shipping a boat, best way to protect?
 

I have a boat that is going to be headed from here to Texas in a few weeks and i am looking for the best way to protect it, problem is the owner opted to not have any kind of mooring cover made so there are no snaps anywhere on the boat. I have had my shrink wrap guy look it over to do a full taped wrap to below the hard chine as an option but am not fond of all that shrink on fresh paint. He has advised a partial wrap is a bad idea stating any forward facing openings or attachments that go across the finish are at risk of fluttering and damaging the surface. He has actually advised if weather permits its probably best to shoot out in good weather totally open. Wondering if i could make some covers for the bolsters and cover the dash and hatch with something, but again there the constant wind issue. Without a dedicated mooring cover its a head scratcher. Any thoughts?

Total wrap or nothing and dodge the weather

might want to confir with the customer. I would say shrink wrap, if not leave it open.

we have been discussing it, tossing ideas around. My biggest concern with a full wrap is two things really, the constant wind for one and a shipper that may or may not keep an eye on it properly looking for potential issues. I have a friend here that has bid on it and he is also a Cig owner but the bid has been put out to U-Ship and has been undercut. Those guys will haul stuff for nothing, when it came up it was from Miami to N Ohio for like fifteen hundred. Its tough to compete with that.

I would say shrink wrap it. If I'm not mistaken, a lot of boat manuf use shrink wrap when transporting their boats to dealers so I would say it should be good for long hauls.

As long as it has a cockpit drain, just roll it and hope for the best.
I don't like it, but that's really the only option.

Pull the bottom of the back seat out and stow in the cabin, so a discarded lit cigarette butt does not nest on the backseat and burn in.
Put the bolsters seats down if they are drop downs for the same reason.

MAKE SURE they hauler that does up DOES NOT have smoke stacks on the truck. That will be disastrous on the interior, especially if it rains.

Will it be sitting on it's own traler? If so, couldn't the shring be brought all the way down and attached/taped to the trailer instead of the new paint.

Padraig

Mine was completely heat shinked when it came from New Hampshire on a well over 2000 mile trip.
Although it was very watertight and weatherproof the installer got a bit greedy with the flame and there were quite a few spots that it stuck to the gelcoat and was a PIA to remove delicately.
With the fresh paint he enjoys going open in good weather is the way I'd do it. I'd bet he'll be in Texas on day 2 for delivery.

See ya,
Kelly

Donzi used to ship all of their new boats with Transhield covers. It's basically a shrink wrap cover with a soft felt inner liner and they work great to keep the boat clean and protect the finish. Not sure if you could find or get one for your boat.

http://www.transhield-usa.com/transh...em_covers.html

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