SHRINKWRAP RECYCLING/REUSE PROGRAM 2016

FIRST CHECK WITH US TO SEE IF YOUR SHRINKWRAP CAN BE REMOVED, STORED AND REUSED.  WE'LL TALK YOU THROUGH THAT PROCEDURE INDIVIDUALLY.

IF YOUR WRAP IS TO BE RECYCLED AND YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE IT YOURSELF, HERE'S THE INFO ON TAKING OFF YOUR BOAT’S SHRINKWRAP

1. The ONLY thing that can be recycled is SHRINKWRAP and shrinkwrap tape - no plastic strapping can be included with the wrap or the recycling vendor will toss the whole bag into the trash.
   
   
2. First, get from us a recycling bag, a permanent marker, and an exacto knife (or bring your own).
   
   
3. Second, it’s advisable to leave up all of the wood framing and the strapping which ties the framing to the boat until you’ve removed all the shrinkwrap. Then nothing tips over unexpectedly and you’re safer up there on the boat.
   
   
4. Now let’s get started.  There’s a piece of strapping melted into the shrinkwrap all the way around the perimeter of the boat (near the waterline) that must be separated from the wrap.  The easiest way to remove this “perimeter band” is to hold the wrap slightly away from the boat and cut through or just above the melted part.  Cut like this all the way around the perimeter of the boat and, when you get back to the place where you started, the perimeter band, a little bit of crusty shrinkwrap, and the “belly bands” (which tie the shrinkwrap down to the boat under its belly) will drop to the ground.  Gather this stuff up and put it into the trash dumpster.
   
   
5. The “perimeter band” should be the only place where the shrinkwrap is really shrunk onto any strapping, the rest is easily cut away in big sheets, except if you’re boat is a sailboat with the mast up. 
   
   
6. For SAILBOATS with mast up, there are straps that run out from the mast to both starboard and port, around the shrouds, and down to the lifeline stantions or the toerail.  The shrinkwrap is melted onto these straps and should be cut away from mast out past shrouds, temporarily leaving this strapping in place covered with the melted wrap. 
   
   
7. Note, if you can use any or all of this nice thick plastic shrinkwrap at home to cover the wood pile, the mower, etc., please cut some nice big pieces out as you’re cutting the wrap off and take it home.  Re-use/reduce/recycle.  Otherwise, cut the wrap off the boat in manageable sized pieces. 
   
   
8. Please cut out a wide margin around and SAVE THE VENTS that were installed in your shrinkwrap.  Most boats have two up near the bow and one or two near the stern.  We carefully made these up with screening to keep out the birds and we want re-use them.  Bring them to the office building; there will be a bin for vents in the outboard garage.
   
   
9. Try to KEEP THE SHRINKWRAP CLEAN, out of the dirt and gravel, and don’t drag it across the parking lot - bags of dirty shrinkwrap will be tossed in the trash by the recycling vendor.
   
   
10. Fold the shrinkwrap, as best you can, before putting it into the bag.  Cutting it into pieces the size of bedsheets usually helps.  More shrinkwrap fits into the bag when it’s folded (note that we pay $10 per bag).  One bag should hold the wrap from a 35’+ boat or two 20’ boats.  Really pack it in, please.
    
    
11. When done, carry the bag to the backside of the office building, along with the vents you saved for our re-use.
    
    
12. BEFORE YOU TAKE DOWN THE FRAMING, be sure that each piece of framing is clearly labeled in dark permanent marker with your name and its positional number.  We save and re-use your framing from year to year and it’s much easier if it’s labeled well.  We number the vertical supports from bow to stern, then the horizontal ridge frames from bow to stern.  For example, starting with the vertical support at the bow, “1 of 6” to the forth vertical at the swim platform “4 of 6”, then the horizontal piece at the front of the boat “5 of 6” and the aft horizontal piece “6 of 6”.
    
    
13. Carefully cut the strapping that supports the framing, remembering that the framing is now going to be potentially tippy.  Use a screw gun (or borrow one of ours) to unscrew the horizontals from verticals.  ASK US FOR A QUICK HAND if you need help getting the framing down off the boat.  On the ground next to your boat, bundle the whole group of framing pieces together and tie it into a tidy bundle with several pieces of scrap strapping.  You can leave the bundle of framing on the ground next to your boat and we’ll get it to the right storage pile.
    
    
14. Gather all of the strapping, scraps of pink padding, and blue preservation tape that you’ve removed from your boat and take it to the trash dumpster.  If you find any larger pieces of foam or other padding, write your name on it with the marker and bring it to the outboard garage next to the office - we’ll re-use it next fall on your boat.
    
    
15. Return exacto knife, marker, and screw gun - thank you.
    
    
16. C’est tout.