Three seasons I am back covering the Meant to Be for the winter. Still using the original greenhouse channel and wire lock from06. I have added a new wrinkle this season which should make the cover stronger to the elements and was easier for me to put on in the wind. This season, I purchased six additional sections and used a worm gear type clamp to lock them to the top of the boom and the spinnaker pole. This made the first step pulling the greenhouse film over both the boom and the pole and locking the film down in the middle with the wire lock. I used two sheet- one for the mast forward and one for the mast aft. To overlap- I cut a slit along the middle and pulled it aft to cover the boom. The channel will take up to four sheets of poly and two wire locks so no problem with thickness.
I think the made for a better job but the spring will tell the real tale. I know it easier for me to install.

Good luck
Ian
s/v Meant to Be


12/29/09- UPDATE just visted my boat after the marina was hit with heavy snow (26-30) storm and high winds. This modification held every tight. all is well. No rips or tears. One change for next year- add small section on both sides of the mast to conver where two sections meet- this will make it stronger for snow loads. no problems to fix but looking at it- this would make additonal protection. Other covers ripped and torn. Two covered slip roofs colapsed under the snow load, leaving just the pilings.

11/30/11- Update
Just covered the Meant to Be for the 2011-2012 winter season at Tolchester Marina. Used the same track and wiggle wire.
Used a new pice of poly this year, The change this time was I split the poly in half from the mast to the bow. I now instal the track on the spiniker pole and lap the split poly over the track and lock it down with wiggle wire. Like this a bit better. Pulls tight over the toe rail when I lock it downl

10-27-12- Here we are again at the end of the season with named storm Sandy getting ready to hit. The wind was comming from all different directions today as I installed the same system with the same poly from last year. System still going strong. I did make sure everything was locked down and I applied a 4 tape to cover any slits in poly that was made to go around the rigging and the stantions.

Nov 2012- Made it through named storm Sandy. Cover took it in stride with no damage.

Oct 30, 2013- Boat came out and up on the hard today. Started winter prep. At the spring launch this year I marked the channels with a black magic marker at the opening in the toe rail as I was removing the cover and channels. Drilled out each marking that did not have a hole. Yesterday I bolted the channels onto the toe rail. Went a lot faster, as more holes matched up and was able to do this in under two hours. Next step is the greenhouse plastic cover which is still in good shape. The UV in the film keeps it from sun damage.

April 2014- Cover was ok when I checked the boat in March but did not make it to April. One side ripped out in the very high winds during the month. One mistake I think I made this year was to set the boom to low to give the film a real good pitch to toss off heavy snow that hit the area. Next season I start with new film.