large tent for boat over wintering in northeast?

joshmon71 · #1 10-18-2009, 01:57 PM

Anyone reccomend using a large tent style stucture? Want to work on the boat in the winter, have no garage/barn that can hold it and cost is kinda 2 high to rent a commercial bay here (cape cod say from harwich-truro as am in wellfleet). other option is to shrink wrap and door it, do have access to a shrink gun to borrow. thoughts?

work to be done on interior-thru hull plumbing for wash/baitwell, electrical stuff here and there under console, some more swivel rod holders. nothing major in other words but need room to work and shrink wrap prob tough to do so in.

its mainly the inside work desire to be out of elements, and shield boat from noreast elements over winter. do have awlgrip removal plans below waterline, barrier coat, hard paint tbd in the mind but that's another posting at a soon yet later date.

Oh yeah the neighbors luv my boat placement now, dead smack front yard

, no trees near it. easy to trailer in/out. Not sure how they will react to a large tent set-up. It does get windy out here, blowing close to 40 right now. Not sure how the tent approach will work out with noreasters.

Anyone else tent a 23 up in the snowy Northeast?

joshmon71 · #2 10-18-2009, 03:07 PM

might just rig pvc pipe system from bow to stern, maybe 2-3 pvc supports along mid line, and get a big tarp or even canvas cover made...

if anyone has a local to southeast MA/cape cod canvas cover maker they like please let me know.

semi permanent tents found seemed kinda pricey, unclear about taking big noreast winds and snow as well. still will be cold. neighbor with the immaculate landscaping next door will have a conniption

with tent in front of house. i have to take it down in the spring to boot as rent the house factoring that in.

this seems like the answer pvc rig it with tarp or custom cover...that way can get some work space underneath maybe more than shrinkwrap and take cover off.

Next house is going to be one freakin huge barn and upstairs living or huge barn and small house. fiance is on board (with plan I think).

seafari25 · #3 10-18-2009, 03:30 PM

Josh

I know quite a few guys that use those tents for boats and cars in the winter. They work quite well and framing is strong however I would suggest you tie the framing to you boat trailer for those noreasters as my buddy in Nova Scotia found out the hard way that they fly

If you build your own frame out of pvc or whatever, I would suggest you frame the peak as high as you can so as you have at least a 12/12 pitch or greater. That way, most of the snow will slide off keeping the load lighter on the roof.

thehermit · #4 10-18-2009, 03:36 PM

Hey Josh,

With your t-top it wont be hard to frame up a liberal structure for some shrinkwrap. That way...put in a door and you can pop in there and do work. Cheaper than a tent if you have access to a gun...plastic is cheap....and strong.

bigeasy1 · #5 10-18-2009, 06:57 PM

When my buddy did over his 26'Lyman,he made a frame out 2x3's with plywood gussets(like a truss)and erected about 10 of them about three feet apart.
He attached the tops to a ridge board,and then layed some 1x3's vertically across the 2x3's,spaced about 24",and covered the whole structure, with white shrink wrap.
He kept and worked on a 26 footer inside it for several years(in Maine)

I did my 23'Tsunami in an enclosure that I made with scaffold,and covered with black tarps.I decked the top with aluminum/plywood plank.
I worked on it all year for three years in all kinds of weather.Used propane heaters in the winter.I actually liked glassing in the winter,as I had plenty of time to work with the resin.Kicked the heat up when I was done,and cured the laminate perfectly.

Here's a couple pic's of it.You can see the snow in the second one.

bobbert · #6 10-18-2009, 09:10 PM

I use one of those Mexican Garages you buy from Pep BOys, Costco, Bj's, K Mart etc. Cost about $100-+/-. Just make sure you anchor them real good or they flip over. Also check with the building dept. on their rules.

Shrink wrap with door a first class pain.

Good Luck

MasterBaiter · #7 10-18-2009, 11:10 PM

I shrunk wrapped my 23 inboard and worked on it over last winter. I re-wired it, new electronics, guages, re-finished teak, new combing/cushions, probably more.
I am in New Jersey. The wrap kept the wind out of the equation and the T top gave me plenty of room. I wouldn't even consider a tent type enclosure. It would never stay put and the wind, rain, snow would be in the way. I worked without any concern for the weather.

All this for like $5 or $6 a foot?
Its a no-brainer for me. I'm doing it again this year for my next upgrades.

Squido · #8 10-19-2009, 09:29 AM

Tucker sent you a pm I got a couple questions.

joshmon71 · #9 10-19-2009, 01:00 PM

Thanks for advice all!

Gonna do the shrink wrap with a frame running over the t-top made out of PVC or 2x4 I think...

rockdoc · #10 10-19-2009, 03:03 PM

Hey Josh,

I think shrinkwrap is the way to go. Those tents are big, drafty, and a real p.i.t.a. when the wind blows. The few things that you can't do with shrinkwrap on, like more swivel rodholders, you can do in a day in the spring when the 'wrap comes off. Working inside a shrinkwrapped boat with a door in the wrap can actually be pretty comfortable on sunny days in the winter. Plus the neighbor acceptance factor is alot better with a wrapped boat. Let me know when you're doing it, I'd be happy to help out

Steve