Storing Boats in Winter

If you live in a cold climate, when autumn arrives you start thinking about hauling out your boat and storing it in winter.

Before you determine how to store your boat in winter, you should start by winterizing your boat. Start by washing the topsides, bottom and deck and clean all hardware and trim. Then check for blistering in fiberglass boats. Next, flush the cooling system with fresh water to remove salt, dirt and corrosion. You can prepare the fuel system by topping of the fuel tank and changing the fuel filter. You should also clean the engine and change the engine oil.

Now that your boat is winterized, there are three typical ways for storing boats in winter, so let’s take a quick look:

• Backyard storage – the easiest and most inexpensive way to store your boat in winter is keeping it in your backyard but you must choose the right cover. Boat covers range from $100 to $2,000 and a high end cover is the best way to go because cheaper covers don’t allow enough airflow and can lead to mildew and other problems down the road. Choose a cover with strong breathable fabric that is water resistant.
• Boatyard shrink-wrapped – Shrink-wrapping will keep the boat dry and well ventilated. Boat yards specialize in shrink-wrapping or you can purchase do-it-yourself kits at marine stores. Boatyards charge by the foot with prices varying by location so check them out.
• Indoor storage – a variety of options are available for indoor storage, including heated and unheated and climate controlled or not. Storing your boat at an indoor facility will protect it from the elements and you can winterize it before it’s stored.

An exceptional idea for backyard storage is to use a portable garage or temporary building shelter from Allweathershelters.com. These easy to install portable garage kits are traditionally used as carports but they are ideal for boat storage, too. They are steel framed with triple layer enhanced polyethylene fabric covers that are designed to hold up under adverse weather conditions, including winter snow, rain and high winds. They are available in a wide variety of sizes at economic prices that compare with the other boat storage for winter methods above.

Allweathershelters.com also offers boat storage covers that feature ratchet tensioning that ensures a tight cover that provide instant all weather protection. They can be easily installed for seasonal storage and are economically priced to beat shrink wrapping and indoor storage options.