How to Shrink Wrap a Boat for Winter

Winter's coming: time to put away the barbecue grill, store the patio furniture and shrink wrap the boat. Shrink wrapping helps to protect your boat during the long winter months. You need to get the boat out of the water, transport it to your house or wherever you plan to store it and shrink wrap it. Follow a precise process when shrink wrapping your boat.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Boat shrink wrap kit
• Installation kit
• Support poles and strapping lines
• Heat gun
• Ladder or scaffold
• Long sleeved shirt
• Goggles

1. Purchase a shrink wrap kit and any accessories you might need such as a heat gun. You can buy kits from online retailers or at any boating supply store.
2. Remove the boat from the water. Place on a trailer and transport the boat to its storage site.
3. Pad any sharp corners or edges such as windshield wipers or any affixed deck gear that might puncture the shrink wrap.
4. Build a structure made of support poles and strapping lines over the boat to give the shrink wrap something to adhere to, similar to a circus tent structure. Secure the structure by tying off to the stern, bow and sides of the boat.
5. Unroll the shrink wrap over the boat. Keep it from hitting the ground, as static electricity can draw dirt to the shrink wrap. Drape the shrink wrap down to just above the waterline on the boat.
6. Use the heat gun to heat the shrink wrap, causing it to tighten over the support structure and to the sides of the boat. Start at the bow and work from the bottom of the shrink wrap up, moving the gun in a wide sweeping motion. Then use a ladder or scaffold and repeat process on top of the boat.
7. Check over the entire boat when finished for any holes in the shrink wrap. Patch holes with tape included in the installation kit, if necessary. Install self adhesive vents to keep out mold and mildew that might form under the shrink wrap.

Tips & Warnings

• Zipper doors that allow access to the boat while it's shrink wrapped are available. You can use these doors again each year.
• Wear a long sleeved shirt and protective goggles when shrink wrapping a boat.