Is it technically possible to have a boom up cover on a round hooped merlin, and , if so, can anyone recommend a supplier. Have had a bad experience with my flat cover and want to protect my smart new foredeck that I have spent the last two weeks restoring !!

Rain and Sun Ltd. Contact Phil Bull 023 8023 0444 or 07786 393539 Phil mkes very good covers, and will discuss with you your needs. If you are not far from Southampton, you can take your boat round and he will make a pattern on it, or if you can twist his arm, he may even come to your club, if not too far away.

Dude, just drill a hole in a piece of 2"x2" to take the gooseneck, and put a bit of padding on it where it goes over the transom.All the sailmakers make covers for Merlins as do Velas, of course.

How will that protect the foredeck?

The cover won't touch the foredeck which it will protect.

The best way to protect the foredeck is not to have the opening along the line from forestay to mast.  Instead have the opening at the side under the lowers.

Have had this on last two covers and it removes the foredeck problem.  Any decent sailmaker will make you one like this - my current one came from P & B.

I agree with richard in that it may be good to move the cut, but would add that the biggest causes of frost damage are a) standing unused and wet for weeks at a time and b) Plastic not polycotton covers.

point a is actually the most important. Just changing the air in the boat every week does it the world of good.

Agree with Chris - if you're not using a boat in the winter, get her under cover somehow.

And if you have problems with water pooling on top of the cover at the transom, you can cure this.  All you need is a piece of wood of roughly the same length as distance from hoop to transom with a loop of string at the hoop end.  The loop goes over the hoop and is held up by the blocks, etc on the hoop and the other end rests on the transom.  When you put the cover over, this acts like the ridge pole of a tent and keeps the centre of the cover up so that the water runs off.  You will need to adjust the length of the loop o get the right effect.

Thanks for the advice......side entry and a jury boom support sounds like the answer if you want to sail a wooden boat all the year round.....and we do.

Many covers have a loop in the middle so you can attach the main halyard and tighten it to make a peak in the material, and avoid rain-catching troughs.

Go for a breathable cover if you varnish your own decks!