Somewhere under there is a blue polytarp that has collapsed under the weight of snow (Photo: Jon Reed)
Lottie leaks. Not badly but when ashore for the winter, especially when facing into the prevailing winter storms, water can get blown under the front of the main hatch. Water from aft also seems to percolate around the main hatch boards in a downpour. And Lottie‘s cockpit floor hatch is so leaky it might as well be a funnel. Her cockpit woodwork is not improved by all year round sun, rain, frost and snow either; freezing water can split open any tiny cracks. So in the winter she dons a cover.
Cover over main hatch and cockpit - central tie to pushpit creates a ridge to shed the water
We started off using the sort of cheap blue polythene builders tarp you can get for a few pounds from B&Q and the like. But they rarely lasted one whole winter. They easily wore into holes and the eyelets pulled out. And a ripped cover that flaps is worse than no cover at all.
We’ve bought lots of them over the years but while prices have stayed low the quality has fallen and the fabric thinner and weaker. So we spent a bit more on e-bay (about £8 instead of £5) on a tougher twin ply version that is green outside and silver inside. It also
Tough corner eyelets - click to enlarge
has very tough corner eyelets and so far this one has lasted 2 winters and looks fit for another at least. So its working out cheaper over time. Of course you have to avoid or pad any sharp corners or fittings that would soon wear a hole in any cover. We use just a 3mx2m size to create a low profile cover that just covers the main hatch and keeps the cockpit completely dry but aired. We could use a bigger cover like a ridge tent over the horizontal mast but that seems to be asking for trouble in winter storms. If the cover didn’t rip it would likely have the mast over the side.
Lottie's low profile cover sails through winter gales
As it is we have to lash the bases of our mast crutch at the stern to stop it walking off the deck when the wind rocks it. And that is without a cover acting as a sail. The smaller cover can be temporarily rigged over there on those days we need a dry cockpit to work in.
Ties forward to the tabernacle and aft to the pushpit creates a ridge that sheds the water each side and side and corner eyelets secure it all round. The first year I actually inserted a ridge pole but found it wore away at the underside of the cover.
Lottie's Log 