Marinas & Boat Storage

Storing Your Boat

The choice of where you choose to pack and store your boat or sea vehicle is one that many thoughts should go into. This is because the choice of where you store your boat may determine if you will enjoy the boat or not. Choosing the wrong storage for the boat may lead to damages that you have to fix regularly, affecting your finances and your ability to enjoy the boat.

Type of Boat Storage

The different ways to store your boat include:

1.In-water Boat Storage

Otherwise known as wet slip. Here, the boat will be stored in water for all the time it is in storage. In in-water storage, the boats may be covered or uncovered.

We should note that in-water storage is typically best for large powerboats.

2.Dry Boat Storage

Here, your boat will be stored away from the water, typically on vertical racks.

This dry storage can be done in major ways:

Indoor Dry-stack storage: Here, your boat will be kept in racks in large storage rooms, alongside other boats.

Outdoor Dry-stack Storage: Here, the boat will be stored outside in constructed racks.

For either method, to take the vessel to the point of storage and vice-versa, lifts and cranes will be used. This is why it is comparatively more expensive.

You should note that most dry storage option does not accommodate extra-large vessels.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Boat Storage

There are several factors to pay attention to when choosing where to store the boat. Here we take a look at the very important factors:

1) Boating Frequency

How often do you get on the boat? Are you the type of person that leaves your boat for a long time and only gets on the water twice in a year? Or you are the type of person that is always on the boat?

This singular consideration can help you make a final choice as to where to store your boat.

If you are infrequent with your boat usage, you might consider storing your boat indoors in storage rooms.

If you are always on the boat, then the wet slip storage is ideal.

2) The Type and Size of Boat

The size of the boat in question may affect where it is going to be stored. There is no rule to this, but most times, large boats are stored outdoors. This is because most dry stack facilities you will find may not be equipped to accommodate heavy vessels.

On the other hand, if you use a smaller boat and not be on the water frequently, then go with dry storage – either outdoors or indoors.

3) Finances

Although not a huge consideration, the financial commitment involved in your boat’s storage is still a factor worth considering.

Dry-stack, indoor storage offers much more protection for your vessel; however, it is much more expensive. Are you ready to commit the funds, considering that there are still other expenses on your boat you have to cater to?