Under the Cover — Is Your Boat Really Ready for Winter?

The best test of a winter cover comes after the first storm.

Three boats, three winter arrangements — and three sets of things to check when the wind finally drops.

Champagne is in the lean-to, sheltered while we tackle stripping old finishes, revarnishing the timber and carrying out the necessary painting. Whaly Coyote is tucked beneath her own cover. The RS Toura is outside, tied down to the ground, with her seat being repaired.

It sounds reasonably organised.

Then the storms arrive.

Suddenly, the questions become rather more practical. Are the covers still attached? Have they shifted? Is rainwater pooling somewhere? Has a strap started rubbing? Is everything underneath as dry as it looked when we put it away?

Winter preparation has to survive real winter weather. That means going back occasionally to see how it is doing.

Three Boats Need Three Different Approaches

Boat	Winter arrangement	Particular priorities
Champagne	In the lean-to for refinishing and painting	Wind-driven rain, dry timber, ventilation and suitable coating conditions
Whaly Coyote	Beneath her own cover	Cover support, drainage and protection of propulsion equipment
RS Toura	Outside, tied down, with the seat being repaired	Ground anchors, straps, water accumulation and repair protection

Their situations differ, but the underlying questions are shared: keep unwanted water out, let moisture escape, avoid rubbing and make sure nothing has moved.

Champagne: A Roof Helps, but the Open Sides Matter

Having Champagne in the lean-to is a considerable advantage. It gives us somewhere sheltered to work and reduces direct exposure to rain.

It also changes the inspection. Instead of looking only at a boat cover, I need to consider the shelter itself.

Can wind-driven rain reach the bow or stern? Is water dripping from an edge or joint? Could roof runoff splash onto the boat? Have leaves obstructed the guttering? Has anything stored nearby become loose?

A roof overhead does not guarantee dry conditions everywhere underneath it.

That matters particularly while old finishes are being removed. Exposed timber needs protection, and revarnishing requires suitable conditions.

For Champagne, I will work in manageable areas rather than strip more than we can keep suitably protected. Before coating, check the chosen product’s requirements for preparation, timber dryness, temperature, humidity, dew point and drying time.

A mild afternoon does not guarantee a successful coat if the surface becomes damp as the evening cools.

Dust needs managing, too. Sanding beside a freshly coated surface can create extra work. Plan dusty preparation and coating as separate stages, following the product’s ventilation and safety instructions.

The lean-to gives us a place to work. It still needs managing as a winter workspace.

Coyote: Look Beyond the Reassuring Cover

Whaly Coyote looks reassuringly tucked away beneath her own cover.

The important word is “looks”.

Inspect the cover along its whole length. One section may shed rain perfectly while another develops a hollow beside a fitting.

Coyote’s electric propulsion system, connections and any filming accessories remaining aboard also deserve attention.

My checks would include:

• Is the cover resting on a cable, control or vulnerable fitting?
• Are its supports secure and clear of electrical equipment?
• Has water collected beneath it?
• Would portable cameras and accessories be better stored somewhere dry?
• Does the motor and battery storage arrangement follow the applicable instructions?

Her solar-charging arrangement needs considering as part of that plan. Battery storage and charging have their own requirements; a boat cover cannot establish suitable conditions by itself.

Use the instructions for the actual E60 battery and installed system, including storage charge, temperature limits and periodic checks. ePropulsion provides the relevant manuals through its download centre.

For a camera boat, protecting the equipment beneath the cover matters just as much as protecting the boat itself.

The Toura: Tied Down, but Still Worth Checking

The Toura is outside and tied down to the ground. That is an important preparation for windy weather, but it does not remove the need for inspection.

After a storm, I want to know whether the complete arrangement has held: boat, trolley, straps and ground anchors.

Rain can soften the ground. Straps can settle or move. A loose end can flick against the hull, while a shifted cover catches the wind differently.

Check anchor points and webbing, using an arrangement suitable for the boat and site. Secure her without excessive tension or concentrated loads on vulnerable parts. Suitable protection at contact points helps prevent rubbing.

The cover and boat need separate thought. Securing the hull does not automatically secure the cover.

Then there is the seat repair.

An outdoor repair area needs protection from rain and dirt. Any adhesive, sealant or other material must be used within its specified conditions. A cover does not necessarily make a cold, damp surface ready for bonding.

The repair method deserves its own article. For now, the priority is keeping the work area protected and checking that temporary protection has survived the weather.

Pooling Rainwater: A Small Hollow Becomes a Heavy Load

A cover should behave like a roof.

When water collects in a dip, its weight pulls the fabric down. The hollow deepens, catches more rain and increasingly strains seams, supports and fastenings.

Here is a useful calculation:

Water volume in litres = area in square metres x average depth in millimetres

For a pool covering 0.5 square metres with an average depth of 40 mm:

Water volume = 0.5 x 40 = 20 litres

That is approximately 20 kg sitting on the cover.

The depth must be an average, rather than simply the deepest point, but the example shows why a modest pool deserves attention.

Use suitable, stable supports with smooth contact points. Check the slope all the way to the edges: a good central ridge can still leave a pocket at the stern.

Remove water carefully from a safe position, then correct the fit or support. Do not crawl beneath a heavily loaded cover to push it upwards or haul on a strained seam.

Emptying the pool deals with today’s water. Improving the shape deals with the next rainfall.

Drainage: Trace the Water’s Route

Some rain may still find its way underneath. Where does it go?

Clear leaves and debris from cockpit outlets and accessible channels. Look around seats and low points for water with no easy escape route.

Ashore, the boat’s attitude on its trolley or cradle matters. Follow the manufacturer’s support and drainage guidance, keeping the arrangement stable.

RS describes the Toura as having a self-draining cockpit, but outlets still need to remain clear, and her storage position affects where water collects.

Identify openings before removing plugs. Cockpit drains and buoyancy-compartment bungs have different purposes.

A plug which may be removed for drainage ashore can need to remain fitted afloat. Follow the boat’s instructions and leave a clear reminder to refit anything required before launching.

A small label attached where it will be seen during rigging is much more useful than relying on remembering something several months later.

Ventilation: Dry-Looking Is Not Always Dry

Wrapping everything tightly can trap moisture already inside.

A wet rope bag, damp sail or persistent puddle can maintain a damp environment beneath an otherwise effective cover.

The RYA’s winterising guidance recommends covers that exclude rain while allowing air to circulate.

Use intended vents and avoid blocking them with another sheet. During suitable dry weather, supervised airing also gives an opportunity to inspect hidden areas.

The same principle matters in Champagne’s lean-to. Shelter is useful, but damp equipment against timber can keep a local area wet.

Look for:

• Water droplets beneath the cover.
• Damp ropes or fabric.
• Musty smells.
• Unexpected staining or changes in the finish.
• Water sitting in corners after the surrounding boat has dried.

Investigate the cause rather than simply closing everything up again.

Chafe: Winter Damage a Millimetre at a Time

A cover need not blow away to cause trouble.

Fabric moving against a fitting can wear through. A buckle can mark a hull. A loose strap can repeatedly strike the same spot.

Check corners, cleats, rigging contact points, hard fastenings and exposed edges. Secure loose ends and use appropriate soft protection.

Then check that the protection stays in position. Padding that moves away from the rubbing point offers little help; padding that holds water against the boat may create another problem.

Aim for an even fit. A loose cover can flap; an excessively tight one can strain seams and fittings.

On Champagne, anything touching the timber finish deserves particular attention. Protecting the results of winter work starts while the work is being planned.

After the Storm: Inspect the Whole Arrangement

Once conditions are safe, stand back before adjusting anything.

Has the boat moved? Does the cover look different? Is a support leaning? Has something shifted against the hull?

Then follow the same inspection each time:

1. Shelter and surroundings: look for obvious damage and displaced objects.
2. Boat and supports: inspect trolley, cradle, chocks and ground conditions.
3. Anchors and straps: check movement, slack, fraying and rubbing.
4. Cover shape: look for pools, sagging and displaced supports.
5. Underneath: check for standing water, trapped damp and new marks.
6. Repairs and equipment: inspect temporary protection, prepared surfaces and stored systems.
7. Record and act: photograph changes and note anything needing attention.

Do not enter an area threatened by damaged roofing or branches. At a riverside club, flooding can also affect safe access.

A useful inspection happens after the danger has passed.

Laying Up Includes Planning the Next Visit

This is the habit I want to carry through the winter-maintenance series:

Laying up a boat includes planning the next visit.

Inspect soon after covering, after substantial rain and following significant storms when access is safe. Between those visits, set a routine appropriate to the exposure, repair work and storage location, alongside club, yard or insurer requirements.

Champagne will naturally attract visits while work progresses. That provides a useful reminder to check Coyote and the Toura too.

Keep a short record. For example:

“Toura straps checked; cover secure; leaves cleared; seat-repair protection dry.”

A note and photograph make the next inspection more informative.

If you cannot visit, agree a checking arrangement with someone who can and explain what needs attention.

These visits can also help maintain the social side of sailing through winter: a conversation about repairs, a shared observation about a loose cover, or an extra pair of hands when something needs adjusting.

A Winter Visit Is an Investment in Next Season

Champagne is sheltered for refinishing. Coyote has her own cover. The Toura is secured outside while the seat receives attention.

Those are useful preparations. Their success depends on what happens next.

A cover can move. A drain can block. The ground can soften. Rain can arrive from a direction that seemed unimportant when everything was put away.

Fortunately, many problems are straightforward when caught early.

This week’s task: inspect your boat after rain. Check the cover’s lowest point, trace the drainage route, inspect the straps and lift an edge to see what is happening underneath.

Then decide when you will return.

The aim is to reach spring with the boat protected, the repair work progressing and fewer surprises waiting beneath the cover.

Return to the Winter Boat Shed https://pmrsailing.uk/Champagne-A-Rater/The-Winter-Boat-Shed.html