Winter Storage

[hostage]

I am planning on storing my boat outside, any reason why I shouldn't store it at my house in the back yard during the winter? Right now I am storing my boat at a storage place across from the bay we frequent. Trailering is not an issue. Just wondering if there should be some things I should know before I do this.

Thanks,
Hostage

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Winter Storage

I store mine in the back yard all the time. Then I can keep an eye on it and sweep off the snow when needed.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Winter Storage

I wouldn't store it in such a fashion that snow could slide off the house roof onto the boat. Otherwise, if you have the space and no neighborhood covenants prohibiting it, go for it.

 

[stevenj]

Re: Winter Storage

Our county fairgrounds offer storage in the barns for $8.00 per foot total, plus tax from Oct.18-April 30th. $187 for my 22 footer out of the elements seems very reasonable to me.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Winter Storage

Hostage,

Just make sure the cover can handle snow, and is vented so as to prevent growth of mold/ mildew. They even make some neat pole supports that have vents built in.

 

[Kaplooi]

Re: Winter Storage

Not sure what size your boat is, but you could also look into one of those portable garage things if it would fit inside one. My parents use one at their house for storage year round and it's lasted for years. Only tree branches falling on it seem to damage the material . They make ones big enough for giant RVs so there's probably one that would fit your boat. It'd be a few hundred bucks, but then, storing one somewhere other than your home would probably be more than that. Isn't shrink wrapping alone several hundred (and non breathable)?

 

[cr2k]

Re: Winter Storage

Proper winterization is the main key to having a useable boat next spring.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winter Storage

Proper winterization is the main key to having a useable boat next spring.

I keep mine outside all winter long in MN. Key is making darn sure all water is drained from engine and outdrive. Covered with a canvas boat cover, stored with fresh engine and outdrive lube, oil and fuel filters, treated gas, battery removed, outdrive lowered, engine fogged.
First year I did outdoor winter storage, I was a bit nervous about what I'd find in the spring, but after many years of this, absolutely no issues with mold, etc.....
They want about $420 per season for unheated indoor storage with shrink wrap included- nice but I don't need the extra expense.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winter Storage

The condition of your backyard and slope of the ground should also be taken into consideration. Come next May when you are ready to take the boat out and use it you don't want to find that the lawn is too soft to be able to back up your towcar to pull it out.

 

[nhmaina]

Re: Winter Storage

I keep mine outside all winter long in MN. Key is making darn sure all water is drained from engine and outdrive. Covered with a canvas boat cover, stored with fresh engine and outdrive lube, oil and fuel filters, treated gas, battery removed, outdrive lowered, engine fogged.
First year I did outdoor winter storage, I was a bit nervous about what I'd find in the spring, but after many years of this, absolutely no issues with mold, etc.....
They want about $420 per season for unheated indoor storage with shrink wrap included- nice but I don't need the extra expense.

I was thinking of putting a large heavy duty plastic bag over the engine with moth balls inside of it and taping it together around the middle of the engine. I don't want mice inside. Do you do anything specific to cover the engine to keep mice out?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Winter Storage

I may also be in the same "boat" for outdoor storage. I don't' mean to jump this thread, but my question is on topic... What do folks do regarding rodents and critters when storing out doors?

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Winter Storage

I was thinking of putting a large heavy duty plastic bag over the engine with moth balls inside of it and taping it together around the middle of the engine. I don't want mice inside. Do you do anything specific to cover the engine to keep mice out?

looks like we're thinking the same thing at the same time... Didn't mean to dbl post same rodent question... sorry!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Winter Storage

I was thinking of putting a large heavy duty plastic bag over the engine with moth balls inside of it and taping it together around the middle of the engine. I don't want mice inside. Do you do anything specific to cover the engine to keep mice out?

When I was a kid Grandpa kept our old wooden utilty in the backyard upside down. Always a canvas cover over the top. One year a muskrat made his home in the boat over winter and chewed all the seats to hell, plus even removed a few ribs. That was the last year anybody in the family kept a boat outside in the winter.

But times are different today. The thought of a plastic bag makes me think of condensation, mold and mildew. Shrinkwrap makes me cringe too - not all the shrinkwrapper guys use vents. The old timers stick with canvas. Regardless, if the boat is upright and the "cover" is tight over the gunwales, how is a mouse supposed to get in? You need to keep the drain plug out, but why not cover the hole with a metal screen and tape it on.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Winter Storage

Proper winterization is the main key to having a useable boat next spring.

up north here, winterization and storage are two completely different topics! Very few boats get to sleep over winter in a heated garage, so you take the same precautions if its outside or in.

Its always amazing at the number of for-sale-cheap boats in the spring, with cracked blocks. People think keeping it in an attached garage that USUALLY doesn't get below freezing is safe. nope!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: Winter Storage

The old timers stick with canvas. Regardless, if the boat is upright and the "cover" is tight over the gunwales, how is a mouse supposed to get in? You need to keep the drain plug out, but why not cover the hole with a metal screen and tape it on.

My cover is tight over the gunwales... But I think a rodent could chew through about any cover material... Darn rodents! Maybe mothballs are the ticket... I just don't want my boat smelling of moth balls...

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: Winter Storage

A mouse or ray can fit into any hole they're head can fit through. You'd be amazed at how small of a hole a nice size rodent can fit through.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winter Storage

I was thinking of putting a large heavy duty plastic bag over the engine with moth balls inside of it and taping it together around the middle of the engine. I don't want mice inside. Do you do anything specific to cover the engine to keep mice out?

Me, no. So far no mice have made their way into my boat. Based on where/how it's stored, I don't think that will be an issue for me.
My pal stores his boat inside, had a squirrel trash his boat. He spent a lot of money having the seats and other surfaces re-uppholstered.

 

[hostage]

Re: Winter Storage

Lots of interesting posts, oddly in my area we don't have many squirrels. I am guessing, since we don't have many larger trees. I haven't seen rats, but I do see a lot of mice and bunnies my cat leaves at my door. If anything my cat might be a problem, though he doesn't like outside when it gets really cold and the boat is on a trailer. I think I would feel more comfortable about safety if the boat is stored at my house.

I remember squirrels got into my old man's suburban and they chewed up things. My dad put mothballs in the engine area to keep the squirrels out, then mistakenly left the mothball box in the passenger seat for a few months and it kept us out of the vehicle.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winter Storage

Same pal of mine who had the squirrel eat the vinly in his boat, had a pregnant cat find a way into his 71 Impala (winter beater) and give birth.
Talk about a mess.......................Yech.