Boat cover vs Shrink Wrap

[Shirley Cheung, Nonsuch 30C, Toronto, Ontario]

Hello all,

My to-be purchase sailboat N30C is located in Toronto Canada. Every year, we have to take the mast and wishbone down,  haul the whole boat out of water and put it on a cradle for 6 months a year. So, technically, we only have 6 months of sailing here.

My question is: Is it beneficial and cost effective to make a boat cover vs shrink wrap it every year? In my area, it costs 1000CAD (or 730USD) tax included for shrink wrapping EVERY YEAR. I still do not know how much a boat cover would cost.

I like to know what other Nonsuch owners do.

Thanks,

Shirley

[ken...@gmail.com]

Hi Shirley,

Good luck with your purchase. I’m sure you’re excited!

Here in New Brunswick we get quite a bit of snow and ice so we definitely need to cover our boats. I guess shrink wrap would work and a lot of power boats use it, but most sailors build a frame out of wood, plastic pipe, or aluminum conduit and then cover it with tarps or a custom made cover. 

A custom frame and tarp would cost thousands I’m sure, but it can be done for hundreds by yourself. 

It’s a bother to be sure, but a necessary routine we do every year.  I’m guessing Toronto wouldn’t need as steeply sloped and robust a frame. 

All the Best!

Ken Julian

“Blue Note”  NS26C#9

Fredericton, NB

On Aug 16, 2025, at 8:25 PM, Shirley Cheung, Nonsuch 30C, Toronto, Ontario <shirley...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Brian Godfrey]

   If you shrink wrap, doesn't that make it hard to do maintenance?  The only thing I envy about the northeast coast need to haul out for the winter is that you can at least do your own maintenance at your own pace.  Especially things on the outside or bottom of the hull.

--Brian M. Godfrey
  br...@wildbirdshop.com

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[tumbler6201 John]

Hi Shirley

I. Am a new boat owner as well.  My. Boat came with a frame and cover but this will be the first winter for it.  Mine is designed to have the wishbone dropped but for the mast to stay up.  Most of the Nonsuch’s I have seen in storage keep the mast in place but drop the wishbone  

I have a friend who did the frame and tarp last season but he tied down the tarp and it left marks in the gel coat that he had to buff out this year. If you are thinking of tarpijg then I would suggest weighting the tarp at the grommets to avoid marking the hull. The grey plastic pipe available at home depot also makes a good frame as well and is relatively inexpensive also one large and one medium tarp should work to cover your boat well 

Wishing you lots of luck.  I am in the area if you need any assistance

John SMYTH

Fatal Distraction NS30U #388

Toronto Canada. 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 16, 2025, at 21:06, Brian Godfrey <br...@wildbirdshop.com> wrote:



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[John Jenkins]

When I bought my N36 3 years ago I asked my friend with one what he did. Gave me a contact for Quinte Canvas Co near Kingston who made the frame and the cover for about $4500. His had lasted 25 years. I got one and have been satisfied with the quality and ease of preparation. 

Their email is

top...@kos.net     Though may be out of date.

John Jenkins 

N36  #4

Captain Haddock

Lunenburg 

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[Dorothy Salusbury]

Hi Shirley,

I have my Nonsuch 30C shrink wrapped every year. I leave the mast up and place the wishbone on the deck securely tied down.

Some sailboat owners at my club use a company called Southwinds-my understanding is they are quite reasonable, might be worth checking out.

Dorothy Salusbury

Cathartic Nonsuch 30C

Ashbridges Bay Yacht Club

Toronto Canada  

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From: ina-nonsuch-di...@googlegroups.com <ina-nonsuch-di...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of tumbler6201 John <tumbl...@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2025 21:24
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Subject: Re: Boat cover vs Shrink Wrap

 

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[Shirley Cheung]

Dear Dorothy,

Thanks! I will check out this company. My club, WYC, does NOT allow the mast to be up....

Thanks,

Shirley

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[Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT]

Hi Shirley,

We're in our second season with Soave ( NS33 ) and are in the process of purchasing a winter cover.  

A few things I learned while shopping :

1. Payback is about 5 years.  Well built covers last 10-15 years, but they usually need to be resown after about 8 years in our area.  
2. Our boat is on the edge between 1 piece and 2 piece cover.  We opted for 2 piece to make it a little easier to handle setup and breakdown.
3. If your mast is always going to be down you can save about $500.
4. If you are worried about snow you can add extra strut and purlins to the frame.
5. Swim platform adds about $400.

For Soave, the quote I'm favoring is $4800.  ( mast down, no swim platform )  It includes delivery and setup for the first season.

Good luck with your boat and cover purchase.

Rob

s/v SOAVE

NS33 #009

Cedar Point YC

Westport, CT

[tumbler6201 John]

Dorothy

Thank You for the info. I am at TIM right now. Weird being the only Nonsuch there 

John SMYTH

Fatal Distraction NS30U #388

Toronto Canada

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 16, 2025, at 22:20, Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT <rob....@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Shirley,

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[Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT]

To answer the "ability to do maintenance" question,  my experience has been that a lot depends on the shrink-wrap crew.  They make lots of decisions on the spot when prepping for shrink-wrap.

I've used shrink-wrap for the past two seasons and am moving to a cover next winter.  With the mast down, the crew has to build a temporary frame so it ends up much like a cover.  In both marinas a zipper door is included in the basic shrink-wrap service.  For Soave, it cost about $950 each season.

The reasons I'm getting a cover are :

1. I'm intending to keep Soave for more than 6 years.  So a cover is less expensive in the long run, BUT setup, breakdown, and storage does take time ( about 4 hours per season ).  I'd guess a serviceable cover adds value to a used boat, not sure how much..
2. Shrink-wrap crews provide variable quality.  Last winter the crew was a bit too enthusiastic with their heat gun and bubbled some of Soave's boot stripe.
3. In general, I'm finding it easier to take responsibility for my work than it is to get service providers to take the same pride and responsibility for their work.  As a rule I only hire for the things I either cannot or don't want to do myself.  I feel particularly vulnerable when hiring for something I don't have a good understanding of. 

Again, the above is based on only two years of shrink-wrap.  My prior boats were smaller and I used covers or DIY tarp covers.

Rob

s/v SOAVE

NS33 #009

Cedar Point YC

Westport, CT

[Ward Woodruff]

My observation is that if planning to do work on deck under a cover, white shrinkwrap provides you with good natural lighting as opposed to a dark canvas cover. 

That said the discussion has made me think about the economics of the choices.  I guess I have already purchased two fabricated cover systems. 

. 

Ward Woodruff

N33 #8 Margery

Niantic Bay, CT

On Aug 17, 2025, at 9:03 AM, Rob Cohen "Soave" NS33 Westport, CT <rob....@gmail.com> wrote:

To answer the "ability to do maintenance" question,  my experience has been that a lot depends on the shrink-wrap crew.  They make lots of decisions on the spot when prepping for shrink-wrap.

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[Peter Grabow]

Hello - 

Please excuse me if I repeat some of the already provided answers/suggestions - I did not read through them all this time...

I switched from annual shrink-wrapping to a custom made cover several years ago when:

1) the cost of shrink-wrapping increased dramatically, and the yard personnel were wrapping/attending to the larger (i.e.' more important boats') and delayed wrapping my boat until mid-January (it was ready to be wrapped before the end of November) and  the yard wouldn't discount the wrapping for the delay (and that the boat would only be wrapped for 2 1/2 months).

2) Environmental consideration of the large amount of plastic it was putting into trash/landfills.

I was able to commission a custom-made cover for which the cost amortized in approximately 2 winters (this had a boat-show discount on it).  The material was 'Top-Gun' which is known to be extremely durable and one of the best materials for boat covers.  It is a tan color so it is fairly light under the cover in daylight hours, and snow just seems to slide off most of it (this may be because the frame I built to support it is on the high side so I can walk (if not a bit bent over) under the center of it.

I had to build the frame (one of the other Nonsuch owners provided some advice) and then the cover company came to measure the frame and positions of all stanchion posts etc.  It fit perfectly the first time. Most traditional rig boats use their booms to support the cover - can't do this on a Nonsuch.

I used 1" PVC Schedule 40  (thick walls - sturdier) PVC tubing to construct the frame.  It is easier if you have two people to do this (I didn't at the time)... Recently, after several years of using Gorilla Tape to secure each joint from pulling apart and having to fight the tape in the Spring to remove the tape, I realized if I just drilled thru each joint, put a bolt thru the holes and secured with a wingnut, assembling/disassembling became a much easier and faster project!

I keep my boat in the water most winters with the mast and boom in place.

No matter which way you decide is best for you, make sure you have an access zipper so you can go aboard to do projects during the winter, if that is something you might do.

When shrink wrapped, I paid extra to have a zippered 'door' installed, but I cut around the door (making it into a panel) after the first season and had the shrink-wrap team tape/shrink the door into place each winter when wrapping. Saved having to pay for the new door each year (about $100USD).

Good luck!

Peter Grabow

S/V CAKE WALK III

1987 30U 430

Stamford, CT

[Charles Fogden]

Genco Marine in Etobicoke made me a winter cover for my NS22. CAD4000. It is designed in 2 pieces - one fore, one aft, zippered either side of the mast. I lower the boom but mast stays up and cover fits over top of boom.

Genco seem quite familiar with the Nonsuch design and have a template figured out. They will visit and measure up however.

Give them a call.

Charles Fogden

“Foggy” NS22 #56 

Outer Harbour, Toronto

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hi John,

Thanks!!  I checked their website and it seems there is a lot of frames that one has to assemble and then put the boat cover in...I wonder if they have a simplier version of the frame. Will inquire. Thanks so much for sharing the contact!

Shirley

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hello John,

Nice to meet you and good to hear this advice. I am searching for a simple way to do the frame....as for the boat cover, I am inquiring different companies as well. I am with Whitby Yacht Club WYC. Which club are you in Toronto? Good to hear there is Nonsuch neighbor in this lake:)

Shirley

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hello Brian,

Usually, the Shink Wrap company leaves a zippered door at the stern and so one can go in in the winter:)

Shirley

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hello Rob,

Thank for your advice . I am still exploring the cost options in my area

Moreover, I am more worried about the frame. I saw there is a boat cover support system on Amazon ( 2 poles standing up with many straps attached to make the “frame”)…. I wonder if this works

Shirley 

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hello John,

You are with TIM? Must cost a fortune to put a boat there. You should come to WYC. There are 4 Nonsuch here!

Shirley

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[Shirley Cheung]

Hi Charles,

Great! I will calll them up. Do they make the frame as well ?

Thanks

Shirley 

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[Charles Fogden]

They supply all the brackets and bolts you will need to build your own frame from 2x4 lumber.

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[Shirley Cheung]

Oh ok . I was thinking of using PVC tubes 

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