examples, even a wind powered one. I hadn't seen that before.

Keith

shrink wrap vents.png (416.64 KiB) Viewed 490 times

[Jim Walsh]

My cover has six soft “clamshell” style vents and they are screened. This is posted as one example and not as the best solution. In my neck of the woods, for five months on the hard each year, it works fine.

[John Stone]

My cover has six soft “clamshell” style vents and they are screened. This is posted as one example and not as the best solution. In my neck of the woods, for five months on the hard each year, it works fine.

That’s a great set up Jim. Very nice. But you are correct...you are using it as a winter cover in NE. I need something I could use in the summer. Doable but requires some thinking. For now, this works well. And it’s great to have a full cover.