Winter Tarp Frame

Last winter, when the boat was delivered to the house, I bought a large blue tarp at Ocean State Job Lot and covered her up snuggly and tightly.  I had to adjust my tie-downs the first time, having been warned not to tie them to the boat stands -- a very strong wind pulling on such a line could shift the boat stand and destabilize the raised boat.

Piao under her old tarp

I also learned, the hard way, that it is better to have the tarp drawn taunt, at a steep angle, to facilitate run-off of snow and rain and prevent accumulation of pools and puddles -- which freeze into surprisingly heavy chunks of ice.

Piao topless

Hoping to avoid repetition of the great spring tarp-ice melt, I decided to build an A-frame for the deck of the boat.  I hoped this would create a steeper pitch in the tarp, would better protect the mast and shrouds, and would raise the tarp so there was less contact with the hull (where water may also collect and, with prolonged exposure, cause the gelcoat to blister).

To my surprise, the Admiral supported the project.  After a few days of research, including some helpful user forums at SailboatOwners.com, I came up with a plan.  Then, the other weekend ahead of a forecast storm, I drove over to Lowes to purchase a hack-saw and a bunch of PVC pipe.

Parts for the Project

The pipe I found came in lengths of ten-feet.  I bought three 1.5" pipes (for the ridge pole that will run the length of the boat), three 1" pipes (with which to fashion several vertical pillars to support the ridge beam), and twelve 0.75" pipes (flexible enough to use as ribs for the frame), as well as two end-caps for the ridge pole, and T-shaped connectors of various sizes.  Total cost: $106.98

It took me a couple of hours.  The trickiest part was getting the initial piece in place.  I started from the stern, cutting a length of 1"-pipe and lashing it vertically to the stern pulpit.  At the bow and stern, the A-frame ribs protrude slightly to produce a more sheer drop when the taped is draped.  In retrospect, I probably should have taken very careful measurements and pre-cut all the pipe using the table saw.  Instead I took the hacksaw up on the boat and cut pipe sections as I went along, using my knee as a saw horse.  Fortunately, my hack job was hidden by the T-connectors that were fitted to the ends of the pipe sections.

Almost finished

View from the stern

When the Admiral returned home, I asked for some help in pulling the tarp back on the boat and over the new frame.  The following day, I went and bought a much smaller tarp (10'x12') to cover the stern section, and to allow easier access when I want to climb up to work on the boat.

Piao with her new cover.

Frosty, my winter night-watchman, dangles from the bow

Tonight some arctic air moves in, bringing temperatures in upper teens to low twenties and twenty-knot winds, with some snow in the forecast.  Let's see how it holds up....