Canvas boat cover

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RCombs
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Joined: 12/19/17
Posts: 5
Canvas boat cover

I’m looking for recommendations for a canvas boat cover for our C36 MK II. Anyone have one you would recommend?

Thanks for any info, Roy
SEEKER
1999 #1747
 

SEEKER
#1747, 1999
tall rig, wing keel

jhenderson
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Joined: 1/9/14
Posts: 81

Go local. There is enough variability in the boats that generic won't be a good fit. I spent around $2500 for ours, he backs it for ten years.
 

Hummina
1987 Catalina 36 MKI
#741
Bayfield, WI. Usually. 

rstonge
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Joined: 11/2/08
Posts: 64

I got a boom tent cover from Fairclough in 2009 with flaps so most water drains off the boat.  The only measurement they needed was boom length.  I had to cut the flaps to make them fit around the stanchions.  It has worked very well for me.

Here is the web site: https://www.fairclough.com/

Ron St. Onge
C36 MKII Hull 1384
 

Ron St. Onge

1995 Catalina 36 MKII Hull 1384

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Catboat Willy
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Joined: 12/22/14
Posts: 385

Roy;
 You don't say where you are (and it might be a good idea to add a few details to your signature) but I have some experience with boat covers that I can share.
In the Northeast we've used as heavy a canvas that we could manage with strong structual support underneath as the snow lays on the boat cover for a portion of the year. Without underlying support, almost any fabric will rip and tear whether it be Sunbrella or heavy canvas. The message is; use a heavy material if you are expecting snow and try to keep the water off the boat as much as possible to prevent damage from freezing. As you close up the boat,  mold will always be an issue on the decks - so be sure to allow for adaquate ventalation. A fan to move the air around within the covered area is desirable if electric is available.That should keep most of the mold off the boat.

Here in Florida, keeping the sun off the stored boat is the primary concern and most folks here make a cover from the rather pourous 'sunshade' material (cutting the sun's rays down as much as 80% ) as freezing is not an issue.
Either way, do go with the previous suggestion of using someone local to do your custom cover.
 

Bill Dolan 1990 Catalina C-36 MKI - Hull #1041  'Williwaw'
Std. Rig, Walk Through, Wing Keel
M35, Oberdorfer Conversion,
Home Waters; Charlotte  Harbor & The Gulf Islands of Florida
'You are never out of work if you own a boat'

 

Wally-1840
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Joined: 11/9/09
Posts: 117

Hi Roy,
We got a boom tent type from the “Canvas Store” in NY. They have patterns for Catalina. It fit perfectly right out of the box. It’s 3, zip-together pieces that require no frame work. It installs in less than 2 hrs, including padding some places that might cause wear, (pedestal, winches, etc). We got the over-the-rail type. We’ve had it for about 8 years and it works well. 
Wally

Wally
"Onanne"
2000 MKII, deep keel, tall rig
​Lake Champlain
 

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pkeyser
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Posts: 659

Wally-
I think we have the same cover as yours.

I'm going to try a few modifications this season as a result of having lots of snow over the past few winters. In the bow area- the cover ties around the mast and is elevated over the foredeck by hanking on the jib halyard and pulling up on a loop handle. The cover still lays flat on the deck forward of that point so I'm going to build in a little wooden support structure extending from the mast to the anchor to reduce sag and get better drainage/snow shedding. I'm thinking about something similar at the aft end over the cockpit. I also purchased som nylon strapping to run from the boom to the stanchion bases to reduce sag in the cover's mid section that extends over the cabin. Lastly, I renewed the water resistance by spraying it with water repellent this summer.

Overall, I've found it's a very heavy material/good quality cover- but does not cover the transom and allows for snow/ice build up on the side decks becuse the cover stops at the gunwales.

I like shrink wrap, but at $1200-$1400 costs around here, I can put up with a little snow/ice on the side decks.  In mast-off winter storage, I've managed to get up to 3 seasons from the same shrinkwrap but I've not been able to get more than one season when the mast is rigged.     

Paul & Wendy Keyser
"First Light"
Rye NH
2005 C36 MKII #2257
Wing, M35B

RCombs
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Joined: 12/19/17
Posts: 5

Thanks all for the helpful info. Confirms how little I know/knew about this topic. I hadn’t thought about mold or covering a portion of the deck or side skirts.

I have contacted a local canvas shop here on  the lower Chesapeake Bay to discuss a cover. I will post info and pics as we progress. 

Best regards, Roy

SEEKER
#1747, 1999
tall rig, wing keel

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Parsons
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Joined: 6/2/16
Posts: 95

Other than having a spare $2,000 to throw away ... why do you want a cover in the lower Chesepeake?  It's not like you will have an inch of snow sitting on the decks, or ice forming in the depressions, for more than a few hours overnight.  These are the reasons that we cover our boats 'up north' -- as a way to save from freeze damage.  Do your neighbors bother to cover over winter?  Personally, I'd worry more about UV damage and start waxing in the fall as well as the spring.

John Parsons
"Water Music" 1999 Catalina 36 Mk II - Hull 1771
Tall Rig, Fin Keel
Bay City, MI, USA

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