Warehouse vs Marina Boat Storage
When you’re looking to store your boat for a long period of time, you need to know your best options for keeping it safe, clean, and ready for the next season of boating fun. The two most common places to store a boat are in a marina or in a warehouse, each of which has its own features, benefits, and potential risks. At Hampton Watercraft & Marine, we’ve created this quick guide to help you make an informed decision so that you can be assured your boat will be safe until you’re ready to take it back on the water. And when you’re ready to shop for a new boat, or you need parts, accessories, or custom hull graphics for your current boat, please come visit our dealership in Hampton Bays and Eastport, New York. We proudly serve customers all over Eastern Long Island. Hampton Watercraft & Marine offers winter storage, marina facilities, and a pro shop and ship store, for all your boating needs.
Marina Storage
Marina boat storage comes in two flavors: Wet storage and dry storage. Wet storage marinas offer some advantages over dry marinas. If your boat’s already on the water, then you can take it out for a joyride on a whim. Wet storage marinas often offer electricity to keep your batteries charged, and some offer covered storage so your boat is protected from weather and sun damage. However, if you store your boat on the water, then you’ll need to be sure to check the hull for things like corrosion, barnacles, or other damage that might occur from prolonged water storage.
A dry marina will store your boat off the water, sometimes in a garage or other structure, again offering protection from weather and sun damage. Dry storage also helps prevent corrosion, and you won’t have to worry about those pesky barnacles sticking to the bottom of your hull. Most dry storage marinas will have a crane to lift your boat and move it into its storage slip. If you’ve got a smaller boat, you may be able to save money by stacking your boat with others; this option is obviously not appropriate for boats with long masts or larger boats, generally. Dry storage also permits you to perform maintenance on your boat, including the bottom of the hull - although you may need to check with your storage marina to ensure they allow owners to work on their stored boats. Of course, the major disadvantage of dry storage is that you can’t jump out into the water on a whim; your boat has to be re-launched each time you want to get it out into the water.
Warehouse Storage
It’s also possible to store your boat in a warehouse staffed by professionals who can maintain your boat for you. Warehouse storage can be less expensive than marina storage, and it offers some concrete benefits that marina storage lacks. Dry storage warehouses obviously keep your boat protected from the elements, but most boat storage warehouses also offer increased security to keep your boat safe from thieves and other nefarious types. Warehouses are great for storing smaller boats, and you can save money on trailer maintenance.
The cons are pretty obvious - you may not be able to get your boat into the water right when you want to. Some facilities might have a limit on the number of times you can take your boat out while it’s stored.
We hope this brief guide has helped you understand the various options available for storing your boat. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list; it’s always important to do your own research and find the option that’s right for you. If you have any questions, we’re here for you at Hampton Watercraft & Marine. We look forward to seeing you!