www.iFourWinns.com

Bit the bullet and ordered a winter cover from Fisher. Won't be cheap (~$2400) but better than squandering $400 every year on shrinkwrap. Or leaving it uncovered and dealing the elements (fading canvas, wax, chalking, etc). Hopefully it'll be in decent enough shape when we sell the boat to be an added feature.

They're going to come down at the end of November to get it set up. I'll post pictures of the process then.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

We are on our second season with ours. Works great.

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

When you use a cover like one from Fisher, Do you just leave your bimini top up to support it? What do you do about moisture control?

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

Here is a picture of ours. We take our bimini top down . And I have a 2x4 frame for the front to support the cover. Also they have vents built in to circulate the air. This is the second year for this one. We had one for our 268 Vista also. We used that one 4 times. Never had a problem. Fisher makes a very nice covers.

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

Hello all,
Keeping in ind that I am a total novice here... Is it better to buy a cover than pay to shrink every year? Are the covers easy to use and how long can I expect to get out of them?
$2400 cover = 6 years of shrink... is that about right?

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1998 Vista 238 w/150 hours
2004 yamaha kodiak 450 4x4 w/plow
1996 Harley Davidson Lowrider
3 "little" atv's for the brats
24' x 8' enclosed trailer to stuff it all into
Pulled by my 2006 GMC 2500HD extra cab...SLE

I really need a garage...

Yes, your math is about right. I'm figuring the cover will be good for up to a decade.

Another upside to the cover is flexibility on when it gets covered and uncovered. Should there be a need to get into the boat during the off season you're not stuck with ripping off the shrink. Like to add something to an area too tightly covered by the shrink.

I've amended my order and we're getting the in-water variation. While we'll have the boat out this year, we may keep it in the water during other winters. The major difference between them is the in-water cover is a bit higher at the bottom and also has holes to accommodate lines from the cleats.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Did you get your cover yet Bill?

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348 Vista ( Last Call )
Raystown PA

Frank Fisher's coming down this afternoon to measure it up. I'm getting the in-water version of the cover as we won't always take it out each winter. It's out this season because it's getting the bottom painted next spring. I don't feel like trying to rush the to get it properly scheduled next spring so it's out now. I figure that'll also give me the chance to do some other stuff (like maybe some underwater lights).

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

The cover arrived this past Friday. Just in time for the 20F weather to hit the area. Snow tomorrow. So I won't be putting it on for a little while yet. Meanwhile, anyone build a frame for one of these? I'm looking for construction tips...

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

I have built a frame for the custom cover I have for my 20' bowrider. I looked at the frames built for shrink wrap for some of the big boats at local marinas, and what I did was use a long piece of wood (about 3/4 in thick, 2 in wide and long enough to stretch from the windshield frame to the rear railing at the stern. This I also supported with pvc plastic piping, duct taped to the wood, with bases to sit on the deck of the boat. This is the main support for the cover. For the bow area, and for crosswise supports, I used the flexible bows made of fiberglass that you can buy at West Marine or Overtons. These are very strong but a bit pricey, you probably could use wood strips as well. Each year I have added a few more for more support, now it doesn't sag much under a snow and ice load. It's also a good idea to use pipe insulation to pad all sharp areas such as the windshield frame.
Basically what you are doing is similar to a convertible frame for a car.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Second season on my semi-custom Carver, solution dyed 6oz. Sharkskin cover, still looks brand new... The boat just had a foot of snow on it and the cover never budged... (and I don't have supports under it).

Best $600 I spent

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Brett DiMichele

I just built a shop to put it so I don't have to worry about covers.

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Todd
1988 Four Winns Horizon 200
AKA "Summer School"

Todd,

That is certainly the *ideal* solution and I'm half way there... The slab is poured anyway.. Now all I need is four walls and a roof!

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Brett DiMichele

Some of us prefer something a bit larger than one would normally trailer. Size, the admiral says, matters.

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-Bill Kearney, 2005 348 Vista

Bill,

Keep telling yourself that

Your boat is trailerable! Sure you need the right truck (an F650 will suffice) and you will need a custom lowboy trailer, probably hydraulic but it can be done!

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Brett DiMichele