Tips on How to Store Your Boat Properly
Left—Small, open boats can be stored upside down for the winter as long as you block up the boat clear of the ground and shade her from the direct sunlight and give her some shelter from the wind. Store spars horizontally (and on-edge if they’re rectangular), and make sure to support them along their length. Right-Throughout the off-season you’ll want to check your cover regularly to make sure it stays in place during storms and high winds.
Depending on the length of your boating season and where your home waters are, you may want to layup your boat for the months when boating takes a back seat to other activities. Here in New England and in other cold winter climates, the majority of pleasure boats are hauled out in the fall and stored on land.
In this article we’ll discuss the best practices for decommissioning and storing a wooden boat. We’ll focus on the hull, as this is what usually raises the most questions. Because engines are so varied and individualized, we’ll give only a cursory look at their lay-up, expecting that you’ll rely on your owner’s manual to provide guidance.