Building A Shrink Wrap Winter Boat Cover

S/V Rocinante gets a winter cover this year. Learn how we built ours. Why fat keels are good. Can chicks use powertools? Why you need to know what a frapping turns is.
You can join us aboard Rocinante our Norseman 447 for a Morse Alpha Expedition… coastal and offshore sail training. We specialize in patience, communication, couples sailing, traditional navigation and maximizing fun while minimizing stress. We’ve been teaching people to sail for two decades. We are both USCG licensed captains with over 30 years of combined sail-training experience. We help people sail farther, safer and with more confidence. Our schedule can be found at MorseAlpha.com.
Why shrink wrap? Well, we've never done it this way before. Thought we would try it. Isn't it wasteful? We will recycle our plastic cover along with hundred of other boats here in the yard. We don't plan to be up north next year, so building a more permanent cover didn't make sense this time.
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[@blugrasssful]

Finally! A sailing video with some decent bluegrass music! Thank you both.

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Glad you liked it!

[@magicwill25]

What a cool torch for the shrink wrapping!

[@richardrice4114]

teresa and ben thank you for allowing me to go along, on all your adventures ben does a great job of doing the mechanical stuff. and teresa brightens up the day with tha infectous smile and her majoret performances a real twirler. peace.

[@lifeislikesailing]

The cover looks great!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Thanks. After a few months we've discovered some room for improvements!

[@lifeislikesailing]

That is usually the case with all the projects I do as well. lol

[@sailingarista]

Morse Alpha Expeditions can you tell us of any?

[@SailingNomad17]

THANK YOU FOR FILMING THIS! GREAT TIPS FOR ME THIS WINTER!!! THANKS AGAIN :)

[@eurobuon]

Hi Teresa and Ben, when using a drill to screw something in, try using a smaller drill to make a pilot hole before screwing a screw down...may be info too late but useful in the future, two thumbs up...all the best Gaston!

[@pierremitham2964]

Great job guys, next time use the empty stanchion bases as the sockets for the ribs to the cover. also its easier to use a belly band made of nylon strapping to tuck the bottom edge oft he frame against. also when you wrap the shrink wrap around the belly band, you should tuck from outside and up behind the cover. this makes the cover not have any pockets to hold water! I used to shrink wrap with clear each winter when I lived aboard up in Toronto!

[@jeremyrainman]

Not coming from a winter climate, forgive the ignorance... But is the intent to continue living aboard even with the winter cover?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

jeremyrainman Not this year!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Not a big fan of using our stantion bases for cover support either... just my thing I guess ;-)

[@jakebarnes28]

What kind of clear plastic did you use? I've just bought a 30' Tartan and want to shrink wrap the boat so I can do deck work this winter. I'm assuming clear plastic will trap heat, and I'll have a electric, or kerosene heater too. The "belly band"? I'm assuming this is the wood going the perimeter of the boat. Also, would PVC work just as well as the black piping used? Brand new boat owner here soooo, lots and lots of questions. If you tuck from the outside in, will you risk burning anything? Will it adhere just as well? Does anyone know of sites with plans for various shrink wrap iterations? Thanks!

[@kucelkj]

Great, fun video! Thanks, -Ken

[@ralphbernhard1757]

Next time you have to drill through a round plastic pipe, first drill a hole through a thin piece of plywood (or plastic). You can then 'hold on' the the drill bit by positioning the plywood onto the pipe to avoid the drill bit from slipping off the rounded surface. If possible, stand on the pipe to hold it in position. If you are right handed, hold on to the plywood with your left hand, while the other hand can be used for drilling. I drilled more than a hundred holes on an irrigation pipe using this tip, and it didn't slip once.

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

+Ralph Bernhard Thanks for the tip!

[@Twofortheroad]

Chicks can't use tools? Sounds like something Dusty would say! Lol. Cheers guys!

[@capry37]

Nice Job!

[@skipperhawk2438]

Great vlog as usual. It is handy to have 2 drills even if one is a cheapy rechargeable; the idea being that one is set up with a bit just for drilling a quick pilot hole (as others mentioned). I know you two have travelled a lot in the past; is it in your future plans to winter somewhere warmer like the Carib rather than have to put the boat up or do real life plans or constraints limit that idea? One thing I do for mold and mildew control is hang cut open plastic bottles containing baking soda in the cabin and leave a shore powered high wattage bulb on when the cabin is shut up.

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Yes we'll be heading south next year. Currently trying to finish and promote our film One Simple Question and launch a new project called Ocean Courier. Thanks for watching!

[@gorickego1882]

the cost and time of implementation of such a solution?🤔

[@GNT35]

If you install a auto pilot you should record that ,,, I just did one and it seamed to take more time then it should have! Great job on the video..

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

We already have one installed. But have a few other installs coming up we'll do... Airhead composting toilet, Cubic Mini wood stove, Monitor wind vane. Thanks for watching and suggesting!! That's helpful.

[@sailingcruiser25]

I like how Ben gets distracted and takes a break measuring keels, but we also learned something. As for other videos... How about a video on systems needed for long distance sailing. Specifically, I would like to see a video on how your self steering is set up and adjusted. Do you have a hydraulic ram and if so how is it attached into the quadrant? Not really a project video where you already have these systems in place, but there isn't a lot of informational videos on self steering systems and how there configured onboard. Thanks

[@MrBluoct]

...homework ?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

David Duncan Thanks for the ideas David -- we'll definitely do a Monitor Windvane video - we are installing one this spring. And we'll take a look at the hydraulic ram too.

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

David Duncan Thanks for the ideas David -- we'll definitely do a Monitor Windvane video - we are installing one this spring. And we'll take a look at the hydraulic ram too.

[@redwood1957]

Have you mind improvements? Thanks

[@teddyruxpin3811]

Where did you get the plastic for the shrink wrapping?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

From the local marine store -- Hamilton Marine. Walk in and grab it :-) One roll is enough for two seasons.

[@mefelix]

Keel, can you make a video explaining everything about it? thanks

[@chikken_soup]

I'd like to see you guys cross the atlantic with the N447

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

I would too! France, Scotland and Norway have always been high on the to-do list! We are getting get ready for some extensive cruising starting next fall.

[@OldSchoolDo]

Sailing Simplicity dont forget out Archipelago here in Sweden .. Stockholm's Archipelago with over 10,000 islands

[@w4447]

Where did Awesome Steve get that flame thrower? I want one to start my grill..:-)

[@karikalahari]

For your next video? I just want to see more of awsome Steve. *swoon* Actually, I'm always interested in learning new solutions to keep my boat as eco-friendly as possible. So more on that would be great!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Good idea, thanks! I'll let Steve know ;-)

[@SailingBlueBird]

I do not know about the climate in your area, but in Denmark it is really moist in the winter. How do you deal with condensation and mould? Love your videos...really prof :-)

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Well... it's definitely a problem. We installed some vents, but they just blew out the other day during a storm. We've removed everything that could get moldy, like cushions, towels, blankets etc. We keep the hatches open and the floor boards up to aid in ventilation.

[@shipshapecanvas6979]

What marina was this? That really looks like one of our covers on that catboat behind you at 2:42... just curious. Nice video!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

That was Knight Marine in Rockland, Maine.

[@jeffryherrick3739]

what type of piping did you use? Diameter? Where did you purchase it?

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

where did they purchase pipe ? really ? go back to your desk.

[@SailingLolita]

great job! i'm curious how the pvc or pex tubing is connected to the side of your boat?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

It wasn't connected to the side. We ran lines underneath the hull from one side of the PVV to the other.

[@user-su6rv2ss6b]

Hey Teresa! I too would like to know what your framing tubes are. I use PVC but that seems easier to work with!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Those are also PVC in the video. I forget the size though. Came in a big role. Was cumbersome.

[@striveforselflessness3220]

I was gonna say, just pre-drill the hole. Then the screw has a path to follow already and less chance of splitting.

[@jrutledge79]

What size pipe are you using?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Oh man I think that was 1.5”

[@TroyaE117]

What did it all cost?

[@graveytrain5113]

I been shrink wraping for years......1/4 inch nylon rope...just as strong as any amount of wood...and rigging......learn to rope properly and u good to go!!!

[@sailingarista]

graveytrain can you show us how you do it?

[@JohnBobRoger]

Is this the same gal from Elk Rapids Michigan who sailed a Westsail 32 (or maybe it was a Nor-Sea 27) a few years ago?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

indeed it is! morsealpha.com

[@jakebarnes28]

I laughed at "chicks can't use tools." Question: what if you used greenhouse plastic/Visqueen? Would your boat be warmer? Too warm? Bad UV? I'd like to build one for a 27' I'm thinking of purchasing. Also, great job!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Yeah you sure could use clear -- its great for cold climates. Commenter below says he used clear in Toronto.

[@ExploringCabinsandMines]

my chick is good with tools !:-)

[@melbellwood]

What is your go to food while under way? Do you have any superstitious rituals for a trip?

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Good topic... food!

[@melbellwood]

So.... anything and everything!

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Go to food? Tough to say. Depends on mood, seasickness, time of day etc 😃. We are very non-superstitious. But Teresa is very adamant about not whistling aboard. But that's about it. We carry bananas, leave on Fridays, and didnt perform re-naming rituals.

[@micahharman2434]

you should get a pvc pipe cutter from homedepot

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Never heard of such a thing! Thanks for the tip.

[@theconquerors]

LOL!! Bigger loads!!!

[@PineappleOranges]

What is going to happen to all the materials used for the winter cover, once winter is over? Seems like a lot of plastic was used.

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

They will get recycled. There is a company that comes and collects all the used material at the boatyard... happens all over the place.

[@sequel6705]

Remember that the cover must breath

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

Sequel Yup, installed some vents

[@navarredr]

Great video. Oh... and chicks can't use tools.

[@jerseyviewerguy]

not too environmentally friendly though is it...

[@MorseAlphaExpeditions]

+jerseyviewerguy perhaps ... but we were able to send the used materials to Syria for refugee camps. So that helps offset the footprint to some degree.

[@jerseyviewerguy]

Nice, let me know how and I will advise my boatyard. The estimate for a cover for my 25' is $2600 so I can imagine what the cover yours would go forl.

[@facedeace4684]

Chicks can't use tools. Lol!

[@Bruiser38]

Chicks can't use tools