Cover Hull While Stored: Protection or Oven?

I am getting closer and closer to buying an AI.

Living about 80 miles from the New Jersey shore, my plan is to transport the vaka on top of my pickup truck one time - and then leave it stored upside-down on the sand, 1/2" galvanized chain looped through the Mirage Drive hole and padlocked to something solid buried in the sand.

Then I would transport the amas, iakos, rig, rudder, and the rest back-and-forth each time I use the AI.

I am attracted to the idea of a cover - "Out of sight, out of mind" and all that - but not sure that the cover won't act as an oven, accumulating excessive heat and damaging the hull's plastic.

Thoughts?

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

My vote is a white canvas cover is a good idea and will not add to the heat. The most important thing is for the ground/sand to be flat as the heat may bend the hull otherwise.

Vetgam

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Greg

2016 AI - Spinn & Jib

“Out of sight of land the sailor feels safe. It is the beach that worries him.”
– Charles G. Davis

Point taken.

Now I am thinking a couple rows of cinder blocks - long enough to support the flat section of each gunwale.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

I bought a Hobie AI cover in 2008 and it is one of the best accessories I have used, still in good order and being used despite spending months in the Aussie sun sometimes.

As said above , a White-ish or light Grey cover will be an inexpensive investment in you're boat's protection.

BTW I admire you're determination to sail despite the distance and storing issues, good job on not giving up on your passion.

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Fair Skies, Max.

It lays flat on the plastic, right? i.e. the material physically lays on the hull - as opposed to standing proud of it supported by some sort of air-space-making arrangement.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

It's the Hobie cover, it can be fitted when boat is right way up or stored upside down.
It covers the boat with direct contact and straps on so it cannot be blown off.
You may not want a cover with HOBIE written on it but canvas would work, remember it could be stolen as it is not chained.
People often steal things they don't have a use for simply because they can.

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Fair Skies, Max.

Speaking as one who lived on the island of Oahu for nine years, I have to agree.

Would you believe prescription glasses? How about an entire dryer-load of men's underwear?

I miss some things about Hawaii, but the Polynesian concept of all property being public property is not one of them.... -)

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Point taken. Here's my current version: https://picasaweb.google.com/1081497986 ... 0677137746

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

Since ya'll are talking covers... A question if I may...

Bought a cover from Hobie for my TI and damn if I can get the thing to fit. Seems like it's just a tiny bit too short. I know I have to remove the rudder to use t, but wondering if it was designed for the v1 TI (18ft) and not the v2 TI (18ft 6in).

Oh and why not have a slot in the back that would allow the rudder to stay on and cleated+bungied in the up (raised) position?

~BoP

20' white, heavy duty uv protected tarp is the way to go. Silver , (if it's a dirty envioronment) will hold up well too, but white keeps things unbelievably cool. Even here.

Tree debris and birds/animals will really mess things up eventually, if human pests don't do it first.

Take the bungs with you. And dont forget to bring them!

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The Wind Is Your Friend...

FWIW, I have been measuring temps using "white" cotton tarp and silver-side-out Home Depot el-cheapo plastic tarp.

As long as there is air space between tarp and hull, each material lowers the surface temp around 10 degrees.

But anywhere there is contact, the cotton wins hands-down: still 10 degrees less. OTOH the silver stuff raises the hull surface temp by about 20 degrees.

Quotes around white because the stuff does not stay white very long..... but the cotton tarp I am using has long lost it's whiteness, so I think the numbers are valid.

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2015 AI in "Dune" - "The Grey Pig"
2017 Trailex 450 Trailer
Pre-September 2015 cradles
(anybody want to buy a slightly-used AI SpinKit?)
eMail: [email protected]

My vote is for using shade clothe rather than tarps, white or otherwise.

I've tried all sort of covers over the years for boats, tractors, cars, etc.

They all trap moisture, blow off, shred in winds and/or succomb to UV way too soon.

The shade clothe (aka, mesh tarps) have lasted me for ten years now often in the Tropical sun of Mexico or left in the weather all four seasons in Utah.

Talk about UV protection for the boat and the mesh hasn't deteriorated in more than ten years of service.

Harbor frieght has them and often on sale, e.g.:

8 ft. x 10 ft. Mesh All Purpose/Weather Resistant Tarp
Item #60577
$24.99

See at: http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea ... =mesh+tarp

We recently used a light gray colored car cover that we purchased at Walmart. The brand was Budge and the cover was sized for SUVs and fit the TI while on a trailer. The cover is nondescript so it doesn't attract attention. It has an elastic string around the edge so it sort of self-gathers. I used four bungees attached over the cover and to the trailer. Even in some big thunderstorms with 60 mph winds the cover stayed on.

The material is almost water proof (more like water resistant) but it breathes really well and keeps the UV light off the kayak. The best thing is that I think it was like $35. It's not meant for heavy duty outdoor use but you could replace that a bunch of times for what a custom canvas/sunbrella cover would cost.

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Cheers,
Chris