Honey, I Shrunk the Boat
A close look at a new boat shrink-wrap system
by Chris Caswell
Every year, it's been the same headache. At the end of the boating season, I carefully clean my trailerable boat and store it away for the winter under its canvas cover. And every spring, I discover without being surprised that the cover let in copious amounts of rain and dirt that require long hours of cleaning just to get the boat ready for the season. But not this year. This year, I discovered Dr. Shrink and his miracle material and my world has changed. If you've been paying any attention to boats, you've seen them being delivered to your local dealerships cocooned in plastic wrap. Every major boat builder knows that a boat can get very dirty while being trucked cross-country, but they've found that the new shrink-wrap systems provide a barrier not just against road grime and bugs, but against rain or snow and even serve as a first line of defense against theft and vandalism. Up until recently, however, shrink wrap systems were industrial strength at industrial prices, putting them far beyond the budget of most boat owners. Enter Dr. Shrink, a.k.a. Michael Stenburg, whose company now offers a "Wrap-It-Up" system that is the answer to my — and probably your — prayers. During long periods of storage, whether it's through a northern winter or a southern summer, your uncovered boat is susceptible to all sorts of horrors: snow, rain, blowing dirt, bird droppings, nesting birds, rodents, and UV radiation. A conventional boat cover offers a certain amount of protection, but most covers are intended for light-duty use rather than all-weather protection. Besides, considering the cost of that custom-tailored boat cover, you'd be smart to store the cover indoors for the winter, too. A shrink-wrap cover, on the other hand, is everything your normal boat cover isn't: 100 percent waterproof, impossible to blow off, able to withstand heavy loads of snow or rain and, best of all, so inexpensive you can throw it away at the end of the winter without feeling any pain in your wallet. To shrink-wrap your boat for the winter, you'll need three things: a shrink-wrap kit that has the right amount of shrink-wrap film to cover your boat; an installation kit that includes strapping, tape and other necessary items; and a hardware kit with all the tools necessary for the project. To give you an idea of the cost for cocooning my 23-footer, West Marine has a basic kit for $38.99 and an installation kit for $54.99, making the annual cover cost less than $94. The hardware kit, which is reusable year after year and includes the propane heating tool, is less than $300. Each kit comes with a comprehensive video that shows you how to cover both conventional and pontoon boats and, if you have any questions after viewing it, you just weren't paying attention. The first step is to build a support structure to carry the load of the rain or snow. Using the strapping tape provided and 2-by-4 wood supports (you supply), you can quickly set up sturdy supports much like those under circus tents. Next, you carefully pad any sharp edges such as the corner of the windshield, windshield washers, or deck gear that might puncture the shrink-wrap film. The film, by the way, is really tough and, though it can be punctured, it won't tear. Nevertheless, you don't want to leave any openings for rain or dirt to enter. Using more of the strapping and adjustable buckles, you put a perimeter band completely around the hull of your boat that will serve as an anchor for the shrink-wrap. In most cases, this band encircles the hull a foot or so above the waterline. Next, you carefully unroll the shrink-wrap film over the boat and, since the static electricity created can attract dirt, you need to keep the film off the ground. Using the safety knife provided, cut the film so that about 6 inches are left to tuck under the perimeter strap. With most boats, you'll also need to create one or two pleats along the side to take up the excess film at the windshield or near the bow. Once the film is sized, pleated and tucked, it's time to fire up the heating tool and this is the fun part. Be sure to wear a long-sleeved shirt and wear the leather gloves and safety goggles provided, and light off the heating tool. It's easily controlled, allowing you to squeeze off bursts of heat as you walk around the hull welding the tucked sections under the perimeter band. As the film heats up, you just pat it lightly with your leather glove and it bonds to itself instantly. At the same time, seal up the pleats which should be facing aft if you plan to trailer your boat while cocooned. When the bottom of the film is sealed over the perimeter band, you'll want to add "belly straps" under the hull to keep the film from pulling upwards as the rest of the cover shrinks. On a 19-footer, three belly bands are sufficient. Starting at the bow and using the same sweeping motion you'd use if you were spray-painting a wall, gently heat up the film from the perimeter band up to the deck level. As you move along, you can see the material tighten up in front of your very eyes, and most of your crew will want to take part in this task because it's fun. Once the hull sides are done, climb up on a ladder and shrink the top, but don't use the heat where there are corners because you want to have the maximum thickness film for protection and chafe resistance there. When the boat is entirely covered with taut shrink-wrap film, you'll need to perform what Stenberg calls the "hole patrol." The point of the shrink-wrap is to keep your boat protected, so inspect the cover carefully for any tears or holes. If you find openings, use the adhesive tape to cover the spot and rub it firmly until it welds to the film. Your last project is to provide ventilation to keep your boat from becoming a mildew experiment over the winter. Small holes are cut in the film and self-adhesive vents are installed that provide a flow of ventilation without allowing the entry of water or dirt. That's all there is to creating a waterproof and secure winter storage cover for your boat. At the beginning of the next boating season, you'll be just as delighted as I was to open the boat up and find it just as clean and ready to go as the day it was covered months before. It's quick, it's foolproof, it's inexpensive and, believe me, you'll never go back to conventional covers again. Dr. Shrink's Wrap-It-Up system is available at West Marine and E&B Marine Stores, or direct from Dr. Shrink, Inc., 621 Pine St., Manistee, MI 49660, (231) 723-2685.
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