Clarke Heavy Duty Instant Garage quality ?

[W.olly]

Hi folks, well i have been spoilt with the weather for a few weeks now half way through doing the first stages of GRP work on the boat i need to get a cover for it.

I have been looking at few but these Clarke ones look and sound good

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clarke-C...813495?hash=item4d87dbd777:g:0IgAAOSwQEtbKOUW

I want to max out at the £400 budget.

Any thoughts from folk that have used them, i know theer not the best of best but as said its the cost i want to keep down but dont want some of the rubbish i have used int he past on smaller canopies.

Oh yes and i will have to raise it to 10 foot to get the boat under so will sit it on a base/frame or something.

Captain Faffer

 

[gaz1]

there been a few posts

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/tent-and-garage-transition-plan.68324/

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/clarke-temporary-garage-assembly.66711/#post-932606

yours will fail with windy conditions due to its height

 

[Bullet2012]

I had one lasted 4-5 years, it was Installed in a fairly exposed place.
If you get one I advise using a foam tape between the frame and sheet also consider extra restraints, I had each frame “hoop” attached by strapping to a couple of 25 litre containers Full of water. Just to stop it blowing away.
I also installed mine backwards so that the door was nearest my property.

I would get another if the need arose.

 

[Stuartg1]

Costco do 1. The 1 we bought 12 years ago is still upright and looks intact, we left it for the new owners!

 

[W.olly]

there been a few posts

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/tent-and-garage-transition-plan.68324/

https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/clarke-temporary-garage-assembly.66711/#post-932606

yours will fail with windy conditions due to its height

Its not that bad here for wind, its against the workshop and a large hedge to the other side. If it does get draughty i can strap and peg it down more.

I had one lasted 4-5 years, it was Installed in a fairly exposed place.
If you get one I advise using a foam tape between the frame and sheet also consider extra restraints, I had each frame “hoop” attached by strapping to a couple of 25 litre containers Full of water. Just to stop it blowing away.
I also installed mine backwards so that the door was nearest my property.

I would get another if the need arose.

I am thinking on railway sleepers to bolt it down to. Only pain is i will have to move it a few times as the boat is/will be 45 foot lol.

Looking at the pics there are different, some have the Clarke logo on the other dont. i am guess the one with the logo are the new models which i am looking at.

Good tip on the added protection

 

[mtt.tr]

My dad had one up for about 5 years very good shelter once bolted down.

The fabric perished but that wasnt exspensive to replace.

 

[jeremy]

A quick google saves you £100. https://www.clarketooling.co.uk/pro...y-duty-instant-garage-green-6-1-x-3-0-x-2-4m/
And a couple of there, How to put it up videos.

 

[8ob]

I think @Barlidge bought something similar, I think Bruce added a few holes to to improve ventilation. Damn grinders

Bob

 

[W.olly]

Ok i am going all i and getting the next size up, a bit over budget but it works better to get room around the boat.
Clarke CIG81224 Garage / Workshop

 

[Barlidge]

I think @Barlidge bought something similar, I think Bruce added a few holes to to improve ventilation. Damn grinders

Bob

I had a cheap gazebo which as you say didn't last long and then the yardmaster metal garage which I still have for temporary storage until I can rebuild the man cave at the new place.

 

[Rudi McAnichal]

I bought a Clarke garage tent about 18 months ago, similar size to the one in the OP's link, on special offer from MM at £310. Installed with extra-long ground anchors, the cover weighed down with sand bags all round, everything seemed OK for about six weeks until there was a strong gale. I came home to find the whole thing about 30 yards away, wrapped around an apple tree, with frame tubes buckled and joints twisted.

From an engineering point of view, the frame was appalling, and that became obvious as soon as the carton was opened. Tubes were of thin material, inaccurately swaged so that the joints were very floppy. Bolt holes in the tubes were all circular, and therefore could not prevent the coach bolts from turning. The whole framework was way below the standard you might expect for a little child’s play tent. Having said that, it did all stiffen up once the cover had been fitted, and should have been satisfactory in a sheltered location, the actual failure being caused by inadequate anchoring in an unusually strong gale.

The fabric seems to be of good quality and was completely undamaged, so I now possess a very large tarpaulin, which will no doubt come in handy one day.

 

[Matchless]

Costco do 1. The 1 we bought 12 years ago is still upright and looks intact, we left it for the new owners!

I still have my Costco boat cover, white, two sides and one end, round tubes, use it for my jumble stall and at some race meetings etc. cover has shrunk but still going...……….

 

[skotl]

I borrowed a very similar one off a mate, and I think he paid a lot less (IIRC around £250). It was up through the Scottish winter from October through about March and stood up very well.
The polls and fabric were surprisingly well made, and we lashed it down to concrete stays and put an extra rope over the top to dissuade it from lifting.

Would definitely borrow / buy one again if I needed it.

 

[skotl]

Found my thread re the tent/garage: https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/portable-garage-aka-csi.68620/

Sadly, the photo has disappeared.

But turns out to have been even cheaper than I recalled at £180: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FoxHunte...83.l10137.c10&nordt=true&rt=nc&orig_cvip=true

 

[malcolm]

Have a look at Gala tent. https://www.galatent.co.uk/ The most expensive PVC roof lasted me 5 years before UV and the storms at the start of this year took it out. Frame is still perfect so just ordered a new cover.

 

[optima21]

I was thinking of replacing mine this year as the cover has worn through, but it is a high wind area. I that the larger the radius of the bends in the frame the longer it will last, I was looking at a gala tent to replace it, but it needs to be the same size as the clarke tent but isnt. I think that having a separate roof and sides will also increase the life too.

 

[W.olly]

well it arrived a lot sooner

It arrived today so set it up today, need to get the 4x2 that i am bolting to the flags and then the frame to them.

all good but for the crappy ratchets. built well, welding ok etc, still as expected half decent canvas. but you get what you pay for so cant expect any better unless you pay big money but if it last a year or so i am happy.

I am making another 5 of these to sit the frame on when i need to lift it another 2 foot to get over the higher section of the boat. Also make a skirt to go around it

I am look out now for a few LED lights for the late nights working. Chuffed with it and looking forward more to build the extension on it