Boat Storage Tips!
Although your boat is in good hands with Macho Self Storage, there are a few items you may want to consider before placing your boat into any boat storage facility. We hope you find the following information helpful to ensure your boat remains in prime condition during the boating off season!
If you live near the water and are lucky enough to own a boat, you already know that mooring and storage for your boat is an important part of ownership. After all, if you don’t take care of your boat when it’s not in use, you’re likely to be causing damage to it that will negatively impact how it runs when you are using it.
During the fall and winter months when you are less likely to be out boating, it’s important not to neglect your boat by leaving it unattended and exposed to the winter weather. But this brings to mind the question – what is the best way to store a boat?
Boat storage is a little bit more complicated that other types of self-storage. A boat is a very large structure, and there are very specific things that a boat requires in order to keep it in good working order.For these reasons, we have prepared this guide to help you determine the best way to store your boat.
Finding the Best Storage Facility for Your Boat
The first thing to do is decide in which type of facility you would like to store your boat. If you don’t have mooring at a local marina, and you don’t have a garage or shed large enough to store your boat, a self-store facility that deals with boats is probably the best option for you.
Look for the following when researching self-store facilities:
-Ensure the facility is close to the local marina you use so as to avoid lengthy transport times that put your boat at risk
-Ensure the facility has good security measures in place
-Ensure the facility is adequately lit and heated
-Ensure the facility has good rodent control
Insurance
Ensure that your boat will be covered during the storage period. If you aren’t covered under your home owner’s or auto policy, the storage facility may offer special boat insurance included in the cost of the unit rental.
How to Prepare Your Boat for Storage
Once you’ve chosen a storage facility, there are several things you’ll need to do to prepare your boat for the time it will be in storage.
Shopping List
You’ll need to purchase several items that will be used to preserve and protect your boat during storage.
You should be able to find these items at your local boating or sporting shop:
-Boat cover
-Fuel stabilizer
-Antifreeze
-Mildew control bags
-Jack stands and/or blocks
-Boat trailer (you can rent one if you don’t already have one)
Preparation
Once you’ve completed your shopping, the following steps should be taken to prepare the boat:
1. Assess the overall condition and mechanics of the boat, and make note of any issues. If possible, attend to these issues before putting the boat into storage.
2. Give the boat a thorough cleaning inside and out. On the inside, ensure that any traces of food, crumbs and drinks have been cleaned up. This will help to prevent mice, rats and bugs from invading your boat. For the outside, a good cleaning or at the very least a strong rinse to remove dirt, salt etc. from the hull and decks is very important. If there are barnacles or other types of growth on the hull, a professional cleaning and refinishing may be required to preserve the wood or metal.
3. Clean and remove all canvasses, and roll tightly for storage.
4. Place mildew control bags evenly throughout the interior of the boat. This will help to absorb moisture and condensation and prevent mold and mildew.
5. Flush dirt and grime from the boat’s cooling system, then add clean fresh antifreeze.
6. Ensure the boat has a full tank of premium gas. Add a fuel stabilizer to the tank to help prevent condensation.
7. Give the boat a full oil and filter change.
8. Before removing the boat from the water, but after topping up all fluids and fuel, allow the boat to run for at least fifteen minutes to ensure the engine is well lubricated.
9. Empty the bilge drain and head tanks.
10. Remove all batteries to prevent leakage and/or corrosion.
11. Carefully place the boat on jack stands or blocks, or leave it on the trailer and then park the trailer inside the storage unit. Be especially careful of the hull and keel when moving the boat outside of the water.
Summary
Proper boat storage is possible if you take the time and are to do your research first. If you prepare the boat properly, it will be as good as when you left it, ready to provide you with more happy days on the water the following summer!
