Winter canvas instead of shrink wrap...

My previous boat came with a used Fisher canvas cover. I used it for the 10 years I had the boat, and the person who bought it from me is using it.

They are a small, family run company who provide great service. They will pick the cover up in the spring, repair any cuts, rips, holes, fold it and store it for a nominal fee. They then return it in the fall.

I don't know how much the covers cost, but with the cost of shrink wrap, they probably pay for themselves in a few years.

Mine was pretty heavy, and I'd curse it every fall - until I remembered how much I was saving.

I would not hesitate to recommend one.
 
I think it depends on the boat and on you.
I looked at one for my boat.
I typically keep my boats for 5 years.
Fisher quoted me $4643.00 plus tax and shipping, so let's make it $5000.
Now, also you have the cost of the frame, so that's another couple of hundred, plus remember, you need to put the frame up every fall, which I have seen people do it and it's time consuming!

Ok, back to the payback.
Shrinkwrap for my boat costs me from $10 to $13 a foot. So that is about $500 to wrap my boat.
That is everything, soup to nuts and I don't lift a finger!
Based on that, my packback is easily 10 years.
Throw in the hassle of the frame.
Throw in that you are laying out $5K today where shrinkwrap is only $500a season.
Throw in that the fisher cover needs to be cleaned, stored, kept dry, etc.

In my opinion, shrink wrap is the way to go!
 
This may not apply to all scenarios, but when my canvas was not completely shot but getting older about 5 years, I bought a new set. I took the older back canvas and had new glass put in and then a heavy duty edging band and new snaps, I did the same for the 5 pieces of windows / plastics.

The cost of the “face lift" on the old covers and glass was about $700 and has lasted me 4 winters so far with no signs of disrepair.

The top which is now 9 seasons old will need to be replaced est cost $1200, but I should get a year or two more out of it. So overall this has work great for me.
 
If Fisher delivers it to you out of state, he should not charge sales tax. Since they only charge about $150 to pick it up, repair it, fold it, store it, and return it - you could probably get him to drop it off for free.

I built my frame out of wood, which I re-used, it cost me about $25.00.

A canvas cover "breathes" - shrink wrap doesn't. Less chance of mold and mildew under the canvas.

Dumping all that shrink wrap in the garbage is wasteful and bad for the environment. The costs is subject to increase every year.

Granted, it's a lot easier to pay someone to shrinkwrap, but once you lay out the money for canvas, you have no costs thereafter.

It also increases the value of the boat when you sell it.

Me? Next year, I'm doing the Kover Klamp system...
 
Disagree with the mold and mildew.
If shrink wrap is properly vented, there is no mold or mildew.
I have been on boats with fisher covers and when the cover gets old and damp it smells like a damp mop.
Shrinkwrap is recyclable and we recycle it in my marina.

Still don't think it has a good recovery cost and I also prefer not to be walking around my boat building a crazy frame every fall.

Finally, I only shrinkwrap to rub rail due to colored hull, fisher would go all the way down and that would mean canvas against the hull which could cause chafing.
 
Invest in a winter cover. Better for the environment, better for your pocketbook and better for your piece of mind. Yes, it's a pain to put up the frame and cover, remove and store them, but it pays for itself in a few years, is always a good selling point and you can control when the cover goes on/off. You don't have to hope that the shrinkwrap guy got there before the snows or that the marina doesn't have a hissy fit because the guy posted his sign on the boat.

Lady C
 
Wow, I had no idea that it cost so much! I like Brads idea! I have a canvas camper setup that I have never used only its the one where you have to thread it thru the windshield. Or maybe I will just do a better job on the blue tarp I bought from home depot...
 
We have used a Fisher cover on our boat since we purchased the boat. The yard we had the boat at wanted just shy of $1000 to shrink wrap. Bought the Fisher cover off season for $2800. (Complete price for a new cover directly from Fred Fisher).

The first few years I used a homemade frame of PVC, about $50 of materials. Worked well but had a few issues with sagging under HEAVY snow load. 2 years ago we switched to a frame made with Kover Klamps, about $450. The frame takes about 30-60 minutes to setup and the cover takes about an hour to unroll and tie around the boat. We also winter in the water so it takes a little longer to do things. So far we have saved roughly $3000.

A little side story, the guy in the next slip lives on his boat and when I was up at the marina last weekend he made a point of telling me how good he thought my cover was. He said even in 60mph winds the cover doesn't move and he saw very little if any snow on the cover even after the big storms we have been having this year. "That's the best cover setup I've ever seen!"

IMO, if you plan on keeping a boat for more than 3 or 4 years it is WELL worth the expense of the Fisher cover. The thought of throwing $1000 in the garbage or even the recycle bin after 3 or 4 months sucks if you ask me.
 
A friend of mine sent a picture of my winter covered boat from the other day so thought I share it.

boat+under+cover+winter+10-11.jpg
 
i bought a fischer canvas cover for my boat 2 years ago. it cost me $2,400 for my older 32 ft flybridge carver voyager. i made my frame from pvc and it although it was tough designing and putting it together the first year, it was a snap to re-assemble this time. the company is great to deal with. one note...the covers are HEAVY. it takes two to put it up and carry it, but well worth the money, in my opinion. i'm only sorry i waiting so long before getting it.
 
This is my third winter season with a Fisher Custom cover. They had a template for my boat and did not need to measure. I am extremely satisfied with the cover. Well made, good fit, and a breeze to put on with the 2 x 4's in the sewn-in sleeves for support. Used to cost me $500 per winter for shrink wrap and I was at the Marina's mercy timing wise. The Fisher cover cost me about $900, so after 2 seasons it's paid for itself and I'm saving $500 per year going forward. It is heavy, but again, very well made. Haven't needed to send it back to them for cleaning or repair yet. From what I hear from other Fisher cover owners and Fisher themselves, the cover should last a minimum of 10 seasons. If so, it is a good investment.
 
Hogan,

If you are interested I have lots of Kover Klamp parts I used to use on my Boat. All in very good shape Some not even opened or ever used. If interested PM me and let me know what you want I'll sell the stuff 50% off of what Kover Klamps charge. Let me know if your interested.
 
I am interested, I can't PM you because you don't have an anchor.
 
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