Winter Cover
 

Hi,

This is my first winter with my boat. Any idea what size tarp I should buy? Lowes has a 30 x 20 and I found a website that has 30x16. I live in the Mid-Atlantic area at the North end of the Chesapeake. I know this is a basic question but ant help is appreciated.
Thanks.

A lot of guys use oval pool covers. THey have a drawl string to keep them tight. I haven't tried one yet.

Osteps is correct. A winter Pool cover is the way to go. Get the best one and it will last you for many many years. I usually order the "Gold" cover. Yes, it's the most expensive but it also lasts the longest, and when you compare it to an actual "boat" cover it's hundreds of dollars cheaper.

https://www.nationalpoolwholesalers....saaeglms_d_bwe

Get the 12 x 24 foot 15 year cover. Remember that these are pool covers, so there's an extra 4 feet of "skirt" all around. Normally that would hang down on a pool side, so really the cover size is 20 x 32. More than enough to cover a "V", the outboard and most of the tires. The 8 year is way too thin IMHO and while the 12 year is good, for the few extra bucks I like the 15 much better. I swear, for the number of people from this site that I've sent to them they should pay me. lol But they are a good company, with fast shipping and a responsive service dept if it's ever needed.

Thanks for the help with the cover.

Thanks for the help with the cover.

Pool cover on link indicates " allows water to seep through."

Maybe I missed a waterproof unit as option but I'm looking to replace the " heavy duty" waterproof tarp I replace every year with something more durable........and also waterproof.

I used a 10x20 harbor freight canopy for the last 2 years. It wasn't new when I put it over boat. Still get a little water in unless u put a tarp on the front or back. And u can get under it to work on plus it gets air. THey have an aluminum frame, cost is around $100 I think.

You just have to knock the snow off it. Big snow storm last year took it down.

I always use a sheet of VisQueen (Plastic sheeting) under my tarps. Never have any water intrusion and each sheet of the plastic lasts several years since it gets no UV sunlight to degrade it. Comes in a 20 x 100 foot roll and you just cut off 20 feet at a time so it lasts for years and years.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Clear-Plast...!-1:rk:13:pf:0

There always seems to be this 'belly' in any boat cover (on a dual console) about half way between the helm and the transom, I made a 'strut' out of 2X4s to hold the cover up so that everything is like a roof and water rolls off as opposed to collecting. If you dont do this you can have some HUGE puddles inside your boat. I theory you just leave it and the water evaporates in the spring I guess....but I dont roll that way.