Tarpaulins for winter protection

Leaf litter, bird founling and airborne pollution are all ready to attack the boat during the winter, so it is well worth protecting the boat with a tarpaulin during storage. Keeping the elements off is very helpful, but it’s also a good idea to make sure the covering can breathe.

DIY Boat cover

Here's a neat way to make a low cost re-usable boat cover from a tarpaulin.

Insert eyelets every 25-30cm around the edges of the tarpaulin
Weave polyethylene twine around the entire edge of the tarp
Place the cover over the boat and progressively gather the twine to tighten the cover to the boat
Tie off tightly at the base

Tips for covering with a tarpaulin

Remove any canvas hood or cover. Don’t put the tarp in contact over a canvas hood.
Make sure the centre of the tarp is properly supported so water can’t pool.
Pad contact areas with old carpet, cloth or foam to prevent chafing.
Make sure the tarp is tied down securely. If possible run securing lines under the hull, but don’t tie down to chocks or legs – if the wind gets under the tarp, it could dislodge them.
Use several separate lines when tying the cover down, so you can untie a small section to create a doorway to get in.
Leave the ends open for ventilation.
If you need more than one tarpaulin, allow plenty of overlap – at least a metre is recommended.

Lightweight laminated tarpaulins

Much lighter than cotton canvas, inherently rot-proof and easy to handle, these low-cost laminated tarpaulins are ideal for winter protection.

Woven polythene, laminated to make them waterproof and tear-resistant.
Inherently mould and mildew resistant
Lamination includes a UV filter to prolong life
Edges rope bound and stitch-seamed
Fitted with rust resistant metal eyelets at one metre intervals