scratches from winter tarp

Brodie · Post by **Brodie** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 11:56 am

I just covered my Marlin for the winter yesterday. New tarps this year, and I used one large and one small to get a better fit. Because I've got two, the plastic-reinforced corners sit on the hull where the tarps overlap. I'm worried about the corners scuffing the paint over the winter. What could I use to pad them with that also won't scratch?

Shark · Post by **Shark** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 1:55 pm

I'd be interested in hearing some suggestions in this regard too.

Each spring I have scuff marks and ground in dirt on the hull, in areas where the tarp touches. Last winter I used heavier silver tarps and the scuffs were not so bad but still a problem. I store in a commercial yard and do not have the space to suspend the tarps away from the hull like Tim.

The boat is on a trailer and I use about 20 heavy rubber bungees (like truckers use to secure tarps) between the tarps and the trailer to stretch the tarps tightly over the boat and minimize the tarps' movement.

I was thinking of putting some kind of buffer between the tarps and the hull but I don't want to use anything which might aggravate the situation by staining or abrading the hull or causing moisture to be trapped there over the winter.

Photo : http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/297 ... 9213_o.jpg

I'm covering her this week. Any ideas?

Post by **Tim** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:40 pm

On a different boat, I hung strips of soft fabric from the gunwale to protect the hull from tarp chafe. I bought cheap blankets from some cheap-o store and cut them into strips wide enough for the job. It worked OK. It's better to hold the tarp away from the boat if at all possible, though this is often not an option.

With a painted hull, you have to be very careful. With gelcoat, it's easy enough to buff out the winter's mess, not to suggest that it doesn't matter.

Figment · Post by **Figment** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 12:27 pm

This is one of the many miracle uses for duct tape.

Several layers of duct tape over all grommets, edges, clips, knots, etc. Slippery and soft.

Brodie · Post by **Brodie** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:51 pm

huh....I would have thought duct tape would be too scratchy. But if not, then duct tape it is! I still have to cover the mast anyways, so will have plenty of duct tape to pad the corners of the tarp.

I'll try and remember to take some pics, too.

Shark · Post by **Shark** » Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:04 am

Thanks for the suggestion Tim.

I am considering suspending some old carpet pieces, ie broadloom, in the areas where the tarp meets the hull with the pile-side against the hull. This should be soft enough for the hull but still let some air circulate.

Thoughts?