A Guide to Shrink Wrap your Pontoon Boat

When summer season is ending, you see a discussion of many boat owners that now they will have to look for effective winter storage solutions. If you are an owner of pontoon boat, then you will also need to shrink your boat for winter storage. And if looking to shrink wrap a pontoon boat for winter, then you should contact a professional company to avail the services regarding boat shrink wrapping Cape Cod. The professional workers will do the job properly provide you the best results.
In this blog, we will be looking at the things you need and the ways you need to do for completing the shrink wrapping.

Things You Will Need
The list of things you will require to complete the process are listed below:

• Staple Gun
• Strapping
• Wood
• Plastic Caps
• Buckles
• Strap tensioning tools
• Belly Band
• Super caps

Steps to Shrink Wrap the Pontoon Boat

The steps for how to shrink wrap a boat (pontoon boats) are listed below:

1-Ready Pontoon for Storage

The first step to keep your pontoon boat ready is to store it properly. In this, you will be taking everything that includes particularly food, electronic equipment, and portables.

You should also take down the Bimini and place it flat because the shrink wrap will be covering the area of this boat and pulled down tight. This needs to be done carefully to avoid the tears that might appear on sharp corners or railings.

2-Develop a Support Structure

When the Bimini is laid flat, the next step to do is to measure the highest point on your pontoon boat. The calculation for the support post height is:

Height+12’’ to 18”= Total Support Post Height.

The highest point in most situations will be top of console windscreen or the flattened Bimini. Once you get the highest point, then add 12 to 18 inches to the calculation. The height you will get is the height your support post will be. Now, you can build the support posts that will have a plastic top and bottom cap.

The number of support post you need is every eight feet of length of the boat. You will have at least two supports for your pontoon shrink wrapping project. Once you are done, you have created the support post and you have cut the right length, next, you need to secure the top and bottom supports caps.

Now, it’s time to move on to set up the strapping structure that is used for the pontoon side railing as anchor points along with strapping leading from the rails leading to the tops of support poles. This process will help you to create a stable structure for shrink wrap to cover.

You need to pull the strap as tight as possible and then staple it to the top of support poles. Next, you strap from stern and bow of pontoon boat until you get the tent-shaped design. Now, your substructure frame is completed and you can move on the next step of actual shrink wrap process.

Installation of the Shrink Wrap

If you are not able to shrink wrap boat yourself, then it is suggested to avail Cape Cod boat shrink wrap services by professionals in your area.

Place the shrink wrap on your pontoon boat and take it to support frame along with strapping from stern towards the back. Once you have loosely covered the boat with shrink wrap, then you can cut the excess hanging shrink wrap at the bottom over the trailer.

Next, you need to do is to run the belly band around the perimeter of your pontoon boat under the deck where you two pontoons are attached with deck. Now attach the buckle and use a strap tensioning tool for connecting the two ends of the band and start to tighten it properly. Start to heat the wrap over your pontoon boat.

You need to fold the wrap over the perimeter band and start to heat it. You need to secure the bottom area with hands running below the deck. In this way, you can keep the shrink wrap in place whereas the remaining wrap has shrunken.

Now, you can shrink the entire cover utilizing the heat gun. Use steady and even strokes for heating the wrap by making sections. Start this process from bottom to top.

The entire cover is shrunk now. For ensuring tight seal, tape over seams for the season.

Adding Vents to Shrink Wrap

To prevent moisture development in the storage, you should add events to shrink wrap on your pontoon boat. It is suggested to add four vents in the shrink wrap cover.

You can also add access zipper as an option for accessing your pontoon interior during the storage season.

Why Building Frame is Necessary?

You need it because it is the structure on which you will place the shrink wrap. Furthermore, it also helps you in protecting the boat against weather conditions in winter storage.

Safety Tips

It is advised to apply an adequate amount of shrink wrap otherwise shrink wrap can burn. If proper care is not taken, then flame can drop on other combustible materials causing a fire. To make yourself ready in an unfortunate event, place a fire extinguisher near you.

You should inspect the cover for 30 minutes after shrink wrapping to identify any hot spots.

Don’t shrink wrap when a wind of 10 miles per hour is blowing. You should use a ladder that should be tall enough to see the thing properly in shrink wrapping process.

This was detail information about shrink wrapping your pontoon boat. To get the work done properly through hands of professional or to know the shrink wrapping boats pros and cons, contact professional companies for getting a better understanding for the need of shrink wrapping. The professionals will guide you in a proper way and will complete the work on time.

Contact Info: 

Boat Butler | Cape Cod’s Premier Boat Detailing, Waxing and Painting Services
Address: 61B Echo Rd, Mashpee, MA 02649, USA

Hours:

Monday            9am - 6pm
Tuesday            9am - 6pm
Wednesday       9am - 6pm
Thursday          9am - 6pm
Friday               9am - 6pm
Saturday           Closed
Sunday             Closed


Phone:     +1 508-294-6905
Email:      boatbutlercc@gmail.com

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