Boat Storage

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Owning a boat is all fun and games—until winter comes and you find yourself with a 24-foot Yamaha Sportsman and a 10-foot driveway. Keeping your Boston Whaler, Bayliner or Carolina Skiff at the marina isn’t cheap, so unless you’re a resident of Buckingham Palace, you’re going to need to find someplace safe and dry to store your boat.

That’s where Cheap Storage Units can help you! Our searchable online database is as simple as typing in your city or ZIP code to see a list of nearby storage facility options that accommodate basic indoor storage, high and dry boat storage, and outdoor boat and trailer storage.

Did you know that there are 2.5 billion square feet of rentable self storage space in America? This means that the probability of your finding a self storage unit in a location that is convenient for you is pretty much guaranteed!

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR BOAT FOR STORAGE

It’s not enough to just roll your deck boat, cabin cruiser or trawler into storage, lock the door, and then expect it to be in pristine shape next spring. Best practices for storing your boat include basic maintenance and winterization—essential steps to make sure that your luxury pontoon impresses your passengers rather than sinks when you get it onto the water.

STEP 1: BASIC MAINTENANCE

Fill your gas tank and add a fuel stabilizer (to avoid corrosion) if you plan to store your boat for longer than three months.

Give it an oil change.

Remove the battery if storing for longer than three months.

Lubricate the propeller shaft.

Clean the entire boat, including any water on the inside, to prevent rot, mold or looking like a slob.

STEP 2: REPAIR NOW TO SAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE

Take care of any repairs before storing your boat to prevent further damage. Don’t be lazy and put it off—you’d be surprised how a small crack can grow during the course of the winter.

Run the boat’s engine to ensure that everything is in good working order and address any loose parts or strange noises (aside from your creaky knees or off-key singing).

STEP 3: INVEST IN A COVER

By cover we don’t mean an alibi or disguise. Purchase a cover that is intended for boats (and not a bunch of your mother’s old afghans stapled together) to prevent moisture and mildew from collecting.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT STORING A BOAT

What documentation is required?

The only document you need to bring in with you is a government-issued ID like your driver’s license or passport. If you want to present your college degree or Starbucks rewards card, too, go ahead, but be prepared for a confused look from the self-storage facility manager.

If you’ve reserved a unit online with our handy-dandy self-storage finder, bring in a copy of your confirmation page. This will make the transaction 45 seconds faster for those who are in a rush to get to their meditation class.

And if you’ve got home owner’s or renter’s insurance, then your velvet artwork collection, unused exercise equipment, and any other personal belongings you put into your storage unit may be covered. Check with your insurance provider, and then bring in a copy of your insurance policy. If you don’t have this kind of insurance coverage, don’t fret—you can usually purchase it from the storage facility.

What happens if you pay your rent late?

At most self storage facilities your rent is considered late anywhere between 5 and 30 days after the first of the month. Once you default on your rent, the storage facility manager will lock you out of your storage unit, call you, and send you a letter. If you pay up, you’ll get your unit back.

If you don’t pay up, you can kiss your Virgin Mary-embossed grilled cheese sandwich, designer fanny packs, and 8-track player goodbye because the storage facility can, by law, auction off your stored items. If you’re lucky, you might see your stuff on an episode of Storage Wars.

What are the chances of being locked out of my boat?

Only if you forget your key, show up at the wrong storage facility or it’s the middle of the night.

WHO NEEDS THIS TYPE OF STORAGE?

If you have to ask this question, perhaps you’d be better off with an inflatable rubber dinghy. But since you are asking, here’s who needs this type of storage:
  • people who own boats
  • boat owners who don’t live at Buckingham Palace
  • those who prefer to use their front yard for barbecues rather than a boat parking lot
  • boat enthusiasts who want to protect their yacht from the elements
  • people who don’t have money-growing trees

WHO DOESN’T NEED THIS TYPE OF STORAGE?

Just to make it absolutely clear, people who do not need this type of storage include:
  • people who don’t own boats
  • boat owners who do live at Buckingham Palace
  • those who never barbecue in their front yard
  • anyone who sees damage to their boat from the elements as a challenge
  • people who do have money-growing trees (in which case, please contact us right away so we can get in on this!)
FUN FACTS ABOUT BOAT STORAGE

These fun facts won’t help you store your boat or teach you how to operate one. But they will give you a few conversation starters at any social event:

  • 10% of boats are stolen by strangers.
  • 20% of boats are stolen (a.k.a. “borrowed indefinitely”) by family or friends.
  • 70% of boats are thought to be stolen but really the boat owner just forgot where it was stored.
  • 48% of people suffer from stress and according to studies being near the water can reduce that—unless, of course, you haven’t stored your boat properly and it sinks.
  • The most common boating injury is pulling a muscle when taking a selfie in an attempt to show off on Facebook.
  • Boat owners tend to have healthier relationships—likely because they’re out on the water all the time and not at home.
  • The most expensive yacht is a 590-foot yacht bought by a sheikh for $627 million.