Liveaboard clear plastic thickness?

T

TJM

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Hey all:

Getting ready for my first winter in Ct. living on the boat, Essex Island Marina.

Question: I have heard that the benefit of clear plastic out ways any other option in colors. Greenhouse affect, radiant heat and lighting benefits.
How thick do you use? I have seen 6 mil at HD will that work, is it too thin ? or is clear "shrinkwrap" available?
 
I've had my boat clear shrink wrapped and it does make a difference in how much heat you make during the day.

My salon during 15 degree days was in the low 50's.

Last year they did white and it wasn't as warm during the day, maybe 10 degrees difference.
 
Maybe the The Other Gary will chime in...he has been living onboard all winter in Toronto. I would do shrinkwrap over a tarp from HD

Good luck
Niles
 
hi,

i used to be a fairly active member of this forum and the last winter i had my 42 footer on lake michigan, i had it wrapped in clear shrink wrap...i was a live aboard and i have to say, it was quite toasty most of the time.

Having the clear shrink wrap makes the cockpit usable quite a bit of the time....if it was 15 degrees and sunny, i could wear shorts and and a fleece pullover...and be quite comfortable

i am not sure of the exact thickness though...it was pretty sturdy stuff as i recall....i believe i spent $600 to completely cover a 42 footer from bow to stern in the winter of 2006/2007

i highly recommend it!

tom
 
Shrinkwrap over a tarp isn't a good idea. You have to let the boat breath and I can't imagine being a liveaboard living under a dark tarp.

You need the light and the heat that comes with it.

Clear shrinkwrap does this very well, plus you can look out and see things, they are a little blurry but you can make out who is walking down the dock.
 
It is gonna work both ways. The heat gained during the daytime will leave the boat at a faster rate at night. Should be nicer during daylight however.
 
I tried for clear last year and could not get the 40 foot width I need so my only experience is with white.
I do carve some windows in and tape clear to the wrap so I can see out.
 
quote:
Originally posted by mcirish101

hi,

i used to be a fairly active member of this forum and the last winter i had my 42 footer on lake michigan, i had it wrapped in clear shrink wrap...i was a live aboard and i have to say, it was quite toasty most of the time.

Having the clear shrink wrap makes the cockpit usable quite a bit of the time....if it was 15 degrees and sunny, i could wear shorts and and a fleece pullover...and be quite comfortable

i am not sure of the exact thickness though...it was pretty sturdy stuff as i recall....i believe i spent $600 to completely cover a 42 footer from bow to stern in the winter of 2006/2007

i highly recommend it!

tom

Click to expand...


Where did you winter with your boat?
 
Maybe the The Other Gary will chime in...he has been living onboard all winter in Toronto. I would do shrinkwrap over a tarp from HD/quote]

Maybe I should of said shrink wrap instead of a tarp. I didn't mean SW on top of a tarp.

Niles
Click to expand...
 
quote:
Originally posted by RickB

It is gonna work both ways. The heat gained during the daytime will leave the boat at a faster rate at night. Should be nicer during daylight however.

Click to expand...


How do you loose heat faster at night with clear over white shrinkwrap?
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Other Gary

I tried for clear last year and could not get the 40 foot width I need so my only experience is with white.
I do carve some windows in and tape clear to the wrap so I can see out.

Click to expand...


The Other Gary, Dr. Shrink has 40x100 clear 7mil shrink wrap, if you have any problems tracking this down let me know. I will be glad to help you.

PS I am very jealous, and someday I will live aboard full time. Right now I have to get my daughter thru high school then college!
 
Great information. Good idea about cutting holes in the white and placing clear over it to create "windows".

I will be at work during the day light hours so afternoons in the warm cockpit aren't gonna happen.

I have a full camper enclosure around the cockpit. Should I have the boat shrink wrapped with this in place ? I would think so for the added insulation correct ? Plus the color of the top is dark burgundy and it will absorb the heat from the sun. The sides are clear curtains for good visibility.
 
i kept my boat in hammond marina....they had a fairly extensive bubbler system in place....they have since remodeled the marina to make room for a larger gambling boat.....but i would imagine they still have the option for in water storage over the winter..there were always 30-40 boats that stored their boats in the water...mostly sail and bigger powerboats

i had to remove my canvas due to the fact the the shrink wrapper guy put a few supports there so i would have full use of the cockpit for the whole winter....i had so much room, i stored my canvas on the covered bow of the boat...i may have pics somewhere...if i can find them, i will post them

tom
 
quote:
Originally posted by TJM

I have a full camper enclosure around the cockpit. Should I have the boat shrink wrapped with this in place ? I would think so for the added insulation correct ? Plus the color of the top is dark burgundy and it will absorb the heat from the sun. The sides are clear curtains for good visibility.

Click to expand...


I would not have the camper enclosure up, You do not want to use the frame of the enclosure for you shrink wrap. The frame leave flat spots that the snow will sit on and the frame is not designed to hold that kind of weight.

The person that wraps your boat will build a frame out of 2x4 and strapping. It will be design to shed any snow load that you get.
 
I have a wooden frame that is erected over the boat with the bridge canvas dropped but the cockpit canvas remains in place.
It has a door in the frame. A local guy puts it up in the fall and takes it away in the spring every year for $100 each time and I have no idea where it is stored nor do I care.

project023.jpg


project021.jpg


The local shrink wrap guy then shrinks it and when he is done I install my winter water line to my underwater water outlet.
Then I get some heavy clear plastic from HD or Lowes and fabricate some windows, tape then on the outside with shrinkwrap tape and cut away the wrap on the inside for a nice view. There is a pumpout flap for our mobile pumpout and I have cable. Life is good.

cuba7013.jpg


winter002.jpg


cuba7042.jpg


winter006.jpg
 
Robyns Nest - The clear will pass more radiant heat to the outside environment than the white.
 
OK Gary stop with the phots now I am really jealous!
 
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