How to Store a Boat Outside in the Winter

How to Store a Boat Outside in the Winter

If you’ve got one vessel, or three, and climate controlled storage space is as ridiculously-priced as it is in my neck of the woods, you’ve gotta get creative with how you store boats in the winter. Some of these ideas are better for hard boats, some for rubber, and a few work for both.

Here goes…

Wash your boat (well) before putting it away for the winter with soap and water. Simple Green is a safe bet and shouldn’t hurt any boat I can think of. Dry the boat completely before storing. Any dirt, sand or other debris can hold moisture. I know it’s a boat, but moisture plus cold equals unforeseen consequences.

Spray and rub in 303 UV Protectant for all rafts before you store them–top and bottom. Besides being ~3000 SPF for your boat, it also helps keep everything hydrated.

‍Pro tip 1: Fill each valve with 303 and close it. This helps prevent leaks by keeping the seals and plastic hydrated, thus preventing shrinking and leakage. It can even rehab old leaky valves.

Double check your raft frame pipes for water–freezing water, and expansion, is bad for metal pipes.

If possible, get a dedicated kick stand for your drift boat, or dory. Consider this an insurance policy. Should the cover rip and snow begins melting into your boat, it’ll all drain out the plug. Pro tip 2: remove drain plug and place thick wire mesh in hole, so water can get through, but rodents can’t. Pro tip 3: use wood 2x4s for a drift boat trailer stand. Make sure to chock wheels.

Keeping your boat outside on a trailer, fully covered with a UV tarp, is arguably the easiest solution, and it’s better for the boat. Just make sure the tarp is held down securely with bungee cords top and bottom–attach on the grommets underneath the boat to help with heavy wind.

If you store your boat where there’s the possibility of damage from mice or other rodents, rolling up your boat and standing it in a large plastic garbage can will provide better protection than simply wrapping it in a tarp.

If you keep your boat on the trailer, remove the frame and use a tarp, or something heavier, for coverage. Even with the frame, you should always pitch a high point in the center of the boat to promote drainage off the tarp from rain and melting spring-time snow. I use a long cam strap from lean-bar-to-lean-bar from my fishing frame. This creates a tent structure that allows snow and rain to roll off.

Poking a hole in the center of the low point of the tarp will allow the snowmelt to escape. (Don’t follow this suggestion if your boat is not self bailing.)

‍Pro tip 4: after many years of the wind ripping holes where my oar locks and towers are located, I finally started taking them off for the season when I store my boats. Not only does it help with wear and tear, it lets water and snow drain more easily.