For most boat owners, winter is the time of year when the boat gets a rest and is pulled out of the water. Unless you are lucky enough to live in an area where year-round boating is an enjoyable experience, you’ll probably need somewhere to park your boat while the winter weather moves in and keeps you indoors. To make sure your boat gets through those winter months in good condition, consider the ideas in this article to protect it from the elements.
Do Boats Really Need Protection?
At first glance, you might think that your boat is tough enough to take on whatever winter has to offer. After all, it is meant for use outdoors in the water, which is a difficult environment to handle. However, winter weather in many places means low temperatures and increased precipitation, and those conditions will put your boat under attack from above.
If you leave your boat out all winter long, you could return to find that it has developed mold and mildew problems, damaged paint, and more. Also, if you leave it at a dock, there may be an increased risk of theft or vandalism during the offseason, since fewer people will be around on a daily basis.
The Basics of Winterizing
Once you have decided to take your boat out of the water and put it in storage for the winter, you’ll want to take a few steps to winterize it for the offseason to come. This process will vary from vessel to vessel, so consult your owner’s manual or even contact the manufacturer to be sure you don’t miss anything. Some of the typical keys include the following:
- Drain the fuel so you can add fresh fuel to the tank when it’s time to take the boat out again
- Thoroughly clean your boat, both inside and out, in order to protect its condition
- Change the oil in the engine, or have it changed by a professional, to protect its condition
The Ideal Storage Solution
To keep your boat in great condition throughout the winter, it’s best to store it inside. If at all possible, finding indoor storage, such as a large garage that you construct on your property, will keep the elements away from your boat and allow it to rest in comfort. Even if you can’t make that happen, parking the boat under a carport to keep rain and snow off of it – and to protect it from falling debris – will go a long way.
As you think about adding a new structure to your property to protect your boat, keep a few key points in mind:
- You’ll need to be able to get the boat in and out of your storage space easily, so make sure the door or opening is large enough (and high enough). Also, you’ll need to maneuver your vehicle around as you load and unload, so give yourself some extra room to spare.
- If your property allows for it, think about using a design that allows you to drive right through the metal building and out the other side. This avoids the challenging backing up process and will make your garage far more useful for various purposes.
- In addition to storing your boat, you’ll probably want room for other items like boating supplies, equipment, etc. Design the structure so that it will meet all of your winter storage needs and you can avoid having to rent a storage unit for extra items that don’t fit.
Protect Your Investment
Owning a boat can be a great experience, but it is not cheap. You’ve spent a lot of money on your boat, so you don’t want to come up short of giving it the protection it needs. Not only would that mean missing time on the water while it is repaired, but you’d also incur significant costs along the way. Get ahead of the game by protecting your boat during the winter with a carport or garage from American Carports, Inc.
Don’t hesitate to use our Build & Price tool on our site to help you quickly explore our options. For help, just contact us and a member of our team will be glad to assist. We hope to work with you soon!
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only. Some of the depictions, designs, materials, accessories, setup, etc. may not be included or even compatible with our actual products. Please get in touch if you have specific questions.
