Overview | Process | Different Types | Costs | FAQs
Boat Storage Overview
What is Boat Storage?
Boat storage allows you to secure your boat safely when not in use. Your options for boat storage fall into two categories: wet storage and dry storage. With wet storage, you simply keep your boat in the water year-round. With dry storage, you can choose between indoor and outdoor storage.
What Problems It Solves:
Keeping your boat in the water 24/7 can be a risky choice. Although marinas offer water agitators to prevent ice damage, these systems aren’t foolproof, and slip fees can be expensive. Even if you’re storing your boat in the water at your private dock, you will need to spend time and money winterizing your boat and cleaning it regularly to protect it from the elements.
Dry storage allows you to store your boat safely when you’re not using it. For people living in colder climates, this is particularly helpful in the winter. With dry storage, you can store your boat safely and inexpensively.
Boat Storage Process
Process
If you decide to store your boat on your own property, you’ll need to choose between a fully enclosed structure or a simple covered port. You’ll also need to decide if you want to hire a boat storage contractor or if you want to make this a DIY project.
Materials
Your beautiful boat deserves better than spending half the year in a shabby wooden shed. Steel is a strong, durable option for building a boat storage unit.
Different Types of Boat Storage
If you choose to store your boat indoors, you can either rent a spot in a storage facility or store it inside of a structure on your own property. If you choose outdoor storage, you can park it in either a covered spot or an open spot.
Renting Your Indoor Boat Storage
Renting a self-storage facility is fairly self explanatory. Make sure to choose a facility that can actually fit your watercraft. The downside of self-storage is the rental fee.
You can also choose to rent a spot in a dry stacked storage facility. These warehouses store hundreds of boats by stacking them on top of each other. They offer great protection from both the elements as well as theft, but you may not be able to access your boat as often as you’d like, and you’ll have to pay a rental fee.
Indoor Boat Storage at Home
Storing your boat on your own property is the best option if you have the space. You can store your boat in a garage or shed, but you may want to consider building a structure specifically for your boat, especially if you are in an area that experiences long winters. Trying to squeeze your car into the garage next to your boat gets old pretty fast.
Outdoor Boat Storage: Open vs. Covered
One of the easiest forms of boat storage is to simply put your boat on its trailer and park it in on your driveway or in a parking spot. However, you’ll need to winterize your boat if you plan to leave it outside year-round. Keep in mind that some homeowners associations don’t allow boats to stay in driveways long term. Also, you’ll need to brainstorm ways to protect your boat from pests and thieves.
At least with a covered spot, your boat is mostly protected from rain, snow, and sleet. However, it still need to be winterized to protect it from the cold temperatures, and it may still be susceptible to theft and pests.
Costs of Boat Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your boat and the storage company in question. Some boats are too large to fit in a standard storage unit. If your boat is small enough to fit, ask the company you plan to rent from if boat storage is allowed.
Yes. This is known as in-water storage or wet storage. You’ll need to winterize your boat to store it in water year-round. You’ll also need to clean it regularly and take proper precautions to prevent theft. In-water storage isn’t recommended for colder climates because of the potential for ice damage.
The cost depends on whether or not you winterize your boat on your own or if you pay a shop to do it for you. Winterizing yourself generally costs a few hundred dollars, while paying someone to winterize for you can cost more than a thousand dollars.
The traditional boating season runs from Memorial Day until Labor Day. However, where you live plays a big role in when you should put your boat in storage for the winter. Even one unexpected freeze can damage your boat. If you’ve properly prepared your watercraft, there’s nothing wrong with boating in autumn, even in colder climates. However, a good rule of thumb is to store your boat by the first snow at the latest.
Find a Boat Storage Contractor Near You
Our team of boat storage experts will match you with local contractors.
Get Started
Tell us about your project and we'll follow up with an email to help you find up to three of the best marine construction contractors for your project.