Shrink wrap or tarp up boat for winter?

Has anyone just use a waterproof tarp and covered their boat up for the winter?

My marina wants to charge me for shrink wrapping, but I am trying to find cheaper alternatives.

Any thoughts?

my boat is in driveway. I build a 2x4 frame then cover with a couple blue tarps from canadain Tire, use bungees to tie the tarp down. I get several years out of the tarps. No tools required after the first time building it. Takes about 1 hour from start to finish,

this one shows the back trap on, I need 2 tarps as my boat is touch over 20' I don't want to wrap the tarp around the bottom so go with I believe is a 16X10.

finished, the key is to use bungee cords and if you can get the bungee from one side of trap to the other is best, tight enough to have a small amount of tension so it doesn't fall off. this way the wind can get under it or from the ends and tarp moves with the wind,

I have never had issues with rodents, figure it to drafty and cold for them to want to stay there as it be almost like being outside. They much prefer to get in my garage and cause problems. Anyway this is the hook I made for the centre ridge beam, not pretty but works good.

Tarp works well. If your in a area that gets of snow build the wood frame high. I used saw horse brackets and 2x4's.

Never have to brush snow off it

that looks amazing!

I might do that as well then. Its just not very economical to put 300+ a year just to wrap it.

Thank you for the pictures!

I have an 18ft centre console and also didn’t want to pay $300-$400 a year to shrink wrap my boat, and that was before “Inflation”….So I watched a bunch of YouTube videos and spoke to a couple of guys about shrink-wrapping myself. The first year I bought a roll of shrink-wrap and some supplies and did it myself with a blow torch and heat gun. The next year I bought a proper heat gun from a dealer.

So my initial investment cost me $350 for the roll and a few supplies and then $450 for the gun. Payback was two years. I’m on year 5 with the roll of shrink wrap. I figure I’ll get another three season out of my roll.

If you don’t want to spring for a roll of wrap then call a local guy that does wrapping in your area and he’ll sell you enough wrap to do your boat.

The tarp or shrink-wrap are definitely easy DIY projects. I guess the choice of tarp or wrap comes down to comfort level with the cost and the tools needed. I’m happy with the wrap.

BTW there”s all kinds of uses for shrink wrap around the yard . I use the cutoffs to wrap my patio umbrella

Wrapped

You can use the shrink wrap for multiple years in case you did not know


the trick is to have the bow section high, the when removing you simply slice down the front and remove and store the wrap. In the fall you just put the wrap back on and use some 2 inch and 6 inch shrink wrap tape to seal the front cut use your heat gun if needed...If the front cannot be taped off tight enough just cut or obtain a pice of used or new wrap and fuse it on


I have used mine now for 4 winters and this fall it will be the 5th year


just a suggestion folks

I tarp my 1900 Regal with a 30 x18 tarp from Princess Auto …I get the heavy duty tarp on sale usually under a hundred dollars….it last about 6 years…put a bag of charcoal in the boat for moisture seams to help… my boat is a 2009 and It’s my 2nd year on the 3rd tarp

It's not very environmentally friendly tossing all that shrink wrap into landfill every year either.

If using tarp, animal like mice, squirrel will come inside in winter sometimes

Agreed That is why I was pointing out it can be re used multiple times and I am curious as to how many years one wrap will last me....

I like the frame that was built really high to dump snow btw


And if shrink wrap is put on properly, there should be no issues with critters...........just slide in 2-4 vents and tape in place Should be tight as a drum