The summer season is nearing its end. If you’re in a cold-weather state, it’s probably time to put that boat into storage.
The thing is, you don’t want to store your boat outside. The winter weather is abrasive and you fear that it might do damage to your boat. As such, you’re pursuing indoor boat storage.
But what does indoor boat storage entail? What options are available to you?
Indoor Boat Storage Options
There are two general options for indoor boat storage. One option is to build your own storage facility. The other option is to make use of commercial boat facilities. We’ll discuss the benefits of each now.
Building Your Own Storage Facility
If you have enough money to buy a boat, you might just have enough money to build a storage facility. You don’t need anything extensive. A garage alone will do.
The great thing about having your own facility is that, once it’s been built, there are very few additional costs that you need to deal with. As such, over the years, having your own facility could very well end up saving you money.
There’s also the factor of convenience. Having your own facility means you don’t have to travel to pick up your boat.
Using a Commercial Storage Facility
In truth, building your own boat storage facility is expensive, likely in the tens of thousands of dollars range. There’s a decent chance that you don’t have that amount of money lying around. If not, it’s best to use a commercial storage facility.
Indoor boat storage costs vary, not only by the region but by the company as well. The length of the boat has a large effect as well, with smaller boats having storage costs of one to two hundred dollars a month and large boats having storage costs of three hundred dollars a month and more.
Let’s say you’re storing your boat for 5 months. All told, you’re probably paying something between $500 and $3,000 a season.
Is It Okay to Store Your Boat Outside?
Now, you might be wondering if it’s okay to store your boat outside. In truth, that depends on the weather in your region.
If you live in an exceptionally mild weather area like, say, Southern California, then outdoor boat storage would be fine. If, conversely, you live in a snowy and cold area like, say, Cleveland, Ohio, then you’re going to want to store your boat inside.
Snow, sleet, hail, cold weather, and even rain can have a negative effect on a boat. As such, it’s wise to keep it out of these elements as much as possible.
Indoor Boat Storage Reigns Supreme
When it comes to dry boat storage, nothing beats indoor boat storage, in particular. Storing your boat indoors will increase its lifespan and reduce the amount of maintenance that you need to provide it.
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