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The Tarp Goes on

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britinusa
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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/14/2007 : 08:41:18

It's new tarp again, sure seems to come around quickly, this one was purchased in July. It's one of those heavy duty silver tarps from harbor freight, has lasted a couple of months longer than the blue things, but, it's about to tear and the waterproof coating has flaked off all over the boat.

Did some searching and found this...
[url="http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34879"]harbor freight canvas tarp[/url]

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
Qty 1
Subtotal 172.99
Tax Rate 0.00000
Tax Amount 0.00
(FL) - (11.99) *Shipping 11.99
Handling 0.00
Total 184.98
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

It weighs 70lbs, is plenty big enough to cover the entire topsides and most of the bow down to the trailer.

I have PVC piping 'rafters' setup to spread the load.

Obviously unlike our northern brethren, we don't have to worry about snow cover down here in south Florida, but the sun quickly deteriorates the poly/nylon/plastic/garbage type of tarp. And when it rains... it tends to exceed a deluge!

Any thoughts?

Paul.

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - britinusa on 10/14/2007 08:42:27

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 09:15:50

You might check with a tent/awning type company and see what it would cost to have a cover made. Since you are in Florida, you might prefer a white canvas-like fabric, maybe the stuff they make banners with, that would not absorb as much heat. Might be lighter weight also. I'm getting tired of replacing cheap tarps also.

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 11:01:21

First, do not whine on the forum about how the silver tarps deteriorate in the Florida sun. In the cool overcast Northwest those silver tarps last several years.

Sailors throughout the country are covering their boats knowing that the winter is coming and, unlike our Floridian friends, sailing is not year round. We are in a very jealous mood right now.

Second, please post photos of your PVC piping setup.

Edited by - Nautiduck on 10/14/2007 11:02:51

tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 12:12:08

Chief, may I suggest that you abandon the annual tedium of finding a "tarp" and go to FAIRCLOUGH COVERS ( try Google) and get a custom cover made for you boat.

I lucked out several years back and found a nearly new one for my C25 right on our swap forum. What a relief!

Try it you'll like it.

Val on Calista, # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 12:24:45

We haven't been able to go sailing in two months, the weather turned nasty each long weekend off! Just had to pull the trailer into the roadway so that I could mow the weeds. That's when the tarp decided to give in, then we had to wash the boat down to get rid of all that silver flake.

Just got yet another $55 19'x29' heavy duty tarp from harbor freight.

I'll order the canvas one next month.

Paul

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 12:51:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">We haven't been able to go sailing in two months, the weather turned nasty each long weekend off! <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Now I feel guilty.

Still interested in photos of the setup, though. Every annual tarping is an event of new discoveries for us!

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 22:14:30

I dont mean to brag, but if I get a tarp, its only to provide shade. Today was absolutely beautful in SoCal. This is the end of my 1st year with my 250 and enjoy it most year round. Sorry guys.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2007 : 23:07:16

Paul, I was suprised to read that you are putting a tarp (like I do) this time of year. To me, Florida represents the ultimate sailing spot for my future years because I believed it was a year round thing. Should I plan some other place? What is the real story about sailing year round in Florida?

By the way, the difference between you and I is that you put a tarp for sun protection where I put it on for ice protection. :-(

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 07:14:27

Steve, we live just about 100yds from US441, there are a couple of buildings between. It's surprising the amount of grot that lands on the boat, so we tarp it upon return every trip. Most weekends I'm doing something on the boat (seems to take 4E4) so I leave the pop top open during the day. The sun certainly bakes everything, so the tarp does double duty. Weather protection (Sun & Rain) and Grot shield.

Regarding the right place to sail year round. We do, but we go out for 4/5 days each trip, so that means we're limited to when Peggy can get a long weekend off work. We're planning on going to the Catalina Rendezvous 2nd weekend of Nov. and down to black point marina and Biscayne bay at the end of November. Might not get out in December, but hope for back to back weekends at the beginning of January. We have had the boat since June 05, probably spent 20 long weekends on board and 2 week long trips. So I guess we have spent around 100+ days on board.

Of course, if you count the time on board at the side of the house then it goes up a bit

If the boat were in a slip, we would probably get out 2 or 3 times a month. If we were retired.... I'd be asking Henk a lot more questions

Paul

Edited by - on

DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 08:13:38

I feel very fortunate to live in Daytona Beach where I can sail year round. I don't need to own a trailer or the huge pick up to tow one. Also in Central FL we're fairly well protected from hurricanes because of the Bahamas and the Gulf Stream. It can get a little raw on the ocean from Nov - Feb but still doable. Just make sure to bring your money because you won't make any here!

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 08:14:43

Harbor freight = cheap tarps in my experience. I buy my boat tarps from easternmarine.com My winter tarp has four years on it and can do another.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 15:55:43

Paul, looks like Britinusa gets lots of use. I do have a slip but only get occasional bird droppings. Is that the same a grot?

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 22:00:15

Paul, I park my boat next to the boat launch at my lake. This way we can sail every week-end and do not have to bother with raising and lowering the mast. Was wondering if this was a plausible option for you?

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2007 : 23:25:14

Steve, boat slips down here are just a tad pricy and one of the reasons for purchasing the 25' foot C250. If the slip were not an issue, then we would have screwed up and got a bigger boat!

If JD was in a slip, then we would take more, short, trips. So in a way, I'm kinda glad that we have to go out for 4/5 days each time. Over the past two years the mods have made it easier to enjoy overnights and seeing Henks mods, there are plenty more to do.

Not having to raise-n-lower the mast each trip must be sweeeeeeet, the good news is that we pretty well have it down pat. It's not the mast raising that takes the time, it's the loading up at the house, that takes several hours. We have already started prepping for the November trip. The outside of the boat is looking good after Peggy did a great job washing the topsides down this weekend. Now that the table is virtually completed, I can concentrate on the regular stuff.

BTW, the new Tarp from Harbor Freight is the 'Super Duty' model and it certainly seems to be more robust, the underside is definitely cooler.

They always suffer most along the ridge where the tarp lays on the mast.
I'm thinking of cutting the torn one in half and doubling up over the top, just haven't figured out how to keep it in place when it's windy.

Paul

Edited by - on

John Russell
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Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 08:44:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 ... They always suffer most along the ridge where the tarp lays on the mast. I'm thinking of cutting the torn one in half and doubling up over the top, just haven't figured out how to keep it in place when it's windy.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Paul, the next time you're near the home despot, check out the foam pipe insulation. There might be a way to split it and lay it over your "ridge pole" (mast) to act as chafe protection. You'll need some with a pretty large inside diameter but the stuff's pretty cheap.

Edited by - on

John Russell
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Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 09:05:54

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Nautiduck
 .... Second, please post photos of your PVC piping setup.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Randy, Check out ChrisZ's frame here: http://www.sailblogs.com/member/waterwalker/

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

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USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 12:51:34

John, he has got that puppy pretty well covered up.

Edited by - on

Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 13:30:04

I can send you with more pictures of the setup I did. Also I bought this tarp: http://shop.easternmarine.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=catalog.prodInfo&productID=5917&categoryID=255
It seems to be very durable and long lasting.

Edited by - on

Champipple
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6855 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 14:49:03

Why would someone in Florida even need a tarp? Do you cover your boat while at the slip? I could only see coming out for a week, twice a year, for possible maintentance and bottom care.

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 17:28:46

That's just Crewl, Duane!

Any new adventures on the O'day?

Paul

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
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3704 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 18:48:27

Chris, I like your tarp frame! Please post a photo or two of the aft and cockpit area supports. What is that flex stuff? Is it pipe insulation? Are your tubes 1"? I like it.

Edited by - on

Champipple
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Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 20:32:07

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 That's just Crewl, Duane!

Any new adventures on the O'day?

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Nothing lately - seriously, why would you need to tarp it? I didn't tarp the C-25 half the time and the O'day has never been tarped. (ever not just in my ownership)

Is it just a sun concern ? You can't possibly be worried about cold weather.

Edited by - on

Derek Crawford
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3321 Posts

Response Posted - 10/16/2007 : 22:51:54

Steve, if you want to sail all year (with no fear of hurricanes!

)
move to Central Texas...our racing program lasts from Jan thru' Dec.and people sail out New Year's Eve to watch the fireworks over the lake - pretty nice really!

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2007 : 07:38:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Derek Crawford
 Steve, if you want to sail all year (with no fear of hurricanes!

)...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">...just fear of the lake disappearing or spreading to the first floor of your house...

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2007 : 13:14:13

I like Texas (especially Central Texas, Austin). I checked google maps in Satellite view and although there are many lakes in Central Texas I don't see how I could justify sailing my Amel 54 in there.

Since I'm drifting off the Tarp subject here I have created a new post called "Best Locations for a retired half time liveaboard?"

Edited by - on

britinusa
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5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2007 : 21:17:25

Duane,
as I mentioned earlier in the thread: We keep the boat on the trailer between trips due to the really high cost of slips down in south florida, but it also gives us a much greater range. For example, we have taken the boat 160 miles to Cocoa beach, 640 miles to Pensecola, and next month we're taking JD to St. Pete for the rendevous. That gives us an enourmous sailing choice.

Then, when the boat is along side the house (we're 60 miles away from decent launch ramps from which we can 'sail') it suffers not only from the sun, but also the local environment. State Rd 7/US441 is about 100yds from our house with plenty of truck traffic. Local businesses seem to deliver a lot of grot into the atmosphere as it seems to settle quickly on the boat. Uncovered, it quickly looks like it has not been cleaned in months.

Now, if we were at a slip, then I agree, the tarp would not happen! but I fear we would pay around $500 a month for a slip assuming we could find one!

We could buy a bigger boat that didn't fit on a trailer, keep it at a slip, and probably get more sail time except that there would be a lot less places to go.

Each time we talk 'bigger boat' we remember how that severly limits out sail range. Right now we can trail 60 miles and launch into Biscayne bay which is a great sailing location and a great starting point to so many areas. If we trail 150 we can be half way down the keys and find even more new places.

As you realize, SOFla is not exactly sail boat capital of the US, so it's really good to be able to trail to another location and meet up with other sailboaters... that's when we have had the most fun, pleasure, and enjoyment.

Paul.

Edited by - on

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