Captain Caveman
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
- Messages
- 1,033
Re: Indoor vs outdoor storage
sublauxation - Another Minnesotan here.
I've stored almost all of my boats outside. For a few years I stored my last boat in an unheated barn, but the birds pooped all over the tarp and there were certainly more mice indoors than outside IMO.
I have a 3year old alumacraft and it stays outside all winter next to my garage. I put the custom cover on and then use a giant tarp from menards over that to protect the cover and provide water protection. I bunjee cord the tarp under the boat. Then I throw a bunch of dryer sheets around the inside (smells much better than moth balls) and put jack stands on each end of the axle to keep the wheels off the ground -- keeps them from flat spotting.
The snow isn't a big deal. When I finish shoveling the driveway, I just spend 3 minutes with my big glove walking around the edges and brush the snow off with my arm. It's never a problem.
If you are looking for a rather low-budget solution, the MN state fair grounds stores boats indoors. You should be able to web search it pretty easily. However, you have to commit to a pull-in and pull-out date ahead of time. They go by the last-in/first-out and conversely first-in/last-out policy. Check it out if you decide not to keep it outside. Good luck.
sublauxation - Another Minnesotan here.
I've stored almost all of my boats outside. For a few years I stored my last boat in an unheated barn, but the birds pooped all over the tarp and there were certainly more mice indoors than outside IMO.
I have a 3year old alumacraft and it stays outside all winter next to my garage. I put the custom cover on and then use a giant tarp from menards over that to protect the cover and provide water protection. I bunjee cord the tarp under the boat. Then I throw a bunch of dryer sheets around the inside (smells much better than moth balls) and put jack stands on each end of the axle to keep the wheels off the ground -- keeps them from flat spotting.
The snow isn't a big deal. When I finish shoveling the driveway, I just spend 3 minutes with my big glove walking around the edges and brush the snow off with my arm. It's never a problem.
If you are looking for a rather low-budget solution, the MN state fair grounds stores boats indoors. You should be able to web search it pretty easily. However, you have to commit to a pull-in and pull-out date ahead of time. They go by the last-in/first-out and conversely first-in/last-out policy. Check it out if you decide not to keep it outside. Good luck.
The previous boat did not. Took it to the SHRINK WRAP store and asked for extra supports on the inside. You could bounce a bowling ball off it. Never had a problem storeing outside that way. Don't remember the price, but then again, it was MY BOAT and it was worth it. Inside would have been nice but the distance to storage would not allow me to visit when I wanted. (made sure I had access to the interior via a smallish ingress point at the transom for the occasional fantacy fishing trip)