To Shrink Wrap or not to Shrink wrap?

Jim360

Jim360

New Member
Sep 16, 2023
2
Boat Info
360 Sundancer 2005
Engines
Merc 454 8.1 360 HP each
I just moved up to a 48DA Sundancer and live in the sometimes wintery northeast.
Has anyone in the snowy climate left there boat without wrap? The hardtop and full glass surround and minimal canvas on the 48DA causes me to consider leaving it unwrapped. Of course my prior boats with a lot of canvas were wrapped to prevent water from getting inside and freezing. Just not sure its needed on the 48.
 
Jim360 said:
I just moved up to a 48DA Sundancer and live in the sometimes wintery northeast.
Has anyone in the snowy climate left there boat without wrap? The hardtop and full glass surround and minimal canvas on the 48DA causes me to consider leaving it unwrapped. Of course my prior boats with a lot of canvas were wrapped to prevent water from getting inside and freezing. Just not sure its needed on the 48.
Click to expand...
Shrink wrap, helps prevent water getting into joints and causing weird leaks in a few years. If the yard would let you, you can shrink wrap a boat pretty easy. 1-2 hours to set the frame and 2-3 hours to shrink wrap with a buddy.
 
Jim360 said:
I just moved up to a 48DA Sundancer and live in the sometimes wintery northeast.
Has anyone in the snowy climate left there boat without wrap? The hardtop and full glass surround and minimal canvas on the 48DA causes me to consider leaving it unwrapped. Of course my prior boats with a lot of canvas were wrapped to prevent water from getting inside and freezing. Just not sure its needed on the 48.
Click to expand...
Are you kidding?? If you have a boat like that take care of it. If you can’t afford it, sell it!!!
 
dmorris800 said:
Shrink wrap, helps prevent water getting into joints and causing weird leaks in a few years. If the yard would let you, you can shrink wrap a boat pretty easy. 1-2 hours to set the frame and 2-3 hours to shrink wrap with a buddy.
Click to expand...
This. Every single rail mount, thru hull, window seam, windlass hardware, light fixture, etc is a place for water to sit, freeze and work its way in. have you never had ice freeze and work it’s way back up under your roof on your house? Every joint is a potential place to allow water to freeze and then enter. We don’t wrap to protect the fiberglass. We do it to protect the joints.
 
Jim360 said:
I just moved up to a 48DA Sundancer and live in the sometimes wintery northeast.
Has anyone in the snowy climate left there boat without wrap? The hardtop and full glass surround and minimal canvas on the 48DA causes me to consider leaving it unwrapped. Of course my prior boats with a lot of canvas were wrapped to prevent water from getting inside and freezing. Just not sure its needed on the 48.
Click to expand...
Also congrats on the boat
 
You will want to shrink-wrap for the reasons mentioned above. The water/snow runoff will eventually freeze and cause issues.
 
Welcome to the 48 club. Listen to these guys up north as they all know. Or you can head south with me and not worry about it.
 
Not a chance I'd leave mine out without shrink wrap. And if you add the cost (and time) to shrink wrap and winterize decided to just do the heated storage option... part of the price to only get to use your boat for 5 months.

(WTF do I live up here?)
 
Scooper said it best. Let that water leak in a rail fitting, freeze, and expand and crack the fiberglass and you'll see why we cover in the cold states. Besides do you want to launch in the spring only to have to pull it because of a leak that could have been prevented?
 
timemachine said:
Scooper said it best. Let that water leak in a rail fitting, freeze, and expand and crack the fiberglass and you'll see why we cover in the cold states. Besides do you want to launch in the spring only to have to pull it because of a leak that could have been prevented?
Click to expand...
Yup. And it's not even about cracking the fiberglass. The expanding ice can cut through or crack the caulk on those joints.
 
dvx216 said:
Guys not from cold weather country he asking for info so lighten up a little.
Click to expand...
Yep, I have never done SW, I use a cockpit cover, no leaks, ever, boat is tighter than a vigins butt in prison. Not in the great white north.
IMG_1573.jpeg
 
I’m not shrink wrapped just because I can’t find anyone willing to do it. I’ve been looking for a couple months. Yard said they had a guy, but he bailed because of the height. Called a couple others but they evidently get plenty of business in the big city and don't want to travel out here to the sticks.

We are not in deep freeze country, so we only haul from Dec - April. Still stresses me out a bit not being wrapped though. I’ll have to work out a way to do it myself next year….or winter in NC.
 
Good Resource to start with



Big trick is always keep the gun moving so you don't damage the hull or put a hole in the shrink wrap. If you do put a hole in the wrap no problem that is what the tape is for, only has to last 3-5 months and doesn't need to be sexy.
 
dmorris800 said:
Good Resource to start with



Big trick is always keep the gun moving so you don't damage the hull or put a hole in the shrink wrap. If you do put a hole in the wrap no problem that is what the tape is for, only has to last 3-5 months and doesn't need to be sexy.
Click to expand...
I’ve sone it numerous times on smaller boats. Just don’t have the gun anymore or a way to get the wrap over the top of the boat. The yard in Lewes DE has a large boom lift and make short work of it. Yard I’m at in MD only has a broke down scissor lift.
 
Richard Carlisle said:
I’ve sone it numerous times on smaller boats. Just don’t have the gun anymore or a way to get the wrap over the top of the boat. The yard in Lewes DE has a large boom lift and make short work of it. Yard I’m at in MD only has a broke down scissor lift.
Click to expand...
Where are you in MD?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,183
Messages
1,428,095
Members
61,091
Latest member
dionb
Back
Top