Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

[stingray101]

Hi everyone, new to the board. I have owned a 2005 Stingray 180 RX 18' boat for a couple years. I have, and still do keep it in my garage for the Winter, however I have to sacrifce my Expedition (which is twice the value basically) in order to do it. I live in Wichita, Kansas where temperatures are cold and approach zero at some points - yet I see TONS of even much nicer boats left out with a canvass cover over them fo the whole Winter. Am I being naieve? Is it okay to store my boat in my driveway, covered?? It has been Winterized. Thanks for any advice. Lee

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

I live in a much more mild winter area, but I feel its worth it to pay to have it indoors for the 6 months of winter lay up. Find someone with a barn who needs some extra cash.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

As long as the motor and drive are properly winterized, and you have an effective cover, you should be alright. Although it is always better to store indoors, as long as you have a cover and support system that will shed the rain and snow and not let it get to the interior, you should be fine. Many on here build a frame system to support the cover and provide pitch to the cover in order to help shed the rain and snow...pvc pipe is common and relatively inexpensive and simple. Just remember the basics, too, which is store it bow up, drive down, with the plug out just in case your cover fails. Check on it often.

I can understand your argument about the value equation, but a modern car or truck is much more suitable to be exposed to the elements than a boat. The fact that a boat sits unused for months is bad enough, I wouldn't compound that with exposure to weather. If you're concerned about value, I would argue that a boat stored outdoors for the winter would stand to potentially lose more value than an automobile. It's a personal judgment call in the end.

In summary: It's not ideal, but it is do-able, without substantial problems, if done correctly.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[jkust]

Re: Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

Winter in Kansas is like the tropics in my eyes and it is an interesting dillema. I have that same issue in the summer so my snowmobiles and trailer can stay indoors and I always default to storing the boat indoors and one car outdoors. I am of the opinion that a car is really made to handle the outdoors 24/7 and a boat or snowmobiles aren't without a nice cover and some attention. Now if I had that same issue in the winter when our temps can get to at least -30F and much colder with a windchill, I may start to think about shrink wrapping or indoor storage. I don't think about the value too much since even the nicest snowmobiles or boats depreciate down so quickly.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

It would be nice to have the luxury of indoor storage, but the VAST majority of boats never see the inside of a building, including all the well-kept 30 and 40 year old boats I see all summer.

I built a PVC frame for mine, and covered it with a couple of tarps. The entire boat is covered to about a foot above the waterline. It's protected from rain, snow and UV. What more do you need?

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Storing my Stingray 180RX for the Winter in Kansas

Welcome to iboats, btw, I failed to notice that this was your first post here. Glad to have ya!

This is THE best place for boating help.

The old-timers here get a bit grumpy sometimes, but they know their stuff.