I have been kind of casually looking for a "cheap" engine cover to assist with pre-heating, and just to generally keep the frost off the cowl when in the backcountry. At my parents place, one of the horse blankets caught my eye, and I kind of starting looking at a horse turnout as an option (think doggy coat for those who have not seen one). The cold weather ones are fairly well insulated and water proof, and they are pretty good size if for a large horse.

Anyway, so I found this one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/1200D-TURNOUT-HORSE-HEAVY-WINTER-WATERPROOF-BLANKET-82-/250787496828?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a6419837c#ht_1657wt_1139


It's 1200D Denier nylon, waterproof-ish, 440g poly fill insulation, and its got lots of strappys.

I bid $40 max....got if for $39! Figured what's the worst that could happen.

So some of the components are cheap (straps, buckles, elastic straps), but the material itself is good and its pretty well insulated (pics don't do it justice).

Plus, the little flaps that normally would wrap around the horses neck to cover his chest, wrap nicely around the cowl to cover my inlets. Actually all the straps it comes with are adjustable and wrap up/hold it quite well.

I won't win any style awards, and It doesn't cover the bottom opening, but I need that open to pre-heat anyway. Not sure how will it will work, but has to work better than nothing, folds up pretty small, and should do an OK job of keeping the dew off.

Some pics:

Damned good idea!

This being my first full winter of ski flying, I too looked into an engine blankey. I decided to sacrifice a 30 year old sleeping bag, cut down for weight reduction, and with just a few simple tabs sewn to it for ties. If it isn't windy before I head to the cafe I just throw it on and it stays just fine. Zero cost, and it works real good, as in 2 or 3 hours after landing, in low 20's temp, it starts like I just shut it off a mintue ago. In fact, a few times I neglected to throw the blankey on, and it still started real good. In other words, the thermal mass retention qualities of the 912S were better, as in longer retained, then I would have thought.

I think I am actually going to take the think to the local saddle shop and have them cut off the back end that scrunches up on the windscreen, and sew it on to the to one side so it will wrap under the bottom part of the cowl. Will fit better and be more functional!

Just a thought re: quality and warmth of your blanket.

If your engine cover is part of your survival gear, and will double as your sleeping bag, you're going to want something appropriate for the climate you operate in. Look at your horse blanket and see if it's something you want to depend on.

Gump

Thanks Gump, good thought. Although as I had no engine cover before, I guess it's better than nothing!