Well it’s officially Winter. Time put away all the fun summer stuff and prepare for some cold weather. This blog post covers the process of shrink-wrapping your boat. It’s not all that hard to do and you can store your boat right in the backyard safe and sound from any elements. Below is a list of what you need to do.

1. Go our and purchase a shrink-wrap kit and any accessories you might need such as a heat gun. You can buy kits from online retailers or at any boating supply store.

2. Remove the boat from the water and transport it to a storage site

3. Pad any sharp corners that may rip the shrink-wrap.

4. Build a structure made of support poles and strapping lines over the boat to give the shrink wrap something to adhere to. Secure the structure by tying off to the stern, bow and sides of the boat.

5. Unroll the shrink-rap over the boat. Keep it from hitting the ground, as static electricity can draw dirt to the shrink-wrap. Drape the shrink-wrap down to just above the waterline on the boat.

6. Use the heat gun to heat the shrink-wrap, causing it to tighten over the support structure and to the sides of the boat. Start at the bow and work from the bottom of the shrink-wrap up, moving the gun in a wide sweeping motion. Then use a ladder repeat process on top of the boat.

7. Check over the entire boat when finished for any holes in the shrink-wrap. Patch holes with tape included in the installation kit, if necessary. Install self-adhesive vents to keep out mold and mildew that might form under the shrink wrap.

THE SHRINKING PROCESS
Once the film is on the boat (after you have heat-welded around the perimeter band) there are a few steps that can help in achieving a wrinkle-free, tight cover. You must install the belly-bands immediately after heat welding around the perimeter band on the boat. These taut straps pull the slack from the wrap allowing it to become tighter when heated. The shrinking order is as follows: Seal all pleats in cover, including the bow and stern. Begin applying heat at the bottom of the cover near one end (never in the middle). Guide the shrinking with the heat gun to the other end of the boat, up to the rub rail. Starting at the bottom of the cover allows the heat to rise and helps you shrink more quickly. Now you can shrink the top; be careful not to put excess heat on the corners or sharp protruding objects. Avoiding these areas allows the shrink-wrap to maintain its full thickness at these points.

HOLE PATROL
When the over is completely done make sure to check for any holes. The most effective way of repairing a hole is to use shrink-wrap tape which should be included in your kit. When the tape is applied it MUST be rubbed to remove air bubbles and activate the adhesives in the tape. The tape should also be lightly warmed using the gun so that the tape will adhere better.

VENTS AND DOORS
Vents and doors are installed after the cover is completely shrunk. They are not heated onto the cover at all. Vents are self-adhesive and the adhesive on them must be hand warmed and rubbed to have a complete seal. Doors are taped to the cover using either 2” or 4” shrink-wrap tape. The door is then unzipped and a hole cut underneath the zippered area.

That’s it! Your boat is all safe and sound for the winter.