[Rhodes22-list] Outside winter storage

[Bill Effros]

Jack,

I'm in Greenwich Ct., just north of NYC.

I never use a tarp in the winter any more.  I did more damage to my boat
with the tarp than weather has ever done to my boat without the tarp.
Bungee cords break.  Tarps flap.  Bungee cord hooks and reinforced tarp eyes
flail.

Sometimes the problem is wind, but more often it is snow.  You will probably
be able to set your mast as a ridge pole so that rain will harmlessly fall
to the ground.  But snow will stick and build up.  The snow will then freeze
in place, putting an enormous amount of weight on the tarp.  Which will sag.
The next rain will puddle in the sagging tarp.  In no time you can have so
much weight suspended over your cockpit that you can't lift it.  And if it's
frozen, you can't pump it out either.  Then what?

If I were going to cover my boat the only thing I would consider is plastic
shrink wrap.  I think 1/2 the boats under tarps at my yard are damaged by
the tarps every winter.  My boat was damaged by a tarp in my driveway during
a storm.

I wax my boat in the fall.  I leave the mast up all winter.  I lower the
water level to 1/2 full in the tank.  I leave my batteries in place.  On
warm days during the winter I open the boat, play the stereo system, use the
water, and putter around doing all the projects I don't have time for during
sailing season.  I eat on board, sit in the cabin, and dream of Spring.

I have never had a mildew problem.  My electric water pump has always worked
perfectly.  My batteries are always fully charged.

When Spring comes, I'm ready to go.  And so is my boat.

Bill Effros


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Goldberg" <j_goldberg@hotmail.com>
To: <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 11:24 AM
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Outside winter storage


I come one more thyme for you to pepper me with your sage advice.

After getting my CB cabin leak fixed, I've had a great sailing season. My
wife and I took sailing lessons at Belmont harbor at the beginning of July
and spent the rest of the summer practicing what we had learned. A pretty
good season. Just one bad incident when we had full sail out in 2 - 3 knot
winds when out of nowhere we were surounded by whitecaps and she (the boat)
jybed and healed over violently dipping the rail in the water where it
remained. I had forgotten to put the CB down which I managed to do, then I
took the tiller and released the main sheet. I tried to stay on the high
side while she (my wife) tried to release the genoa sheet from a cam cleat.
The pressure on the sail was so forcefull it took about two minutes before
she could release it and right the boat. Exciting and ended well. On
hindsite I probably should have released the tiller and the main sheet and
let her (the boat again) come into the wind, but we were so close to the
shore at the time and the wind was taking us ashore I was more interested in
trying to sail out of the situation.

Bottom line for us is the we both now put a lot of faith in our Rhodes 22. I
feel that almost any other boat might have knocked down in that situation.

Well the season is now over for us. September offers no opportunity for us
to go sailing and October is already too cold here in the Chicago area. I
pulled the boat out and hung the standard mast between the mast carrier and
the bow pulpit. It seems to have a little sag. Does it need support? or
should I rest the bottom of the mast on the deck? I left everything attached
except the lower forward shrouds and the fore-stay attachement to the chain
plates.
Now how to cover the boat for outside storage in a very snowy climate. I was
thinking of buying a 20 x 30 blue tarp and covering the boat. Has anyone
done this and what advice how to place the tarp. Over the lifelines? Using
the mast as a support? Just cover the cabin and cockpit area?

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Jack


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