Winter Cover

The concept is to support the tarp with bows of some type to prevent the tarp from sagging under the weight of any snow accumulation.

I used 3/4" gray plastic conduit and 1/2" plastic water pipe, both available from Home Depot.

A couple of photos of me working on the foredeck in November 2005, about 2 days before the first winter storm! The blue gloves are nitrile, which I've taken to using during my Volvo restoration project (the subject of another extensive website at some point in the future!). They keep my hands clean, and cut the wind to keep my hands from totally freezing.

Here is an overview of the whole support, seen from ground level:

What it looks like from the cockpit. The bows are all attached to the mast with two 14" zip ties (photo 4) to keep them from moving about. A third zip tie is used to make a frapping turn and tension the assembly. I'm sure Brion Toss would roll his eyes if he saw zip ties used in this manner, but hey, whatever works.

The chainplate bow is attached with screws. Fit is not critical, the head just needs to be big enough to not slip out of the chainplate hole. In photo 3, I've attached a section of pool noodle around the screw to protect the tarp from chafe.

The foredeck presented a unique challenge in that there's nothing on deck between the lifeline sockets (photo 2) and the pulpit. This was solved by installing a "tee" fitting at the end of the pipe, and tensioning the bow like a bow-and-arrow.

In photo 3 you can see the pool noodle foam inserted in the chock.

The steaming light, before and after covering with protective foam:

Some photos taken from on deck, and the aft tend of the cabintop:

Photo 1 is just beside the jibsheet winch. The other two show the half-size bow installed mid-deck. It was tensioned like the foredeck bow, then two more lines installed with stopper knots to keep it in position fore/aft.