Applying canvas winter cover

[Frank Iezzi]

I have a Fisher canvas winter cover for my 1987 340 EC that I usually tasked the marina to apply for winter. Not to hard of a job for a couple of beefy guys with access to a boom, but is there a trick to applying that heavy cover on by yourself?

 

[Yendor]

Not meant to be sarcastic in any way, but after having fought with a similar, but likely smaller cover with little to no help, the only trick that occurs to me would be to have a phone number to call those two beefy guys with access to a boom.

The complication (in my case) was with the "by yourself" part of that description. Being a stubborn, CSOB possessing more than a normal man's share of intrinsic ant like capabilities to single-handedly accomplish any task, and having a tractor with an albeit to short of a boom, I confirmed that a man can not be in two places at once.

Yes, given some powered help, I could lift, pull, drag, and/or reposition the cover, but then you can't see when you have to stop before you either break something on the boat or tear the cover.
Being stubborn, I had to do both before I admitted defeat.

After I ultimately had to bail, I went down the road to the local fish camp, got a couple cases of beer and solicited some help to drink it while WE put the cover on the boat.

Never did make that solo attempt again.

 

[Frank Iezzi]

Wise advice my friend! Thanks

 

[kvduff]

Is it a one piece canvas? I have a winter cover for my 450 that I can apply on my own. It is three pieces though. For me the key is laying it out and folding it so I can easily join the two forward halves then seal the joint with the Velcro flap, all this is done before allowing it to unfold from the ridge of the frame and down to the waterline on both sides I couldnt see doing it any other way with machine assistance.

 

[Frank Iezzi]

Thank you! Unfortunately, mine is one piece. Easiest thing to do would be to add a zipper

 

[kvduff]

That has to be a bear of a cover. When I built mine I first thought the front would be one piece from the pulpit to the arch. It didn’t take long to see that I wouldn’t be able to carry it up to the bow on my own.

 

[Strecker25]

I had one for my 290 and I reuse the shrink wrap on our 410, put both on myself. I would Have the frame in place but laid on the bow, then I would make sure the cover was rolled in storage so i could unroll it from the anchor and work my way back. Then, go up to the bow through the hatch and lift the canvas while putting the poles up. It’s not fun, but neither is writing $1000 check for shrink wrap every year

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yeah, as others pointed out (and you already know), there is no way you're lifting a one-piece cover like you have by yourself. Heck, even with two or three guys it's still a big chore.

I think for this season, you're stuck finding some friends. Over the Winter, find a local canvas shop that can sew a zipper and flap into it. Before you take it off next year, make marks where you want the zipper - or better yet, make it in three pieces.