Typhoon Winter Cover Frame Ideas

[bhartley]

Miranda is due to splash next week before she heads to New England. In Georgia, snow is clearly not an issue so our boat covers are pretty basic.

I need to go ahead and get the basics together for our winter frame. I have a photo of one (sorry to steal your photo if this is your's). Any thoughts on this type of frame? I already have a good silver tarp.

Thanks!

Bly

[John Ring]

<center> <img width="540" src="http://www.yachttantalus.com/Tantalus%2 ... %20Fwd.jpg">

It's a little early to be thinking these kinds of thoughts, but I used thin pvc tubing bent into arches with a plastic cover.. It's cheap and easy to build.

You can see more here: http://www.yachttantalus.com/Winter%20Cover.htm

John Ring
CD28 Tantalus

[Ron M.]

I've been using a similar set up to John's. A shrink wrap cover has lasted 5 seasons so far and I expect to get a few more out of it . I store the mast off the boat just to keep it out of the way.
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[Appleton68]

Those look like a lot of work. I have a Typhoon & live outside Boston. I put a X shaped piece of wood on the stern, take about 4 pieces of stapping screwed together on top of each other, lay the stapping on the X and put it through the footing for mast on top of the cabin and put a blue tarp over the whole thing. Tarps wear out after awhile, but it works well.

[Mike Raehl]

When I owned a Typhoon, my winter cover was a large and a smaller blue tarp supported by the boom which was stored on deck. The tarps overlapped each other and were tied under the boat with line and shock cords. Two tarps allowed the boom to be totally covered. Also, to get enough slope for snow and rain to run off, the boom was supported at the bow and the stern with four foot high wood 'X' frames. No additional framework was necessary. The new owner successfully towed the boat to new storage with the winter cover in place, a trip of thirty, non-highway miles.

[Les Bloom]

HI BLY,

I like the wood frame Idea. If you have or will receive any plans or if anyone reading the board has any for a typhoon cover, I would be interested in they too. I hate to reinvent the wheel. that is one reason I love this board.

[bhartley]

I appreciate all the suggestions!

I should have included that our boat will be left totally unattended in MA during 11 months of the year; therefore, the need for a more substantial cover than the simple options.

Without a bow pulpit the spine will take a little more planning, but something will be constructed this week!

Bly

[Dick Villamil]

I made H frames lined with carpeting to support the mast - placed these on stern deck and fore deck. I then placed carpet under the H frames to avoid abrasion on the deck. Pad the corners of the stern and any projections with a piece of carpet. Tie the mast to the deck cleats and amidships to the jib cleats. Make sure that the mast is elevated about 18"-24" above the deck then cover with a single tarp - use a better grade than the thin blue poly tarps that are cheap. Tie 1" poly pipe to the mast by drilling a hole in the poly pipe (it has a natural curve to it and will not cause abrasion to the tarp). Then extend each piece of poly pipe over the rtoe rail and drill a hole in both ends - tie to the trailer or cradle or around to the opposing side. Then drape the tarp over the mast - (remove the spreaders and pad any projections from the spreader cups with a piece of carpet). Leave an opening at the stern and bow but lace everything tightly to avoid movement of the tarp. Do this at least three weeks before you leave so you can return and tuighten the ropes after the break-in period. This hav worked for Victoria with snow rain ice and wind for a couple of years (and my other boats for the past 20 years in Vermont where the winter is severe. A wood or PVC frame tends to form wear points that work through the poly tarp in a couple of months. Poly pipe is smooth and doesn't cause the wear points. I also trailer the mast this way without the tarp and it has done fine. It is also a wise idea to have a friend check on the boat once in a while - just in case.... no matter what type of cover you use. Also, place a fresh coat of teak treatment before you cover up. I use Cetol Light and it looks fresh in the spring. Also apply a double coat of wax or polish to the entire topsides - it is easier to remove the tons of dust when you return! Have a good trip and good luck.

[Joe Montana]

I use one long, flexible board (about 1"x 3", approximately 20 feet long) that's anchored at the bow and stern in a slight arc. It's also supported in two places along the centerline: at the mast step on a 2x4 that sticks up a few inches above the deck through the mast hole in the deck (the daysailer mast is stepped on the keel). A second vertical centerline support is an "upside-down "T" made from 2x4's that is wedged athwartship on the cockpit seats, about where the cockpit cleats are, and is slightly lower than the mast-step support. Anchored at these four points, the 20-foot board is very strong and sturdy "arc". Everything is pretty much held in place with non-stretch plastic tape which is tied to existing cleats. A single large tarp goes over the whole boat. I get about 3-years out of an inexpensive tarp, and reuse all the wood every year. For all ties I scrounge that white no-stretch "plastic" tape from boatyards (in the spring, before it goes into the dumpster) that is used to shrink wrap the big boats (most of it is reusable from year to year, too).