Boat storage: All eyes are on the water as the weather warms up. With every passing day, more families are looking for a way to live summer to the fullest. And did you even go on vacation if you didn’t surrender your kids to the waves as you dragged an inner tube behind your new boat?
If you’re considering adding a watercraft to your lineup this summer, let us start by saying congratulations. It won’t be long before you’re spending your weekends basking in the sun and salty air. And while it’s all fun and games in the summer months, vacation will come to an end. You’ll need a storage plan lined up to protect your investment. Let’s talk about boat storage best practices.
What should I do to get my boat ready for storage?
- Exterior: It’s time to give your boat a bath. Start by pulling the boat up and scraping or pressure washing to remove barnacles and salt residue. Take time for a thorough once-over for any splits or cracks in the fiberglass that may need attention before long term storage. The last thing you want is to be ready for boat season the following year, only to find out that you’ll need to wait for a repair.
- Interior: The best way to extend the life of your boat’s interior is to remove all soft materials, such as leather, fabric, or canvas-covered parts, and keep them in climate-controlled storage. The same goes for your electronics, which can receive a deeper cleaning after they’ve been removed to check for salt buildup. To preserve vinyl surfaces, spray and wipe down with a vinyl protector.
- Engine: The best practices for caring for your boat engine before storage is to remove, flush, and replace. Change the oil filter, flush out any remaining oil, and replace at the end of the season. The same process applies to coolant – drain thoroughly and replace.
It’s a good idea to loosen or grease parts that won’t be in use for a while to prevent cracking, buildup, etc. Remove drive belts, disconnect the battery, and grease the steering mechanism — finally, pest-proof your engine by sealing off all the exhaust ports with a robust electrical tape.
Where is the best place to store my boat in the offseason?
There is a reason that boat showrooms use steel structures – prefabricated metal buildings are carefully designed for a tight seal that never settles. During the construction phase, after galvanizing the primary and secondary members of a steel building, the structure effectively becomes rust and corrosion-proof. It’s the most reliable form of protection for your investment.
Boat showrooms choose steel, boat storage facilities choose steel, and if you’re planning on storing your boat on your own property, you would naturally want to make that same sound choice. A canopy may not create a seal around your boat, requiring a wrap for further protection, but it’s a great place to start to protect from elements such as rain, harsh sunlight, or heavy snowfall. But the same option enclosed provides full protection for your boat from hurricane-force winds, earthquakes, and more. The right choice will depend on your local environment and budgetary needs.
Boat Storage Building Kits
Upgrading to a 50 x 100 metal building kit provides the unique opportunity of having multiple units available for rent. If you live in an area where boat ownership is prevalent, this might be the business opportunity that you’ve been waiting for. A 50 x 100 includes flexible wall panels and multiple units ideally suited for boat and RV storage.
For more information on Prefabricated Buildings, CLICK HERE or give us a call 888-783-3535.
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