Thread: Making a good quality cover for your Storer Boat

Originally Posted by keyhavenpotter

Would be great to have a pattern for each boat.

Brian

Yeah Mik, how come my Rowboat plans don't come with a pattern for the cover?

I guess questions that need asking are:
- how much rain will it get on it? - I haven't had much luck with covers handling pooling.
- how much wind will it have to handle? (storms vs sheltered sort of thinking)
- how much mucking about do you want to do to when covering or uncovering the boat?
- how good are you at sewing stuff?

Richard

That is quite easy for me to do. There is some allowance of extra canvas per foot of boat (aye - it be an old rule of thumb). if someone can find that for me I will do a drawing for the top panel. The skirts can then be made to taste.

To make it shed water you need an effective ridgepole (mast/oarsand some straps that go under the boat. But a cover won't stop every drop going in. Is a great protection against UV and a thorough epoxy job can take care of the water.

However if storing for some time - like laying the boat up for winter in colder climates then storing the hull upside down slightly raised off the ground will be best. Just a tarp over the top.

But a cover when the boat is upright will help keep it in very nice condition.

MIK

I had a cover professionally made for my Goat--$500--of Sunbrella. Pooling is solved with three key features:

1. The boat on its trailer is positioned bow high.
2. A central bamboo ridge pole runs full length, supported by a crude central structure that is keyed into the centerboard slot.
3. Puddling just in front of the transom is solved by placing two inflated beach balls on the after seat, under the cover.

My cover is secured thus: there is a heavy drawstring along the bottom of the skirt then across the back. The ends are tied near the center of the transom. Along the sides there are just three tiedowns that are secured to the trailer. While off the trailer temporarily I used bottles filled with water. At the bow there is a tiedown that is secured to the bow eye.



While my cover was not intended for road use (no vents) I have little doubt it would do just fine at speeds of 45mph or lower.

My cover for Beth had long strap with clips on them. You could either tie them down to the trailer or pass them under the boat and clip them along one side.

MIK

I made a Conestoga Wagon type cover for Sisu. She lives outdoors, under a cover over the winter. Sometimes with snow loads up to 3 feet. This foto shows the ribs. Then theres an 1/8" cord that runs from stem to stern forming a ridge. The whole shebang is then coveres with a heavy coated nylon cover sewed to fit the boat. The cover straps and buckles under the boat, and down to the trailer at the bow and stern corners. Stout enough to trailer with. Weirdly, no foto with the cover on.



More details here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbordg...7615778135165/

Woaaa, that is cool David! Not all my boats have those incredibly useful spaced gunwales though .. any ideas?

MIK

Originally Posted by Boatmik

Woaaa, that is cool David! Not all my boats have those incredibly useful spaced gunwales though .. any ideas?

MIK

Easy!

Redesign all your boats. Inwales and spacers will stiffen up the whole flimsy/floppy lightweight bunch of them

Seriously though, if it's just a smooth interior - backed up at the sheer with an outwale - maybe a series of sockets to receive bows (like mine but equipped with pins). Just thinking out loud. There could be other solutions.

Cheers,
David G


"The best way to predict the future is to invent it" -- Alan Kay

Wonder whether fewer hoops would work well enough?

Rowlock holes! Or ply webs that sit on the decks (big holes in them for ventilation into the front and back sections.

Thinking out loud too .. so don't blame me!

MIK