Winter Storage

[Thommes]

So end of the first season...

Storage...

What are the benefits of storing indoor compared to outdoor? Big thing I can think of is snow and ice on the cover of the boat... so is there a big difference between indoor and covered outdoor other than security of being locked up?

I can get indoor storage in a 'barn' which supposedly has concrete floors. I asked specifically if it was an old farm barn or a pole barn, due to mice infiltration of a farm barn. They said oh it's not a farm barn and it's concrete floors... but at the same time they said the boat will smell like moth balls when it's brought out because they put a lot of them on the boat. I'm going to have to see the barn.

My big concern with indoor would be mice getting into the boat... anyone have mice infest their boat in the winter months?

[Flanker]

I store indoor every year. It is the best way to go. 2nd best is shrinkwrap
Mothballs are for keeping the critters away. If you want added protection place some traps in your boat.
If you can add a fan for air circulation it will prevent mold and they also sell some buckets of stuff that absorb moisture or I think you could just use baking soda.

[lakerunner]

Outdoors is ok but no way to keep all the moisture out and more likely to have mold and mildew.
Indoors is the best. It keeps weather of your boat, keeps it dry and you don't have to have covered as tight.
Mothballs help keep varmints out that are looking for a home. This is inside or outside. So inside if you can with mothballs or outside with mothballs. Put some on top of logs where wires run to keep them from living there also. If your Bimini isn't under cover then stick some in there to to keeps bugs from moving in.

[Bamaman]

I keep my pontoon boat in a boathouse. My biggest problem is a 3' tall blue heron that sits on my sundeck fishing. He often leaves fish carcases in my battery/fuel tank compartments.

I always fight spiders, but never mice, ants and other varmits.

It never hurts to jack your boat up and put jack stands under the axles--to make the tires last longer and not flat spot. Better yet, remove the wheels, spray tires with silicone and keep'em inside out of the sunshine.

[chill'nthemost]

It never hurts to jack your boat up and put jack stands under the axles--to make the tires last longer and not flat spot. Better yet, remove the wheels, spray tires with silicone and keep'em inside out of the sunshine.

I think jack stands are a good idea. I used to do that with my JD garden tractor. I usually go extreme on storage even though I have a heated garage.

[2manytoys]

I'm in a cold, damp climate and have never had the luxury of indoor storage on for any of my boats, so outdoors is what I do. Not only my opinion but many others in my area believe that shrink wrapping your boat is a big mistake. For starters, your boat is almost always pretty wet when you decide 2 put it 2 bed for the winter. Shrink wrap, by its nature, multiplies the effect of the moisture by creating a humid atmosphere every time the sun hits the boat unless the temps are real low. Sure there are small vents but they take all winter 2 exhaust the humidity and corrosion inside will occur. For years, like others here have mentioned, I have raised my trailer and propped it up on jack stands at the back and a 6 X 6 across the front of the trailer where the frame work all comes together (mostly 2 take the load off the springs). 14 years ago, I made an aluminum tripod, that stands 15 feet above the ground, at each end of the boat and I have 24 foot, 4 inch diameter, 1/4 inch wall aluminum pole that spans the length of the boat, with one brace in the middle that rests on the deck. This height gives me about a 60 degree slope once the tarp is on and tied down the sides, front and across the stern. Something similar 2 the Nav-Igloo system, only more substantial. I get basically zero snow accumulation. I leave a ceramic heater in the boat for 3 - 4 weeks at the start 2 evaporate any moisture. Because the tarp isn't totally air tight, the humidity escapes and I get a small amount of air circulation for the duration of the storage period. Critters have yet 2 be a problem for me but if you were concerned about that, some moth balls may prevent them from taking up residence. This solution may not work for everyone (length of some boats would be a problem) but I have had great success with it.

[ROLAND]

I keep my boat stored indoors at a local boat storage facility. I keep it there year round and in the winter months I always put the cover on it just to keep dust out.. In the summer I like it being indoors as the boat dosn't have to sit out in the hot louisiana sun all summer.. From what I've read and heard, the sun can do a lot of damage to your boat over the years. When I first bought my toon 2 years ago I was going to just keep it covered and parked in my driveway. But a neighbor on the next street ( we live in a subdivision but it's kinda out in the country with huge lots and tons of trees ) went to get his boat ready for the season after having it covered in his back yard for the winter only to find that squirrels and chewed thru his cover and destroyed the seats and carpet on his toon. I will tell you this, my son kept his boat here at our house one summer and he bought a machine that throws out a high pitch tone that they claim will keep mice and squirrels away. Can't say if the machine did the trick, but he didn't have any issues with pests... but personally I prefer indoor storage. The place where I keep my boat was the cheapest I could find in the area.. runs me $85 a month. space is either 16 or 18 feet wide and 30' deep, which makes it real easy to back in, drop off and go.

[Thin Ice]

I store mine in a 50'x100' pole building along with 3 or 4 other boats and a couple RVs with just the mooring cover on. The building is not acclimated and has a dirt floor. I put 2 of these in the boat: www.drizair.com , and change them out once or twice each winter. I have had not mold or moisture issues.....and we can have pretty crazy winters here in Pittsburgh! It can be 55 or -5 degrees in January! I set a couple traps along with the drizair and never had any issues (knock on wood). I would think the only big disadvantage with outdoor storing would be accumulation of snow or other debris on the cover.

All this winter storage talk is making me depressed

Only have about 3 or 4 more weekends here til she gets put away...

[jrolin1]

I would think indoors would be best. I use mine year round though, so it stays in the water. I do use it less in the winter.

[curtiscapk]

Mine stays outside with lotsa bunce sheets instead of mothballs. Smells better! And no bugs at all, or critters after 3 winters!

I put in a bucket of charcoal for moisture.

[Thin Ice]

Hey Curtis.... you said no critters, but I see the rear end of a critter right below the bucket of coal!

[rsmith]

We store our toon outside and shrink wrap it. Most folks out here who don't have the luxury of indoor storage shrink their boats if they care to maintain them well. That said, I wish I could go with indoor storage and potentially minimize winterization costs, but all the indoor storage I've looked into costs a small fortune.

I don't worry about mildew and moisture. Here in CO its bone dry in the winter from a humidity perspective (we have a humidifier on our house and it only does so much). The snow tends to be dry and light so build up isn't a concern, keeping some dust and critters out and protecting it from the winds are part of my concern and reason for shrinking it. The shrink covers some of the logs, motor, etc.

We will also have out boat dry before getting it shrink'd since we aren't in the water much late in the year and it'll be out of the water for a few days before being winterized.

We also put mothballs and dryer sheets in the boat as well to help out with critter prevention. it probably also helps that there are not a ton of critters in the storage yard due to it's size and all gravel - not too inviting for many animals.

[evinrude2stroke]

I shrink wrap. I think it works best. When I take it off in the spring it looks just the way I left it in the fall. I get mildew on the stern carpet which I clean with simple Green and a wire brush (get that throughout the boating season anyway). I get a lot of Ice and snow where I am and have never had a problem. My Marina uses a good stringing system with three wood poles. I did have a cat get up through the stern area last winter where the shrink wrap covers the motor.(I was expecting the worst but no damage). That section of the shrink wrap will be addressed this year for sure. Years ago when I had an old runabout I would try to rig poles and tarps on it for the winter but always had problems either with critters or the weight of the snow.

[evinrude2stroke]

Quick question, what are the dryer sheets for? bugs or critters? I have never done this before but it seems like a lot of you guys do it. I want to try them this year and I want to look like I know what I'm talking about when my wife asks where her box of bounce sheets went.

[lakerunner]

Quick question, what are the dryer sheets for? bugs or critters? I have never done this before but it seems like a lot of you guys do it. I want to try them this year and I want to look like I know what I'm talking about when my wife asks where her box of bounce sheets went.

Yep that's what they are used for. I do mothballs because I'm afraid dryer sheets will loose their strength over winter.
If you ever uncovered you toon in spring and found parts of rabbits and birds along with thick dried blood in the carpet you'll do anything not to have that happen again