Does anyone leave their boats in the driveway during winter?

[Pandabear90]

As my garage won’t be big enough, should I pay to store it somewhere or is it okay to leave it on my driveway with the cover.

If it is, does anyone have recommendations for a car port type enclosure for the boat, if that is necessary?

Thank you!

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

Leaving boats outside is VERY common thing. I live in Ontario, Canada, LOTS of snow. Boats are winterized (in the case of a jet boat, make sure all the water is out, I use antifreeze personally and dry), covers are put on and then typically, there's a secondary disposable cover on top of that. Very common to have those blue shrink wraps around the boat. BUT, with snow, it's very important that there be a structure supporting the heavy snow in the winter before that secondary tarp is on. I assume you're down south somewhere because most people are... but the other thing if it freezes is to get the boat off of its wheels in the winter so the tires don't freeze in the ice. Use blocks of wood to lift the trailer up a bit.

In general, you want to avoid extensive sun exposure on the stuff of value and you're good to go. Blue shrink tarps or car port type enclosures work just fine.

With that being said, I store mine in my garage (small boat) to avoid all of that trouble.

 

[ZippyBoater]

I lower my tower and back it into my carport. I get a few inches of clearance to work and put a cover on it to keep the dust and dirt off of it until the spring.

 

[Julian]

Much more involved if you are somewhere it snows. You dont want to ruin a cover because you let it snow on it....it will either stretch or tear under the load (just a couple of inches of wet snow can destroy a cover).

I like to put mine inside for the winter here in NC as it can remain quite humid which if the boat gets at all wet results in lots of cleaning work.

 

[Pandabear90]

I’m in New York

 

[Luc Lafreniere]

New York, close-ish to me. Ottawa, Ontario here. Yeah, with snow, you need to protect the cover with a secondary cover and you need to make sure the weight of the snow is supported either by that car port style structure or wood. Frankly, the first year I had the boat, I paid someone for indoor non heated storage. In my area, the cost difference between that and storing it outside with the blue tarp/structure was about $150 (300 for blue tarp/structure vs 450 for indoor non heated storage, Canadian dollars). It was easily worth the $150 to have it offsite and out of my driveway and to keep it out of snow/sun. I'd consider just paying a storage facility to save all of that trouble.

 

[Recoveringfiberglassaddic]

We are in Idaho and do lots of shrinkwrapping. If the boat is clean, dry, and shrinkwrapped properly it's like unwrapping a new boat come spring. I think it's worth it but cant speak to cost in your are. We are 13.50/ft.

If anyone takes the plunge and buys their own gun I can gladly teach them the best I can via the forum

 

[scubasteve87]

Long Island here. Much like everyone above has recommended a good detailing and winterizing is the way to go. I usually pull everything out of the boat and store in big Tupperware containers in my attic. I clean, detail the boat, pull the battery and place on a charger in the basement.

From there I shrink wrap the boat but I open each compartment (including the seats, just open a few inches) and place a few of those DampRid buckets or hanging ones around to grab excess moisture. I back it into my carport I have, put the boat on blocks to the tires don't become flat spotted and cover up any hull openings for critters (intake, pump, side cooling lines, etc).

Come spring, boat is brand new. Install the battery, give another good cleaning and go from there. A bit of debate on the forum is whether to change oil and plugs before winter or after. To each their own on that one but either include it in your routine and she should start right up each spring.

 

[jcyamaharider]

I used to. I would do like everyone else said. Clean everything out, pull all seat cushions and put some damp rid in there. I would then use the original shipping cover and then put a big tarp over it.

I then purchased one of these from Menards:

I liked it a lot and it let me get into the boat if I needed to in the winter. I was able to keep the batteries in the boat and just on a trickle charger. Still required damp rid.


Now I have it easy with the boat indoors.

 

[Pandabear90]

I used to. I would do like everyone else said. Clean everything out, pull all seat cushions and put some damp rid in there. I would then use the original shipping cover and then put a big tarp over it.

I then purchased one of these from Menards:

I liked it a lot and it let me get into the boat if I needed to in the winter. I was able to keep the batteries in the boat and just on a trickle charger. Still required damp rid.


Now I have it easy with the boat indoors.

What brand is that one? If I get a 19 ft. Boat will a 20 ft car port suffice or should I get 25

 

[jcyamaharider]

What brand is that one? If I get a 19 ft. Boat will a 20 ft car port suffice or should I get 25

Shelter logic
I think my tent was a 14 tall by 12ft wide 30ish ft long. It has been a while so I forget right off hand.


I would probably go 25ft.

 

[Ratket]

My boat will likely see use every other weekend in the winter because we live in Az... between fishing and “ Boat only access camping”. We gave up on the cold lol. Even if it is in storage you will need to make sure you winterize it unless it’s a temp controlled storage, then getting all the water out is not life and Death-

 

[Dennis P]

6 gallons of -100F antifreeze through each engine, store the cushions in the garage, place some rat poison, and double wrap it. I do remove the snow after every snowfall, takes a few minutes.

 

[Billtex2000]

I shrink wrap and leave in my driveway in PA.

 

[dzeppos]

I leave mine in my side driveway all winter - but it’s Southern California - other than a rainy January and February - it stays dry and cool (between 50f and 70f) all winter. Other than rendering the batteries - i don’t have to do anything. Not worth paying 500$ A month for indoor storage in Expensive Orange County, CA.

 

[Ratket]

I leave mine in my side driveway all winter - but it’s Southern California - other than a rainy January and February - it stays dry and cool (between 50f and 70f) all winter. Other than rendering the batteries - i don’t have to do anything. Not worth paying 500$ A month for indoor storage in Expensive Orange County, CA.

Just 500?? Lol - Joking, gotta love OC!