Sunfish boat cover recommendations

wardie

Member
I have a Sunfish that I will leave outside on my trailer this off season in Northern Ohio. I've read all the ads and am confused as to materials, quality, durability and price. I'd like to get a cover that will last outdoors in rain, snow and also 80 degree temps and won't cost more than the used boat price :)

In the summer I plan to store Sunfish on a rack at club near lake. The cover would be used to keep prying eyes away so to speak. The clubs grounds are open to anyone who comes in by car, bike or what have you more of a out of sight out of mind thing.

Looking for forum member suggestions. Thanks Wardie new to Sunfish guy :)
 
My suggestion is to turn the boat upside down before you cover it for the winter. This will prevent water, ice and snow from accumulating in the cockpit of the boat.
 
What is under the hull supporting it is just as important as the cover as ice and snow can load up the hull with forces that can damage the hull if the supporting bunks are not in the correct place as I have found out from experience. I have used multiple poly tarps in past years with an ABS pipe as a main ridge pole that is about 12 inches higher than the center of the deck and supported in the mast step and each end of the cockpit and bow.
This gives me a slopping roof to shed rain and snow but some years I do have to shovel off as snow gets to deep. I keep my sail attached to the spar and just roll it all up and lay it on the deck and put all other gear into the cockpit.
One caution about leaving sail on the boat is that mice can get in and chew your sail up during the winter unless the all is sealed up tight.
This past spring I bought a 10x16 heavy canvas tarp on sale for about $80 and I fold it in two and lay it over the boat and bungee in place. I like that the canvas breaths and is less likely to blow off as it is so heavy and it is so water proof.
When using the poly tarps I always had a sacrificial tarp on the out side to take the UV rays so my whole winter set up was 5 layers of poly tarps 2 - 16 foot tarps doubled and a sacrificial outside skin.
I am thinking about using pallet wrap this year to seal the edges to stop vermin and might even wrap the sail and rigging.
My fish lives by my house on its launch dolly as I am able walk it to the harbour so I can monitor it all year. I open the cockpit drain and my inspection ports also to let the moisture out of the hull. Screening should be taped over ports to stop insects and vermin from nesting. Northern tool and equipment has lots of tarps.
Hope some of this helps.

Minas man
 
I have a Harbor Freight trailer with a frame made to go around the perimeter. The Sunfish is upside down on the tops of the frame rails. I cut those Styrofoam noodles and taped them to frame before putting Sunfush on them upside down. The boat is covered with two nylon plastic tarps. It's in my friends driveway so if we get snow it can easily be pushed off. Good advice on snow build up. Thanks Wardie
 
What is under the hull supporting it is just as important as the cover as ice and snow can load up the hull with forces that can damage the hull if the supporting bunks are not in the correct place as I have found out from experience. I have used multiple poly tarps in past years with an ABS pipe as a main ridge pole that is about 12 inches higher than the center of the deck and supported in the mast step and each end of the cockpit and bow.
This gives me a slopping roof to shed rain and snow but some years I do have to shovel off as snow gets to deep. I keep my sail attached to the spar and just roll it all up and lay it on the deck and put all other gear into the cockpit.
One caution about leaving sail on the boat is that mice can get in and chew your sail up during the winter unless the all is sealed up tight.
This past spring I bought a 10x16 heavy canvas tarp on sale for about $80 and I fold it in two and lay it over the boat and bungee in place. I like that the canvas breaths and is less likely to blow off as it is so heavy and it is so water proof.
When using the poly tarps I always had a sacrificial tarp on the out side to take the UV rays so my whole winter set up was 5 layers of poly tarps 2 - 16 foot tarps doubled and a sacrificial outside skin.
I am thinking about using pallet wrap this year to seal the edges to stop vermin and might even wrap the sail and rigging.
My fish lives by my house on its launch dolly as I am able walk it to the harbour so I can monitor it all year. I open the cockpit drain and my inspection ports also to let the moisture out of the hull. Screening should be taped over ports to stop insects and vermin from nesting. Northern tool and equipment has lots of tarps.
Hope some of this helps.

Minas man
I use few dryer sheets to ward off mice in my antique over long storage times. They hate the smell and take off.
 
I like the canvas tarp idea, you might be able to use that for other things, like cover your Sunfish while you trailer it down here to Florida, the No SNOW State :) I saw a 12 x 15 tarp at Ace for about $35, add a few bungees and you are in business!

Good
Luck
KB
 

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