Carver Owners Forum

1986 Carver 3607 to be stored outside in snow, if I support the Bridge covering with 2x4s and shrink wrap can I leave the full enclosure in place, I really hate removing tops as they tend to shrink a little each time and reinstalling becomes difficult. However what say you, experienced captains.

It's better to take it off as much of a PITA it is . What happens is the cold weather when you reinstall it makes it very tight. Pick a day when you can get all the pieces in the sun as you reinstall it.

TBH to make a frame that would go over the entire top would be a chore. You would need to make the center peak pretty high and frame over the sides so the bows aren't taking any snow load. For all that effort its going to be easier to just pick a warmer day to reinstall it.

I take all the canvas off every year and bring it home and clean it up. Polish up the isinglass so it's nice and clean for next year. Not the most fun job, but keeps things looking nice.

On my 3607 ('83), I would take the enclosure panels off and store them, but leave the top on. Then I'd fold the top framing forward, collapsing it up in the forward storage position. I'd put the boot on the top. Then, I'd remove the forward supports and lower the framing to the windscreen railing. It's a little tricky at this point, but you can get it past the windscreen railing but you might have to remove one of the pivot bolts so that it has some clearance. I've done it without removing those pivots and I have removed the pivots. It's tight but it will go over the forward point in the windscreen railing. Then, the framing will sit down and rest on the fiberglass surround. I've done this by myself and also with a helper. With a helper is easier but can be done with one person.

I used two 2x4 posts on the bridge to support the shrink, one fwd and one aft. They were probably only a foot or so taller than the windscreen railing. Then there'd be a strapping run from the bow pulpit, over another 2x4 support resting on the forward cabin top, up to the two supports on the bridge, then to another 2x4 support on the aft deck, then to the aft deck railing. I always added cross supports of strapping from the tops of each 2x4 over to either cleats or, up on the bridge, to the windscreen railing, so that every 2.4 had FOUR directions the strapping was pulling (mostly one forward, one back and one to each side so they wouldn't go anywhere).

Liveitwell wrote:Source of the post 1986 Carver 3607 to be stored outside in snow, if I support the Bridge covering with 2x4s and shrink wrap can I leave the full enclosure in place, I really hate removing tops as they tend to shrink a little each time and reinstalling becomes difficult. However what say you, experienced captains.

Who will be doing the shrink wrap for you ? Most marinas will take it all down and put it back.
I have seen some real disasters with wrap over canvas, especially in January after a heavy wet snowfall........consider the wind never stops and the wrap is grinding away 24/7 for the winter....the time saved
is just not worth it. You get a big flat spot up there with a foot of wet snow, well you do the math with the weight load........there needs to be a good slope from center to shed the rain and snow.

We have all experienced the long process of getting all the snaps done up......but it gets done on a nice warm day, patience wins out every time.

Just as bud37 said....don't leave it up. Snow or wind can take it all down and much more expensive to replace than the shrink wrap.

I think that if you make a proper peak with your framing over the bridge to ensure snow load is minimized you can do it. I never pull down the enclosure on my flybridge I just frame over the whole mess.

It's a real art to shrink wrap a boat properly. I've seen a lot of different methods and I gotta tell ya, there's only one way to do it right IMO. Too long a process to explain but where necessary depending on the design, you should remove the the canvas and or windows and lie them flat, usually in the v-berth. If you have to worry about them fitting back in place come Spring time, then it's time to consider having some panels replaced.

Our 3607 is getting stored outside for the first time in many years. We moved to a different lake, so no indoor storage. The marina told us that the structure over the aft deck also had to come off. That is a PITA. Always took the canvas off the other Carver we had.

Thanks all grateful for the sharing.

Grafunkus wrote:Source of the post Our 3607 is getting stored outside for the first time in many years. We moved to a different lake, so no indoor storage. The marina told us that the structure over the aft deck also had to come off. That is a PITA. Always took the canvas off the other Carver we had.

If you have the hard top over the aft deck, there is no reason to remove it.