Your Ultimate Checklist for Boat Storage

It’s always an exciting time to get out on your boat and enjoy the waters. Who wouldn’t want to? With all the stress going on in the world, it’s considered a blissful escape to have fun and enjoy some “me time” or family time in the open.

If you’re a boat owner or thinking of buying one, you might have asked yourself the following questions:

1. Where do I take my boat when not in use?
2. What’s the best boat parking solution for my property?
3. How do I winterize a boat?
4. What’s the difference between an outdoor and indoor boat storage?

This article will discuss the essential things you need to consider before you pack your boat in and say goodbye until the next “boat venture.” Let’s deep dive into the different boat storage options available in the market, as well as answer the questions cited above.

Boat Storage – Indoor vs Outdoor

Of course, when you’re not having glorious hours in the waters, it is best to take your property to a storage area when not in use. A lot of things can happen to your boat when it’s not out there, and trust us – you wouldn’t want to risk it!

There are different types of boat storage but it can be usually drilled down to two basic types – indoor and outdoor. However, these two can be in form of any of the following – lifts, slips, home, and self-storage. But first, let’s identify what sets the indoor and outdoor storage apart.

From the name itself, indoor boat storage means your property will be kept inside a secured and enclosed area. It will be protected from outside elements throughout the duration of winter, as well as sunlight, rain, vandals, and even thieves!

If you’d like the least expensive and easiest choice, you can store your boat at home, assuming you have a suitable space like a shed or a large garage. Now if you don’t have such gigantic space (like many others), the next best thing is to get it stored in a self-storage facility or a dry-stacked storage warehouse. The plus side is that it will get the same secure protection as if it’s being stored in your garage. The downside, however, is that you won’t have easy access to your boat as you need to follow their daily access times. Most importantly, you’d have to pay a monthly fee.

Now let’s talk about outdoor storage. If you’re a boater who doesn’t bother leaving your property exposed for a long period of time, then this might be for you. Self-storage facilities also have this kind of offering or you can opt for marinas and trailers parked in private properties. The good thing about outdoor storage is it’s probably one of the cheapest options available next to free boat parking at home.

You must keep in mind that keeping it outdoors may cause damages to your boat due to extreme weather conditions. Even if you have it covered, the risk for elements like rain, snow, sunlight, and wind doesn’t make it any less vulnerable.

So, which is better?

The truth is, it depends. If you’re looking for full-service protection, especially during the winter months, then self storage option will be your best bet. It may be quite expensive so be sure to check out storage rates and understand what each package entails. If you’re looking at renting a drive up storage unit in a storage facility, you can ask their staff to guide you through your options.

Alternatively, you can consider outdoor storage for your boat in self storage boat parking. This is actually a great option too since it will be stored in a dry, safe space with a canopy so it offers some protection against the elements, although not as much as the indoor option.

How do I winterize my boat?
The worst enemy of cold storage is water. Pretty ironic, isn’t it? It is important to make sure all of the water has been drained from your boat. This may include plumbing, freshwater systems, or basically anything that water can accumulate in. Once drained, keep the drain plugs removed and add an antifreeze system to your plumbing. You also need to add a fuel stabilizing additive to protect your boat’s fuel system.

Once you’ve winterized your boat, shrink-wrapped it, and transported it to your chosen area, you can now be at peace knowing that you’ve done what you could to keep your property safe until the next boating session!