Conference vicki::boats

    
    generally storage is by the foot.... it varies, about $10 seems
    
    average for outside storage.  so it would be $180 for the winter.
    
    i'm not sure about inside storage costs.
    
    JIm

    
    On my way to work this morning along Rt 3A in Litchfield there was
    a sign for Boat storage.  If you know where Wilson Farms is, it's 
    across the street, heading north.
    
    I'll get the phone number for you and enter it here.
    
    marcia

I know a few folks over the years have mentioned building A frames over boats
in order to be able to do a little work on them over the winter.

Has anyone built one of these economically that worked out well?
Any comments on success or failures of construction methods?

I'm considering putting a tarp over a stud (or pipe) frame. For the tarp I'm 
considering one described in E&B as the Taylor "ultimate super heavy duty 
gray boat cover" tarp "for severe winter conditions - extra heavy 5.4oz 
polyethelene laminated to 1000 denier black inner mesh core - reinforced 
corners - rustproofgrommets - withstands gale winds and heavy snow loads"  

One of the keys to the longevity of the tarp should be how well it's 
anchored, to avoid wind whippping.

The above 20x25 tarp is only $44.99, a 25x25 10oz nylon tarp at a canvas
shop would be close to $300, a little more than I had in mind. 

Comments?
    
    -donmac (ps: total length from prop to hitch is close to 25')

    
    Its up to you, but a canvas (real canvas) will outlast any other
    cover by at least 10-1.
    
    in the long run its short money. besides if you buy another you 
    can still use it.
    
    The wind whipping you mention is caused by the lack of weight,
    poly tarps are to light.
    
    However, if you take the boat home, and can provide some protection
    from the wind, the above may not be needed.
    
    JIm

    I bought my "silver colored, extra heavy duty" 20 X 15 (??) tarp from
    Northern Hydraulics.  This tarp's construction should be in no way
    confused with the cheap blue tarps you can buy anywhere.  It is
    HEAVY DUTY!  Much heavier duty than my canvas mooring cover which will
    have to be replaced after only about 4 years.  Last winter I just
    draped the cover over the boat with the mooring cover/bows in place.
    It worked fine but I had to keep cleaning the snow off.  This year I am
    going to make a tent-like structure so that the snow will slide right
    off.  I don't believe just running a rope between two end poles will do
    it because this silver tarp is pretty heavy all by itself.  I can buy
    rough cut 2 x 3's (10 feet long) at the local sawmill real cheap.  I'll
    probably nail two of them together to make a 16' top piece (my boat is
    only a 15 footer) and then nail them to a set of A-frames at each end
    of the boat.  Plenty of tie-downs to keep it from flapping.  The boat
    is parked down in the woods where it is already sheltered from wind
    gusts.  I highly recommend the silver tarps.  Fyi, I think I paid less
    than $40 but that was a couple of years ago.  Also, the silver tarps
    are specially treated to resist the damaging effects of the sun's rays.
    Something that destroys the standard blue tarps in no time and is doing
    a good job on my canvas mooring cover.
    Wayne

I store my boat 22' in my driveway in the winter.  I have an "A" fram made of
wood 2x6 and 1x6 which I drape a blue tarp over.  I secure it with bungee
cords to the trailer.  The bungee seems to work best for me because it keeps
the tarp tight.  With rope it keeps loosening up.  The tarp came with the boat
so it's at least 5 years old and still together.  Sure it has some pulls and
small rips in it but it does the job.  I do brush the snow off it and if any
water accumulates in low areas I drain it off.

The next time I make a frame I will use PVC pipe.  It will come apart easier
and will be easier to store.  Make it, then number all the connections.

Gordon

    re:  However, if you take the boat home, and can provide some
         protection from the wind, the above may not be needed.
            
    The boat is home most of the time, I trailer it and keep it in the
    driveway, covered with very HEAVY duty custom (Ranger Deluxe) cover.
    
    I'm looking at something to do more than keep the snow off, I want to
    be able to work on the boat over the winter, the construction will be a
    mini/temp garage if you will.
    
    I typically head south around the end of March.  For the last 5 years or 
    so I've spent a couple days digging the boat out of a snow bank, then 
    spent another couple of days preping it, in sometimes near blizzard 
    conditons.
    
    I'm looking to be able to keep the boat mostly out of the elements so I 
    can do a little work on it over the winter, then prep the boat in 
    somewhat comfort and be able to pull out of the driveway at the end of 
    March, leaving the snow behind (without spending an arm and a leg 8^).
    
    -don mac  

    
    Oh,,,,,   your looking to build a little grenhouse.
    
    hows about 2x3's and sheet plastic...  ala greenhouse stuff.
    
    orient the closed end north, put an overlapping slit on the
    
    south side for entry....  
    
    or
    how about some inexpensive greenhouse plans???
    
    JIm

    I have had very good luch with an "a-frame" structure made out of
    1x3 furring strips, assembeld with sheet rock screws. I cover it with
    2 plastic tarps - the old one on the outside to absorb most of the
    uv damage. The ends are open enough to allow good ventilation,
    and i ptiched it steeply enough to let the snow slide off.
    
    Since this is a sailboat with stanchions and lifelines, I built
    rectangular box walls dor the trinagular trusses to sit on. The
    box walls are lashed to the stanchions tightly. I have been re-using
    the same set-up for about 8 years now with a new cheapie plastic
    tarp every 3-4 years. mine is notched and all fits together into 
    wooden slots made out of 1x3 scraps notched out with a sabre saw,
    so that the ends of the trusses sit n these sockets, and have a similar
    tab and socket arrengement at the rideg pole, which is a 24' 2x3
    made of doupling ip the strapping. Without the triangular truss frames
    in place, the ridge pole is quite bendy, but the whole system is 
    very rugged, once all the pieces are interlocked.
    
    Bill
    

    I recently made an "A" frame out of PVC piping which worked out pretty
    well.  The legs of the A frame rest in the boat and join the main piece
    via "t" connectors.  I did not glue the legs in, so this thing pretty
    much comes apart...     This stuff is very easy to work with, thought
    it would be better than wood, since it is really smooth and rounded,
    the tarp would sit better....
    
    
    Steve

    I got the impression that work needed to be done on the boat
    
    for early launch.  Work needs some definition.
    
    Here's a wild possibility:  
    
    Using some large landscape ties, lay some one the ground on each
    
    side of the boat, drill holes that will accomodate 1" pvc.
    
    on both sides, space according to good judgement. 1" pvc should
    
    accomodate an arch, run the pipe from one side to the other.
    
    spread the tarp over the pvc to form a quonset type hut.
    
    the landscape ties should hold against movement from the wind.
    
    close in the front and rear.
    
    aadvantages: comes apart easily and can be stored.
    
    JIm

    I've used 1 inch EMT for the past 5 yrs. for the A-Frame and then
    reinforce with 1X3" strapping.  The four A-Frame members are supported 
    on both sides of the boat spaced ~6.6 ft. apart fitting into 2X4x10' 
    PT lumber which I slip between the boat and the trailer.  I only get 
    3 years out of a blue poly tarp.  Where I park the boat it is extremely 
    windy which has pros and cons.  PROs: Snow usually falls off of the A-frame
    because of the wind that blows up under tarp.  CONs: The tarp takes a 
    beating at the corners of the structure which I cover with rug remnants.  
    I like the set-up because I can crawl under the structure and sit at the 
    helm during the Winter when I get dreaming of the upcoming season.  
    Also, the set-up allows me the ability to work on the boat 
    (rigging new electronics etc.) before the tarp comes off in the Spring.
    
    
    			/--\
    		       /    \
    		      /      \------1" EMT w/ couplings
    		     / boat   \
                     | ------ |
                     | \    / |
                     |  ----  |	
    		    =|========|=-----2X4X10' PT Lumber	
                      ||-----||------Trailer
    
    /MArk

    Never got around to thanking folks for suggestions on building the A
    frames, I got some good ideas both here here and in mail.
    
    I also came across some pre-made tubular steel and poly half circle 
    garages which were pretty neat, and not too overpriced.  
    
    However, for this year I wound up giving up on being able to work on
    it and put it in dry storage.  Both easier and cheaper.  I'll consider
    my options one again next fall.
    
    Thanks again, -donmac

	I guess I should offer thanks as well.  I built a big A frame
	for my boat this winter, and wound rope from the main beam 
	running the length of the boat to the trailer for support. 
	This method was posted here.  It works great!  I can easily
	get onto the boat to work on it (which thankfully is minimal).	
	It's stayed dry and snow just rolls right off the tarp.

	/Ken

re: .13 by M. Yelinek
    
>>    I like the set-up because I can crawl under the structure and sit at the 
>>    helm during the Winter when I get dreaming of the upcoming season.  
    
    I finally got to do this last weekend as the snow was melted to the
    point where I could squeeze under the structure....
    
    Glad I did it then ...Damn Groundhog!
    
    /MArk

re            <<< Note 1117.13 by RANGER::MACINTYRE "Terminal Angler" >>>
>                           -< dry storage this year >-

    
>    I also came across some pre-made tubular steel and poly half circle 
>    garages which were pretty neat, and not too overpriced.  

	I have a green-house catalogue that shows these - 
unfortunately they're "commercial size" so they start at 17ft x 48ft
which might not be unreasonable if for someone with the space, or if 
they also need to shelter something else, say firewood.  Or, the kit 
could be split between two parties to build a 17 x 20 and a 17 x 24 ??

	Reg

PS	17 ft may seem wide, but its only 8ft at the peak.