Best top covers for outside storage in the winter

It wasn't the frame, it was the tarp I initially bought from National Covers. I bet it was less than 7 mil - it felt paper thin compared to the HF tarp which was 12 mil, and it was over twice the cost. I was in a rush to get the frame up because the cold was coming so when I take the tarp off, I'll use wing nuts and bolts to make it easier to put back up the following year.

 

Spring is here and I pulled the HF tarps off last week. Happy to say that all went well! There were a few small rips where I didn't put padding like on the canvas mounts and a bit of pooling on the front where I should have made the slope angle steeper but overall, given it was my first time storing it outside and the very reasonable cost of the Harbor Freight tarps, I’m satisfied. At the end of this season I won’t have to run around looking for tarps and figuring out the frame since all of it is reusable. The great thing is that this is the earliest I’ve ever been able to do repairs and maintenance because when I stored it inside on the rack, I couldn’t get to it until late April, if that early. So far I’ve been able to start on the manifolds and risers, I’ll be getting to the trim solenoid next week and it will be washed and waxed and bottom painted as soon as they turn the water on for the season, and I’ll be in the water by May 1. That’s a big plus with the short season in my area.

 

Good to hear. I reluctantly decided to go the tarp rout and made a frame. I’ve been removing snow off of it all Winter and I’m still “puckered up”, worried if I have any damage. Hopefully in a couple weeks I can remove it and see where I am with things. After this years weather, I’ll never do this again. Indoor storage or wrap.

 

I wish we had an indoor option. The closest is 90 miles. And it's in a shady area of Portland where businesses have been shutting down. So we have a make shift frame with heavy tarp and good angles so all the rain, snow and ice run off. With two box fans in the cockpit, a good heater in the cabin and the bilge heaters.

I picked up some utility poles during the fall when our power grid was updated from the 1936 lines and hope to pick up some trusses so I can frame out a solid cover. Build the cover on skids so its "not permanent" and no need for the permits to build.

 

I been thinking about your situation. You've said your wife doesn't want to be looking at a carport for the boat but how about a beautiful pavilion. She'll be able to organize neighborhood get togethers, quality socializing surrounded by flickering tiki torches after the pontoon rides.....and you could park the boat in there during the winter as a bonus.

 

Come get my 130+ year old barn and it would be historic and great looking. Those sample photos are good looking.