You just paid a handsome fee for a lavish boat. You’ve named your darling. You might’ve even shown it off to the world already. You catch people glancing at the size of your stern. You’re on top of the world.
Your boat is a place of repose, tranquility, and fun. Depending on its size, it’s your partner in crime when you go fishing, sightseeing, partying with guests, or just enjoying the fresh confluence of tortoise blue or placid waters.
At some point though, things happen. The cold weather approaches. Maybe you’re done using it for the day or life events are taking place. It’s now time to find a spot to store it. Finding a place to store your mighty vessel is simple on paper, but sometimes tricky to do.
Storing a boat is a lot different than storing a lawnmower. Our guide aims to hold you by hand and show you the best places to store your boat.
We’ll share some budget-friendly storage options, discuss some pros and cons, explain whether you should store it inside or outside, and detail other boat storage ideas. By the end of the article, you’ll have several great storage options to keep your priced possession in mint condition.
What Are My Boat Storage Options?
It’s time to park your boat after a wonderful day out. You’ve now joined the other 11 million boat owners in the country who must figure out where they can safely store their hyperspatial watercraft.
When it comes to storing your boat, you only have three options – storing it inside somewhere, storing your boat outside, or parking it at a designated marina. Some formal terms are dry boat storage and marina boat storage.
Storing your boat can be a bit of a challenge, especially for larger-sized ones. In addition, we’ll examine some pros and cons that come with indoor and outdoor boat storage.
1) Indoor Storage
PROS:
Arguably, the best protection for your boat is storing inside a garage, self-storage lot, or any dry-stacked boat storage facility. If an unforgiving storm runs rampant through your area, your boat has the best chance of survival inside an enclosed storage lot.
Leaving your boat outside marks it with a bullseye for storms, UV light, and anything else mother nature throws at it. UV rays can chew and burn through the marine fabric. Saltwater will start a war with your engine.
Worse of all, if it’s on the water for a long time, your boat can smash into the dock and against other boats. With enough pressure, this spells long-term and expensive trouble for you.
You won’t be the king of the world anymore since water will seep in like a scene from Titanic.
We know you take tremendous pride in keeping your boat in tip-top shape and paying for repairs can easily burn a hole in your pocket. Storing your boat inside is your best bet. If size permits, you can even place your boat inside your garage.
CONS:
While it’s the most practical option, it is the most expensive choice. Storing your boat inside of a warehouse or facility is pricey. You’ll be coughing up a lot of dough and possibly even compete for storage space.
Even if you wanted to find a storage lot, some places are packed. If this is the route you’re going to take, make sure you stake your place in line before being placed on a long waitlist.
Equally, another issue that arises from dry boat storage is getting your boat out of it. If you store it in a commercial warehouse, you’re at the mercy of the facility itself. Sometimes the warehouse has odd hours. Maybe it’s closed on the exact day you want to use it. Assuming it’s not self-storage, you would have to wait until someone can take your boat out.
To make matters even worse, there might not be too many storage options near you. This is especially true if you don’t reside near the coast, in warmer areas, or by a local marina.
2) Outdoor Storage
PROS:
This is the most common and popular choice. For good reason too. It’s the most inexpensive way to store a boat. If you’re not planning on using it for a while, this is your best bet. Plus, your wallet will thank you.
Depending on its size, you’ll have a couple of options. You can store it on your driveway, at a self-storage facility (which differs from a dry dock storage warehouse), or at a marina.
Usually, storing one at a marina isn’t as expensive as storing it inside a dry dock storage area. Placing it on your driveway is easy too. Prop one up on a boat trailer and cover it so that it can hibernate until you’re ready to use it again.
CONS:
As referenced above, there’s a laundry list of problems that come from storing it outside. Leaving it at a marina puts it at risk of go-carting itself with other boats.
If a ferocious and destructive hurricane or storm passes by, you have undoubtedly thrown your boat in a lion’s pit. Maybe it lives, maybe it doesn’t. Even if it’s not at a marina, UV rays can severely harm your boat’s fabric and degrade it over time.
If gambling on the health of your boat is not your thing, you might consider placing it on your property. However, some communities or local governance ordinances don’t allow you to display your boat on your driveway or near your property.
If you plan to store it at a self-storage location, that comes with baggage too. Even if you were to cover it, you still leave your boat exposed to other corroding elements, particularly if you don’t use it that often.
Additionally, some of these self-storage facilities attract your Tom and Jerrys, minus the Toms. Rodents and pests can make their way onto your boat which is the last thing you want to find.
BOAT STORAGE IDEAS
Knowing how big your boat is and what kind of features you want to be included when choosing a boat storage location is half the battle. Picking where you want to store is a lot more important. This determines how much you’ll pay and how often you’ll need to check up on it.
If you’re not quite sure, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular boat storage ideas you can ponder over.
Boat Storage Shed
If a garage or storage facility is out of the question, a boat storage shed is an answer. Building a steel storage shed allows you to store your boat on your property while protecting it from rain and other elements. Best of all, it can be placed on a yard or driveway.
These can be inexpensive to buy and building one doesn’t require you to be a handyman. These sheds can even compliment the look of your property and won’t stick out like an eyesore. The beauty of these storage sheds is their size which can be big enough to host your boat and even your car.
Boat Rack Storage
Dry stacked storages facilities usually stack boats onto each other in a designated spot. They look a lot like quad-stack parking garages for cars. This is arguably the safest and most secure option. Large warehouses can store boats of all sizes and secure them for long periods.
Plus, your boat will be safe from vandalism and harsh weather, and retrieving it is done by someone else. It’s a convenient option, but it is pricey. You’re also at the mercy of the location’s hours of operations. On another note, getting your boat out sometimes requires advance notification.
Winter Boat Storage
If you don’t have the luxury of hot weather all year, you’ll need to know how to store your boat for the winter season. Ideally, you’ll want to keep it in an enclosed location. If you plan to leave it outside, you’ll need to winterize its crucial parts.
Make sure to clean the hull of your boat. In addition, grease the control mechanism with moisture-removing lubricant. Don’t forget to remove its batteries and keep them charged. Lastly, make sure to fill the coolant with antifreeze after removing impurities from the engine. The winter forces us, boat owners, to get a little creative with our boat storage ideas.
Marina Storage
If you will only use your boat at one location, storing it at a marina is a great option. It’s easy to access your boat and most locations are open all the time. Renting a boat slip or dock can be expensive depending on which marina you shop at.
The fancier you go, the more money you can expect to pay. Lower-cost marinas usually lack security options and other maintenance features. Be aware that overexposure to saltwater can eventually cause rust and corrosion to your boat’s engine.
Self-Storage
As the name reads, storing your boat in self-storage facilities is a great inexpensive option. Most locations are enclosed and offer great protection against outside elements and even vandalism.
Most self-storage locations usually fit smaller boats. The measurements you find fall in the 10X20 or 10X30 range. Knowing what class of boat you own is important before deciding. While some locations have larger storage options, these can be harder to find.
Garage or Driveway
What better place to store your boat than right outside your door? If the size is right, place your boat inside your garage. A tarp and boat trailer are, at minimum, additional pieces for keeping it safe. This is one of the most straightforward boat storage ideas.
Some places have strict rules about keeping your boat on your driveway. Make sure you’re following your local city ordinance and community rules.
Boat Storage Cost
Let’s go over some hard numbers.
Prices for storing your boat can vary depending on where you live. Based on city data, prices can start at $30 per month, particularly for outdoor storage and self-storage options. High-end indoor facilities can cost as much as $700 a month or more.
The more you want in premiums, the more you’re going to pay. As we mentioned, storing it on A property or in your garage is the cheapest option. At most, you’ll pay for a tarp and a boat trailer.
Some owners opt to place their boats at a self-storage facility. Self-storage can cost as little as $100 or $200 a month. These locations are mostly geared for smaller boats usually measuring in the 10X20 range. As the name reads, you put away your boat at a designated lot. Many of these facilities look a lot like actual self-storage units.
In addition, outdoor storage lots are cheaper options. Again, this all depends on where you go. At a minimum, expect to pay $30 or $50 every month. However, other high-end spots can cost over $300 per month. Your outdoor options include marinas, parking lots, and other open facilities.
Another alternative is indoor storage. This is perfect for mid-size and larger boats. It can cost over $150, $250, or more. Dry stack storage is the most expensive option. This can cost $700 or more depending on the size.
Thanks For Reading
Let us know which boat storage ideas work best for you.