www.iFourWinns.com

I noticed in the FW owners manual it says for winter storage "To prevent dry rot - do not secure cover tightly to boat during long term/winter storage."

I was going to store it with the bow and cockpit covers on, and then put a mooring cover over that, but now I am having second thoughts. I keep it in an unheated pole barn. The prior owner kept it outside, but stored it with the bow and cockpit covers and then put a trailerable boat cover on over those.

Maybe I should just use the trailering/storage cover? It's supposedly "breathable" and has vents in the back of it. I guess the sunbrella bow/cockpit covers are for "short term storage only."

What do you think?

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

I'm in Columbia County NY and have stored with just a winter cover and a pole system for decades. I think both the sunbrella and another cover might be too much and prevent air movement. I store outside and have not had any problems with mold in the spring.

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Mannix2
Hyde Park, NY

1997 Four Winns 203 Coast Runner-150hp Ocean Pro Evinrude
"BONA 4 TUNA"
1986 19' Bayliner Capri 125 Force

What does the winter cover look like? Can you share a pic?

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

Just use the winter cover, remove the bow and cockpit covers and store inside. If you use 2 covers you will get bad mildew and mold. Use those moisture absorber buckets and open it up on dry days if you can.

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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

This is the cover I use pretty much exclusively:



I both store and tow with it. It's just a cheap WalMart generic cover that the prior owner gave to me, but it trailers well and doesn't scratch the boat. It even keeps the bimini out of the elements.

I've done a 220 mile trip with it on, through some heavy rainstorms, and it kept the boat dry. There is one spot where the lashing strap tends to rub on the hull, but the mark comes off easily with some cleaner wax.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1hnh7jv13t2lv ... r.JPG?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fplh6p6z0q3aw ... 2.JPG?dl=0

Cover is a Taylor Made cover I bought in 2007, frame I built inside to hold up to snow loads. Saves me from having to shrink wrap every year.

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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

Nice. Taylor Made is good stuff. Their HQ is about 15 mins from the lake up here.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

I'm guessing your pole barn is more like a carport, right? Open on all sides? Then yeah just use the trailering cover.

But if it's fully enclosed, don't cover the boat at all. That's the beauty of indoor storage!

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2015 H180 OB + 2015 Evinrude 135 HO

It’s fully enclosed but there are birds and critters that like to crap on the stuff in there. Better to keep it covered.

What lake are you on in the ADK?

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

I'd prefer to keep that private, but much farther north!

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2015 H180 OB + 2015 Evinrude 135 HO

Cool. Farthest north I made it this year was to Upper Saranac. Love it up there.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

We made it up to Lake George and camped out on one of the islands years ago with neighbors, they towed their Chaparral all the way up there from Long Island.

And many years ago (ie 1960-1964) we used to go up to Bovina Center and stayed at a dairy farm called Red Pine Farm. It was owned by a family by the name of Lingg, and was later bought by the actor Bob Denver (Gilligan's Island) in the late 60s. I hear it is back to being just a dairy farm and looks nearly the same as it did 50+ years ago. A beautiful place in my distant memories....

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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

Nice. Lake George is on my boating bucket list for next season. I think there was another member on here who took his boat there for a weekend. Should do an iFourWinns meetup.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX

If it wasn't so far I'd do it. I'd need a new trailer though lol. The one I'm using is a 1994 Load Rite single axle galvanized. The water at Lake George is amazingly clear. We have nothing like that here, its all murky salt water.

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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

Most of the lakes up here are like that. You still get some nasty growth on the hull if you keep your boat in all year, though. I live 10 mins from the state launch (free) so I just trailer. Might look into renting a weekend slip for the holidays to avoid the launch madness, but if it isn't a holiday the state launch works fine.

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2006 Four Winns Horizon 200
Volvo Penta 5.0 GXi/SX