Preparing Your Boat for Self Storage

It is a sad day when we have to put our favorite toys into a self storage unit, but luckily finding a climate controlled self storage unit is the easiest part of storing your boat. After you know where you are going to put the boat, it is an uphill battle to get the boat prepared to sit in storage. It is imperative to do all of the following steps under "boat storage tips" to make sure that your boat does not suffer while sitting in self storage. This will ensure the longevity of your boat, so that it can bring you many more seasons of fun. 

Caution: Before you do anything to your boat, make sure to check your owner's manual and manufacturer's website. Haul-out can cause damage to boat, and it is good to make sure you will not be breaking your warranty in anyway by moving the boat yourself to self-storage.  

Prepping for Boat Storage Tips 

1) Jack your Boat up on the Way to and in Self Storage 

Before you take your boat out of the water, you will need to purchase a proper boat support system. Not doing so can compromise the integrity of the boat. If you do not support the boat it can lead to the hull becoming distorted and compromised which will lead to costly repairs. No matter which boat support system you opt in for, make sure that the engines, keel and bulkhead are all properly supported to ensure a safe move to the self storage.  

2) Take Her Out on More Time (Our Favorite Boat Storage Tip) 

Before you store the boat, it is a good idea for maintenance ( and a little bit of fun) to take your boat out one last time. This gives you a chance to thoroughly inspect the boat, and see what needs to be repaired before you put the boat into self storage. Boat repair shops are always extra busy during spring due to lots of folks getting repairs to get their boat sea worthy, you can avoid the crowds at the repair shop if you do the repairs in the off season. You also may be able to strike a deal in the boat repair shops off season due to it be slower.  

3) Clean the Boat Up 

Once the boat is hauled out, you will need remove the bilge drain plug right away, and from there you will need to clean the boat inside and out. Thoroughly scrub the hull and deck to remove any barnacles, slime, gunk, mystery ooze and grime. Make sure to open the seacocks to let all of the water drain out. Do not forget to clear out the lockers, refrigerators and any other items that can grow mildew while the boat is in self storage. 

4) Allot Yourself Plenty of Time to Prepare Your Boat to Self Storage 

Making sure the boat is thoroughly drained and dried out can be a time consuming process. Putting a damp boat into a self-storage unit is detrimental to the health of the boat. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to drain and dry off the boat completely.  

5) Fill Her Up 

Besides the fact gas prices seem to ceaselessly go up, filling up your gas tank and adding a gas tank stabilizer reduces condensation. Make sure to run your engine for 10-15 minutes to make sure the gas stabilizer reaches the engine and fuel. 

6) More Maintenance 

Any maintenance you need to do, now is the time to do it for the health of your engine. It is also a good idea to change your engine oil, replace filters and any other regular maintenance at this time.  Make sure to inspect all hoses, clamps and belts. Clean your strainer. Leave your thru-hulls open. 

7) Flush the System 

You will need to flush the coolant system with just water and add a little bit of anti-freeze. Make sure to not mix ethylene-glycol and propylene-glycol anti-freeze, this can cause problems because the chemicals have very different properties.  

You will also want to flush your water tank and other plumbing with a non-toxic anti-freeze. All of your plumbing should be flush: fish wells, A/C pumps, ice makers, etc. You should also use non-toxic anti freeze to flush out the through the y-valve, marcerator, discharge hose and intake lines. 

8) Remove all Electronics 

Any electronics should be taken out of the boat and stored in a dry, room temperature area. Remove any batteries and lightly clean the terminals to avoid corrosion in the future. Re-charge batteries if applicable. 

9) Consider taking the Boat to a Mechanic to Prep the Engines for Winterization 

To really make sure your boat is all the way prepared, it can be a good idea to take it to a boat mechanic. This way you can know your engine will be in top notch condition when you take it out of self-storage and into the water next warm season.