Indoor Boat Storage
Choosing boatyard storage for winter
by David Brown
Boats.com
Like most people, I got into boating with a trailerable boat. Over the years, I've moved up to larger trailerable craft and finally to boats too large for trailering. Although I enjoy today's big boats, I sometimes miss the advantages of trailerable boats. There's no doubt about the benefits of having your boat stored outside your back door. You can take advantage of those warm, sunny late fall and winter days to work on small projects. But with large boats that simply isn't an option. Unless you also live across from a marina, you'll have to arrange with a professional boat hauling company to move your boat to your house. That bill could well be several times the cost of hauling, winter storage and launching at a boatyard. Next, you'll need to hire a crane to take your boat off the truck and set it on the ground. Think dollar signs. Finally, you'll have to go through this expensive procedure in reverse next spring. You pay for the crane and hauling service all over again to get the boat to the water. Think more dollar signs. Another consideration is local zoning. The city in which you live may not allow big boats to be stored on residential lots. The advantages of having your boat at home aren't worth a expensive court fight. As discouraging as it is, the annual winter layup is a fact of life around the Great Lakes. Back in the 50s and 60s, this always meant dry land storage in an open boatyard. Today, you have a couple more choices. First, year-round wet stowage is now possible in many harbors around the lower lakes. Bubblers and propeller de-icers can protect a boat from winter ice damage. Both systems work by bringing relatively warm (that is, below freezing temperature) water up from the bottom to replace the cold water at the surface. The cost of de-icing makes it practical only for relatively large individual boats or whole harbors. You need enough depth that bottom water is warm enough to prevent surface ice buildup. And, you must have an area which is not subject to moving ice floes. Inside dry storage is becoming increasingly popular. Big pole buildings first appeared on the farm. Marina operators quickly realized the low cost and large open floor area of these buildings made them ideal for boat storage. If you're considering inside storage, pick a building that has good security. The building should be locked when boats aren't actually being moved in or out. No one should be allowed inside the building without a yard employee. Avoid storage buildings that allow owners to work on their boats inside. Nearly all boat storage building fires (which are inevitably disastrous) are started by careless owners working on their boats. Inside storage means you won't even be able to see your boat all winter long. Working on any small projects is impossible unless you remove them from the boat and take them home before the building doors clang shut. These are real disadvantages, but there are offsetting considerations. For one, your boat is protected from the weather without the work and expense of erecting a canvas cover. Boats stored inside generally need less cleanup in the spring to restore that yacht- like appearance. Another advantage of locked buildings is they offer good protection against vandals. Traditional outdoor storage is still the most popular method. It is the only possible way to store sailboats with their masts up. But, the real reason for its popularity is cost. Blocking a boat and cradle on an empty lot is the least expensive method of winter storage both for the boatyard and the owner. There are advantages to outdoor storage. For one, at most yards you are free to visit or work on your boat virtually anytime you choose. You can inspect the boat from the warmth of your car, providing an excellent "reason" for a weekend drive during the cold winter months. Disadvantages? Obviously, the boat is subject to the elements. Canvas covers are expensive and supporting frameworks can be difficult to erect. Even under canvas, the boat always gets dirty outside. And, boats stored outside can become the target of vandals. Whatever method of winter storage you plan to use, early September is the time to make arrangements. Be the first on your dock to sign up. This doesn't mean you have to be the first one out of the water. Prompt action simply gives you the opportunity to select the exact date you want your boat hauled. It also insures you get the storage location you want. Regarding haulout dates, it helps to schedule yours on a weekday, not a weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, the yard has a couple hundred skippers making demands. Yard employees naturally get a bit cranky. But, the pressure is off Monday through Friday. Yard employees are a lot more helpful during the week. Plan a vacation day for haulout. Be at the yard right at opening time. (A bag of fresh donuts is a great inducement to get your boat done quickly and done right.) Put bow and stern dock lines on both sides of the boat. Also, rig fenders both port and starboard. You never know which side of the well your boat will be tied. Open up the engine spaces so the yard crew can easily winterize the power plant. Nothing makes them more upset than being forced to move a couple of sleeping bags, a teddy bear and three deck chairs to get at the engine. If you are having other winterizing done by the yard (like the potable water system or head), make sure those spaces have easy access as well. Finally, when the lift engine begins to rumble, step back and observe. Stay out of the way. Sure, it's nerve-wracking to watch you boat swinging in those straps. It's natural for you to want to take command, to personally oversee that nothing goes wrong. But, never forget that the yard moves a couple hundred boats every fall. You move one. They have a lot more hands-on experience than you do. So, step back with a cup of coffee and one of those donuts and enjoy the show.
