You’ve finally gone all in and purchased the boat of your dreams. Congratulations! But now, you have a problem. Because of either space limitations or homeowners association (HOA) restrictions, you’ve found yourself unable to store your boat at your residence. A lack of at-home boat storage is a common issue, but it is an easy obstacle to overcome. All you need to do is rent space at a nearby boat storage facility.
When searching for storage, you’ll come across three options:
- Outdoor dry storage
- Indoor dry storage
- In-water storage
The question lies in what type of storage option is the best option for your new weekend toy. Take a look at the three most common boat storage solutions so you can determine which is best for your vessel.
Is it better to store a boat on water or land?
A boat is made for the water, so it’s natural to believe that it can stay there year-round. But that’s not necessarily true. Simply being in the water throughout the entire year will not hurt your boat, but environmental factors like extreme temperatures certainly can.
Generally speaking, you can store your boat on the water all year if you live in a warmer climate. You can take such an approach even if you live in a climate that experiences freezing temperatures, but you will need to winterize your vessel and store it in a place that uses an agitator to prevent water from freezing against the hull.
Storing your boat on land makes protecting it from freezing temperatures easier, and land-based storage options also offer additional protection from storms, raging winds and other environmental factors. But there is a trade-off, as access to a boat held in a dry storage facility is not quite as reliable or convenient. If you intend to transport your boat on a trailer, keep in mind that each state has its own towing requirements.
As for which option is better for your boat, that all depends on factors like where you live, how often you hit the water and the size of your boat.
Options for storing your boat
When it comes to boat storage, your three primary options include:
Outdoor boat storage
As its name suggests, outdoor boat storage involves taking your boat completely out of the water. You will encounter several variations of storage facilities.
Pros:
- Low cost
- Easy access to your boat
- Protection from ice damage during winter
Con:
- Offers limited protection from thieves
If you live near a popular boating destination or have a go-to spot that you frequent, you can probably arrange for boat storage at a local marina or boat yard. These facilities typically hoist your boat up onto a steel storage rack using a forklift, though some allow you to park your boat in a fenced-in field.
If you don’t live near a major waterway but want to store your boat closer to home, check out local storage facilities and see whether any of them offer rented parking spaces.
Indoor boat storage
Indoor solutions are a specific form of dry storage that involves stowing your vessel in a secure indoor facility. It’s usually the most costly option next to harboring your boat at a high-end, members-only marina.
Pros:
- Extends your boat’s lifespan
- Provides protection from the elements
- Offers optimal security
Cons:
- Cost
- Limited accessibility
Storing your boat indoors offers superior protection from both thieves and the elements, so it is a good option if you want to preserve your vessel’s value and maximize its lifespan.
Water boat storage
In-water solutions involve harboring your vessel at a marina, and it is an incredibly popular option — especially among boaters who live in warmer areas such as Florida and California.
Pros:
- Easy access to your boat
- Additional amenities
- Convenience
Cons:
- Costs can vary greatly
- Ice damage could occur if the agitator fails
Harboring your boat at a marina provides easy access year-round, as you can drive to the marina, proceed to your vessel and get out on the water.
A membership at a marina comes with other perks. Many marinas have secure storage boxes mounted near slips, Wi-Fi, fish-cleaning areas, clubhouses and pools.
How must does boat storage cost?
The exact cost of storing your vessel will vary based on two factors: the size of your boat and the type of storage you select. The size of your boat generally has the biggest impact on cost, especially if you opt for indoor storage.
For instance, a relatively standard-sized boat that will fit on a storage rack may cost you only a few hundred dollars per month, whereas an oversized boat that requires special accommodations can cost several thousand dollars per month to store.
In terms of cost, dry outdoor storage is often the most economical option, while indoor storage and wet storage options have greater cost variations. A basic marina that provides a few amenities may be less expensive than indoor storage, while wet storage at an extravagant marina may be more costly than any dry storage option.
Choosing the right facility for your vessel
As you can see, plenty of options are available when it comes to boat storage, and although it is nice to have choices, having all these options at once can also make it tough to decide which is the best solution for your needs.
When selecting a storage option for your boat, you should consider factors such as:
- Where you live
- Your vessel’s value
- Your budget
- How often you use your boat
If you live in a warmer climate, use your boat often and want to keep storage costs to a minimum, water storage may be the best option. But if you live in a colder climate and need to harbor your boat for months at a time, consider opting for dry or indoor solutions.
FAQ
The cheapest means of storing your boat is water storage. Unless your boat is unusually large, facilities typically charge a flat fee to stow your vessel using this method.
The cost of storing a 25-foot boat largely depends on what method you choose. Storing a 25-foot boat in the water may only cost a few hundred dollars, whereas storing it in an indoor facility can cost much more.
Yes, you can keep your boat in the water over the winter, but if you live in a colder climate, it is important that an agitator is used to keep the water from freezing around the hull.