Winter Storage

[XCR-700]

Any recommendations for boat on trailer indoor storage in southern NH (Manchester or south) ???

23' boat that roughly 27' end to end (coupler to end of swim platform)

Not is a rush nor even dont with the season yet, just planning ahead.

Thanks

[ishoot308]

Any recommendations for indoor storage in southern NH (Manchester or south) ???

Not is a rush nor even dont with the season yet, just planning ahead.

Thanks

Not the cheapest but for first rate indoor, heated and 24 hr guarded storage look at "Monster Storage" in Nashua. I used to store my motorhome there and they were great!

Dan

[XCR-700]

Thanks Much I'll give them a call.

GH

[BroadHopper]

Give him a call. He has an ultra clean storage building in Tilton, NH. His monthly fee is very reasonable. (603) 524-1430.

[XCR-700]

Got a quote from Monster Storage for $225.00 per month w/6 months minimum for indoor heated storage.

Any ideas if this is high/low/just about right?

Thanks

[ishoot308]

Got a quote from Monster Storage for $225.00 per month w/6 months minimum for indoor heated storage.

Any ideas if this is high/low/just about right?

Thanks

Forgot to tell you... It also no problem going to their facility to work on your boat or whatever. Just call them in advance as someone is there most every day.

Dan

[Belmont Resident]

Cost $300 to shrink wrap my wife’s boat.
She winterizes it herself and cleans the hull in about half a day. If you have a place to park it the coat savings could be significant.
You still SHOULD winterize the boat even with indoor heated storage.

[fpartri497]

Cost $300 to shrink wrap my wife’s boat.
She winterizes it herself and cleans the hull in about half a day. If you have a place to park it the coat savings could be significant.
You still SHOULD winterize the boat even with indoor heated storage.

$300 Is a lot of money to shrink wrap a boat. how many feet Is It?

:rolleye2:

[BroadHopper]

I had my boat stored inside for $100 a month. $300 for shrink wrap sounds expensive. The problem with shrink wrap is that it doesn't breath, causing mold/mildew problems during the winter months.

[LIforrelaxin]

Shrink Wrapping at 300 dollars is about right for a 25 ft boat....

[XCR-700]

You still SHOULD winterize the boat even with indoor heated storage.

Very good advice, and having lost a motor to what I believe was a freeze crack, I am not willing to risk that again!

THANKS!!!

[XCR-700]

The problem with shrink wrap is that it doesn't breath, causing mold/mildew problems during the winter months.

That is exactly why I am considering indoor storage.

Just got a new (to me) rig and its way too clean to have it get swampy over our long winter,,,

THANKS!!!

[NoRegrets]

The shrink wrap people can install vents that should prevent the smell problem. There are websites that give an indication on how many vents you should use based on the size of boat. Baking soda boxes in the boat may also be a good idea......

http://drshrink.mytrainsite.com/boat-size-venting-chart

[robmac]

Walmart sells decicant bags to put in prior to shrinkwrap to prevent moisure issues.

[OCDACTIVE]

I have told people over and over again..... and it has worked!

Damp Rid Bags!!!!

My boat is under two covers all year round. It does not breath very well but it is better then tree sap on the bow coming down from over the driveway.

I used to have major mildew / mold spots to take care of every week.

Someone told me about these Damp rid bags designed for cedar closets and enclosed areas for clothing.

They are inexpensive and simply amazing. You can get them at Lowes, Home Depot, any hardware store and even some grocery stores.

During the winter I hang 4 bags and they also sell little buckets for the floor. I use 2 buckets This way whether the moisture rises or falls due to the temp. it is caught by these bags and/or buckets.

Never had a spot of mildew in over 2 years!!!!

Also I open every hatch and compartment and throw an entire box of bounty dryer sheets throughout the entire boat. floors, compartments, engine compartment, bilge you name it.

So when you open her up it is a simple clean, NO mildew and the entire boat / its contents smell dryer fresh.. Plus I have been told the dryer sheets keep critters away.

Just look at my name "OCD"... This could be the best advice I ever gave.

good luck!

[gf2020]

The problem with shrink wrap is that it doesn't breath, causing mold/mildew problems during the winter months.


That's nonsense. A boat that is properly prepped, wrapped and vented will have no problems during the winter.

[Wolfeboro_Baja]

I was just looking online for reusable desiccants and found this website, DesiccantsOnline.com (http://www.desiccantsonline.com/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=25). The link is to a page of 6 different sized reusable indicating desiccant canisters. The desiccant turns color from blue to pink when it's saturated and time to reactivate. Reactivation is done with any conventional oven. Reusable! Never have to throw them away and buy replacements! The company is located in Orchard Park, NY.

I'm thinking of getting the 450 gram canisters; one canister is good for 33 cubic feet of space so I figure two canisters are enough for my 25 ft boat. At $15.40 apiece plus shipping, that seems like a reasonable price to avoid mold and mildew on the boat! :)

OCD, you might want to try these! It sounds like you use them year-round; buy enough you'll always have some ready to put in the boat while the saturated ones are being reactivated. :D

[Belmont Resident]

Actually it will not mold during the winter. Too cold..
Warm spring fall days if the boat is stored in the sun could do it though.
Personally I've never had a problem with my Baja. This year we put it in the carport and are storing her boat in the field.

[BroadHopper]

About a decade ago, my heavy canvas winter cover ripped and I couldn't get a new one made in time for the winter storage. I store the boat outside in a field next to trees.
So I opt to have shrink wrap done be a local marina. I thought it was expensive at $200 when heavy canvas that last for years cost about $500.
I never had problems storing under heavy canvas. With the shrink wrap, I had mega problems with mold and mildew. I even had mushrooms growing from the carpet! Since then I went back to heavy canvas. Marina told me that will be one of the drawbacks. The boat should be 'super dry' before shrink wrap.
In the past 3 years, I stored the boat inside after I sold the land. The boat comes out with very little detailing. =)

[robmac]

That is one of the keys,make sure it's dry and shrinkwrap has ventilation. The changes in temp and humidity can cause alot of problems if you don't have vents and something to absorb excess moisure as mentioned in prior posts.

[LIforrelaxin]

It always floors me when I here all the issues with Shrink Wrapping. I have been doing it for 8 years now, and have very few problems. What do I contribute this too... Well to start with the guys that shrink wrap my boat, make sure it is dry before wrapping it... that step one... Then they make sure it is well vented... This is the key.... and don't just count on the little vents that most place use... When my boat is wrapped, the cover from the drive to the winch post, and then put a few vents up at the top...the air really circulate.. out the vents in the top as their is air coming in lower, up by the winch post, and back by the out drive...

It is not just about vents, it is about creating circulation.........

Wrapping tight to the hull and then putting to small vents at the top just doesn't cut it..... no circulation.

[XCR-700]

With all this talk about making sure your boat is dry before shrink wrapping, I would be interested to hear how you folks are "drying" your boats out???

My new rig has a fiberglass cockpit floor and "no wood anywhere" (or so thay claim) so it may be a bit easier, but in the past I am one of the folks who had endless problems with mold after winter storage and I'm sure it was because of the water trapped in the carpet/wood floors/seats/etc.

I dont have any where to keep mine out of the weather and when they get used they get wet and I don't think I have ever had a boat that was fully dried out. I can always find somewhere that was wet or damp,,,

I tried the damp-rid buckets in the past and they were nothing but buckets of water in the spring! Not sure how many you need, but I wasn't even close,,,

What am I missing about drying out a boat that lives outside? can it really be done???

This is the main reason I am considering inside storage so I'm all ears.

Thanks Much

[robmac]

The only thing I do every year is take the carpet,cloths,pfds,towels and sheets off the boat give it a good cleaning and put in 3 desicant containers I fot from walmart.For years I simply added an extra pole under my cockpit cover then put my mooring cover on strapped it tightly and that was it. The only time I bothered it was if we got a real heavy wet snow. First 2 years shrinkwrapped no issues 8 years under the mooring cover no issues.I think some boats that have problems as stated prior no circulation or damp carpet that isn't removable or a combo of both.I always throughout the year kept my boat covered with both cockpit and mooring just to minimize moisture and uv damage and it still looks new today.

[LIforrelaxin]

The only thing I do every year is take the carpet,cloths,pfds,towels and sheets off the boat give it a good cleaning and put in 3 desicant containers I fot from walmart.For years I simply added an extra pole under my cockpit cover then put my mooring cover on strapped it tightly and that was it. The only time I bothered it was if we got a real heavy wet snow. First 2 years shrinkwrapped no issues 8 years under the mooring cover no issues.I think some boats that have problems as stated prior no circulation or damp carpet that isn't removable or a combo of both.I always throughout the year kept my boat covered with both cockpit and mooring just to minimize moisture and uv damage and it still looks new today.

robmac has the basic Idea, remove as much as you can that holds moisture....
If I could easily do it, I would take the entire interior out of the boat... unfortunately that just isn't practical.... But I make sure that these is nothing holding or capable of holding moisture left in the boat.... Also if the boat is left out side, make sure it is tipped enough so that any moisture that gets in will drain out....I hav seen issue where moisture has built up over the winter and puddled in area because the boat wasn't tipped towards the stern...

[OCDACTIVE]

Again I am a bit more anal than most people. But for the couple hundred dollars more on a multi-thousand dollar investment that easily could cost hundreds of dollars of repair (god forbid from rodents) and not to mention the value of the amount of time speant getting boats back to working order and looking good MINUS the tiny summers and short boating seasons we have here in the Northeast.... Spend the extra money and go indoor.

I still have two covers on the boat with all the precautions (damp rid, dryer sheets) etc. and YES this may be OCD.

However it is nice when she emerges, full tank of gas, Oil changed, and all you have to do is give her a nice wash and wax and off you go.

In the scheme of things is it really worth it?

We all knew the hobby we were getting into wasn't the cheapest choice on the market, however I don't know of another that makes me feel as free and relaxed either.

Just my 2 cents of course.

[Pineedles]

Its still a hole in water OCD, of which I have poured thousands into.:laugh:

[NHBUOY]

BOAT = Break Out Another Thou$and...

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I'm thinking of getting the 450 gram canisters; one canister is good for 33 cubic feet of space so I figure two canisters are enough for my 25 ft boat. At $15.40 apiece plus shipping, that seems like a reasonable price to avoid mold and mildew on the boat! :)


A little math:
33 cubic feet is not as much as it sounds. A cube 39 inches x 39 inches x 39 inches is about 33 cubic feet. I bet you can fit a lot of those under the shrink wrap cover on a 25 foot boat.

[dva]

I might have a garage for rent this year if anyone is interested.It is not heated and is one bay of a 2 bay garage. In Meredith for $100/mo.I will get the door size on Monday. Send me a message if you are looking to store in the area.

[Winnisquamguy]

Just got my pontoon shrink wrapped for $8.50 per foot. Joe came right out to the house and did a great job,his number is 707-2480