MacGregorSailors.com

Matt 777 wrote:Mark, What size tarp is that?

I could never find on big tarp locally so I bought one and used three that I had already. I have four tarps covering the boat - two 12*20 and two about 10*10. I put these tarps over PVC pipes that I bent over the mast. You can see three tarps in the picture and the 4th tarp covers the back and motor. There are larger Tarps you can purchase online.

how did you attach the pvc to the boat? what size pvc?

I got a 30x15 tarp at walmart and it fit great. But the snow gathers on the tarp..but it is keeping the crap (leaves/branches/etc) out. I would like to build a sturdy/inexpensive support system

Paul

Mark...another question (s).

What are the white cylinder looking things on the left and right of the pulpit?

does your boat get up on plane in the snow? or is that a whole nother thread?

Rich

I use a single 30x20. It a bit large at the bow, 15' would be best instead of 20' but I haven't found a 30x15 yet. It wraps the whole boat nicely down to the trailer. I don't find any extra supports are needed. I put foam covers on the 4 stanchions to protext the tarp. The key to not having the tarp collect rain puddles or snow is to slack the lifelines. The front ones are the worst, but even the cockpit lifelines will catch water occasionally. Use lots of ties to the trailer, nice and tight so there is no slop. Lace up the front opening. I leave the rae open for easy access throughout the winter for projects and contemplation. I just keep a small two step ladder at the transom.

I've also had good luck with a two tarp combo. A 20x12 for the front and a 10x12 for the cockpit. This has the advantage that you can pull off the little cockpit one for projects without having to uncover the whole boat. The also work in reverse with the mast up. You can raise the mast then put the small one on the bow and the larger one will cover from the mast back. Puddles are a bigger problem however without the mast for a ridge pole.

Here are couple of worthwhile issues to remember about tarping the Mac:

• 1. Using two smaller tarps makes sense in two ways. They're each half the size (and weight) when handling them, either covering or folding for stowage.
  
  2. Should you want to cover the boat when mast-up, two tarps can obviously address the need, one cannot.
  
  3. Mark linked to a pretty good page for ordering tarps. They are silver, weighty, and have good grommet coverage. But I've always gone to Costco's tarps (sold last summer in a package of 2 for $17).
  
  .....................Costco..............On-Line
  Nom. Size.......12'x16'..............12'x16'
  Grommets.....every 24"...........every 18"
  Mesh...............14x14...............14x14
  Weight.............5.5 oz...............6.0 oz
  Color............Blue/Silver.........Silver x2
  Cost.................$9 each..........$19 each

I just went to the garage to check on the specs on one of my two spare packages. I noticed last week that the price in Costco has dropped ( go figure!) so I can't promise they still sell the above specs. But if you have one nearby, Costco is a good first stop.

Here's ours. I thought I measured it at 20' X 28' but maybe it was 30'. I zip-tied pipe insulation to the tops of the stanchions to protect it, but forgot about the jib block and masthead light, which promptly wore through. Oh well, duct tape to the rescue. You can see the rose bush styrofoam cones inside to help keep it from sagging and holding snow. The open stern lets a lot of air flow through and makes it relatively easy to board and go inside for projects, except for the helm seat not raising quite as far.

The potty, furler and jib, boom and main, and all cushions are inside the house, with all the bilge covers open. The solar vent fan quit working, but I plan to replace the Ni-Cad C Cell with a NMHi this spring anyway.
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Moe

I learned quickly with my first boat that the blue ones won't last more than a year. The UV kills them, and that's up here in Seattle where the sun isn't nearly as bad as southern area's.

Go for the silver, they last the longest. Up here I get 2-3 years on the silver ones depending more on wind storms than UV. My current one is green/black, we keep the green out. It's weight is like the silver, but its lack of a reflective surface makes it not work as well. The same is true for the brown ones.

I saw these heavy duty white tarps listed on E-bay but they didn't have one big enough to cover the whole boat, so I went with the single silver one. You make good points frank C. and I will probably go with 2 white ones over the summer. The white would help blend the big mass into the white siding on the garage when looking at it from that direction too!
I removed the mast and sails and stored them in the basement for the winter and installed 3" schedule 40 PVC in it's place. The PVC is bolted at the at the pulpet, supported at the mast step and sets in the crutch at the pedestal. I then installed 3/4 " pvc similar to Mark Prouty's setup, then installed swimming noodles wherever there was chafing.

Greg

I gotta admit the blue tarp looks pretty tacky in the front yard.

White would be better.

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Moe

But I hear that the blue tarp makes it faster when you finally launch it, Moe.

I was wondering if the blue tarp ruffled in the wind less than other colors due to decreased wind resistance?

Greg

Paul S wrote:how did you attach the pvc to the boat? what size pvc?

I got a 30x15 tarp at walmart and it fit great. But the snow gathers on the tarp..but it is keeping the crap (leaves/branches/etc) out. I would like to build a sturdy/inexpensive support system

Paul

I attach the 3/4 inch pvc with plastic locking straps. By the way, thanks for the question. It gave me an excuse to visit the boat.

Moe,. if the blue tarp is deployed on an X boat while sailing, is it enough of a speed increase to catcha blue hulled M, or do I need 2 tarps to make it a dark enough blue to match the M???

Perhaps downwind...the additional sail area....

but somehow..... looking at the dynamics of the problem....for an X and an M of the exact same weight ..... seems the sail area and cut is the only real difference....

So, is the M only faster on broad reach and beating upwind?? hmmmm.... I confess...... I motor upwind frequently...and the two M's in canada I passed did not seem to have any motoring speed advantage in light chop...( and we did not exchange prop info either....( but it was only for 5 miles or so.....and we did not inventory weights.... What I lacked in crew, I more than made up in gear and stores..

I guess its just time for me to go chase someone else just to see how slow my boat is.....lol.....

Darren, the only one loaded to your weight category is possibly Duane!

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Moe