16 Tips to Help Winterize Your Boat
Collinsville, CT (PRWEB) September 15, 2013 -- BoatShrink.com gives you tips to help shrink wrap your boat.
1. Inspect and assess the condition of your vessel project prior to commencing your boat shrink wrap task.
2. During your inspection and assessment, create written notes of existing defects and existing damage and capture video or digital images of the vessel prior to commencement for your files.
3. During your inspection and assessment, look for hazards in and around the vessel which could adversely affect any person or result in any property damage. In particular, keep an eye open to spot sharp objects, potential slippery areas, combustible materials or potential fumes.
4. At all times while applying boat shrink wrap, you should have in close proximity proper safety equipment such as ladders, man lifts, fire extinguishers, etc. Remember, boat shrink wrap will burn aggressively unless the manufacturer's label contends otherwise. As a precaution, remember, if you apply the heat source incorrectly, boat shrink wrap can ignite into open flame. Once boat shrink wrap catches on fire, the material can land on other combustible material and cause secondary ignition and fire.
5. If at any time you observe boat shrink wrap on fire, immediately stop your application task and carefully inspect the area where you are working for possible fire, spark or hot spots. Keep a fire extinguisher available at all times.
6. Measure all areas to be covered to assure that you have the proper size and proper amount of boat shrink wrap available to complete your application task. The goal is to utilize the fewest number of boat shrink wrap pieces. It is much easier to cover large objects in one piece of boat shrink wrap. Use the thickest boat shrink wrap material possible on larger objects. If it is necessary to use two pieces of boat shrink wrap, there must be an allowance of 8-10 inches of overlap where material are joined together at seams.
7. Flame-retardant shrink wrap is available for boats. Ask your sales agent for more information about flame-retardant boat shrink wrap.
8. Always design and draw an attachment plan before taking the boat shrink wrap out of the box. Boat shrink wrap must be attached firmly around the entire perimeter of the vessel in order for it to become a tight, durable protective cover. Boat shrink wrap can be attached to your vessel, or parts of the vessel by utilizing woven cord strapping, tape, steel cabling or furring strips—depending upon the project you are performing.
9. Keep boat shrink wrap clean, dry and folded as long as possible during installation. Boat shrink wrap head welds to itself much better when it is clean. Once the boat shrink wrap is unfolded it is much harder to manage, and especially difficult during windy circumstances.
10. Never attempt to apply boat shrink wrap during wind events exceeding 10 MPH!
11. Above all else, use common sense while applying boat shrink wrap. Don't walk on the boat shrink wrap when it is wet. Don't apply boat shrink wrap if you can smell flammable fumes. Always utilize safety goggles and stay close to safety equipment.
12. After you complete the application of boat shrink wrap, stay put, watch and wait for one full hour to make sure no part of portion of the boat shrink wrap remains hot. Never use boat shrink wrap over the top of fuel vents, air vents, roof drains, air conditioning units, etc.
13. Never drink alcohol or take drugs prior to or during boat shrink wrap tasks.
14. If you apply boat shrink wrap tightly and completely, you should end up with an enduring and durable protective cover.
15. Boat shrink wrap works much better than poly tarps, because boat shrink wrap does not move or chafe when properly applied and properly heated. The tighter the protective cover is—the better.
16. Again, firm attachment points around the entire perimeter of the vessel are necessary to ensure the boat shrink wrap remains tight and secure, to prevent edges loosening and releasing during inclement weather.
For more information, visit the BoatShrink at http://www.boatshrink.com.
Tom Zotter, Allstar Supply, inc., http://www.boatshrink.com, 860-379-9626, [email protected]
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