On the Job: Alexander’s Marine Service

what does it take to winterized your watercraft? 47 abc’s michelle mackonochie shows us tonight — on the job. “today were on the job at alexanders marine service and were going to be shrink wrapping boats – i hear it’s a lot of work but i’m ready so lets go.” track 1 boat repairs – winterizing motors – shrink wrapping – alexanders marine service does it all. brothers rick and brian alexander started the business 7 years ago for the first two years they did all their work on the road. but 5 years ago they found themselves a home in pittsville. “what are we going to be doing today – well first thing well do well get our string and set up support for it – basically like making a tent for the boat we’ll put poles in it and everything run our string around run string over the top and then after that we’ll get our shrink wrap and pull over the boat and go from there.” “alright the first thing we’ll do – we’ll set up guides for it as we pull it around – so well pull up – oh thats handy – just a quick little knot another knot and then what we try to do – well follow these that way all around the boat so we’ll line it up basically keep it level – we’ll pull another knot – a little pinch – and flip through – what?” track 2 yeah this is going to take a while. next step – you cut your string right under your knot – and now you have a hole to run your string through. rick says this is to keep the string from falling down into the trailer. my turn to try. “just do a short little knot right up here to tie it up – like here – yep.” “now what well do well eyeball where we’ve got that one – want to pull that down there – and then well just do a little loop down here – like this – i dont remember how you did it.” track 3 and after a little help – i got it. next we had to loop it through small openings on the outside of the boat and make a new loop! i was having a little trouble. “ok lets try this again – make a knot – i think i’m a little short for this job.” “ok did i do it i think i did it maybe – did it slip – nope.” track 4 well then. after trying one more time – we got it. next we looped our after trying one more time – we got it. next we looped our string through and tie it all together. “and now what well do well get ready and line everything up so what well do now – we’ll make a little loop in the end here – this is where we get ready and tighten it.” “oh my gosh you make that look so easy that is so not easy it would probably take me about an hour just to do the knots.” track 5 next up – we had to run the string across the top of the boat to create a tent. and after tying it to the back — “perfect now well throw it up inside the boat.” track 6 just a little short. after tying a few more strings — “now it’s time to get up in the boat – we get in it – we’re actually getting in it yeah.” track 7 once inside the boat — more knots. “we’ll line it up center here another knot – i feel like all you guys do is tie knots – lots of knots – lots of knots.” track 8 you can say that again! to stop the rope from creating holes on the boat – they put small pieces of carpet underneath the strings. “now we have our string completely run now what well do he’s going to hand us up a couple polls.” track 9 these polls are used to hold up the rope to create the tent affect. “well take our poll and then well life up on our string until it gets pretty tight that way well know where were going to want to cut the poll.” track 10 and of course we had to add one more string going across the boat. “i’m going to fall off the boat – is it tight enough it’s probably not – i think it jammed up on you- oh no i created like 6 knots – you created a super knot there.” ‘ track 11 lets try this again. after getting it – we taped up the string to the top of the pole to ensure it wouldn’t slip off. time to prepare the boat for shrink wrapping! “is there anymore string? no more string – ok.” track 12 the first step in shrink wrapping – pulling the wrap over your boat. and it’s not as easy as it looks. “got hung up on that side.” “i did it” track 13 once our boat is completely covered – you had to take a mental note of where your string is — and cut off the excess liner. rick says you want to leave about a foot. after the excess liner is cut you have to tuck the liner under the ropes. “im good at this part – this is the easy part right here – of track 14 and the final step — shrink wrapping. this part is scary. you have to use a blowtorch. “so is there a certain way you have to hold it like sideways – you can go this way thats the way i like to go – as soon as you hear the flame go on just barely hit it and you just go like that – you pat it down.” track 15 ok lets try this. “it happens all the time – it will catch fire – i’m sorry – you’re fine.” track 16 i think we need a little more practice. “when you do it just try to do it quick – so its quick – really quick.” track 17 and then i got the hang of it. pretty soon i was looking expert brian says as soon as you see the material change and it becomes smooth – thats when you move to the next spot. not only do you have to do the sides of the boat but you have to do the top of the boat too – which requires getting on a ladder. finally our shrink wrapping was done — and the last and final step was putting in a few vents to allow the boat to breathe during the winter months. “and that’s all there is to it – thats it – thats it – ok we did it.” “with everything that we did today how did i do – you did a great job – thank you – very very good.” “there’s so much that goes into this and i had a really good time so thank you for letting me help – thank you very much.” track 18 michelle mackonochie 47 abc. next week michelle heads to a brand new church site in berlin to help a painting company with the finishing touches – so be sure to tune in for that. coming up we’ll have a final look at