Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

[murphini]

All:<br />Kansas City has relatively mild winters--snow usually melts within a few days of falling--20 inches average from November-Feb/Mar. The average winter temp is 31.4, colder at night, warmer during day. Our lakes really don't freeze over. A small sheen of ice will apprear, then remelt. If a real cold snap comes, we can ice skate for a few days--maybe, then melts.<br /><br />I have an opportunity of getting a covered slip in a marina with a hydro-hoist pnuematic lift. I an considering winterizing my boat and storing it ON the lift all winter. While it is "covered" from top, the back is exposed. It is like being outside with a carport.<br /><br />I stored the boat (1989 20' VIP w 541 hrs) in caves in the past winters where it always stays 58 degrees with no sunlight. <br /><br />I have searched and read many posts, and am open to advice--pros & cons from those who have stored boats outside--and/or on a lift for a winter in a midwestern climate.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

I've done it before in Indiana. Works perfectly fine. I've been known to take boat rides at Christmas time...even went waterskiing once on a fluke 65 degree day at the end of December. Water was only about 40 though. BRRRR! Kept you motivated to NOT fall down!<br /><br />After the ride, put it back on the lift, remove the drainplugs from the block and hit with compressed air to ensure all water is out, lower the drive so water drains out of it, and let it sit until February. Repeat.<br /><br />Frankly I think it'd be better to leave it on the lift than keep it in a cave with 99% humidity that allows nothing to dry out. Surprised you didn't have mildew & mushroom problems when you did that.

 

[murphini]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

I was also going to ask if people did take their boats out during winter how did they "re-winterize". When you removed the drainplugs, did you put the compressed air in one plug to force water out the other? (Newbie) Did you do anything else to the gas/oil/etc?<br /><br />The "caves" are actually limestone quarries that are climate controlled with paved roads, air ventilation, painted walls, etc. THere are hundreds of miles of these in our part of the world near the Missouri River.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

Interesting about the caves....never heard of 'em.<br /><br />Anyway, I personally did nothing more than blow air into one plug and make sure air was coming out of the next one...repeat for any others. I never had a problem, but maybe I got lucky. Every boat motor is different, best to talk to a marina about this for your particular setup. If you have a motor that has a tendency to pool water in some of the water jackets, this can be a little dangerous. That's why most marinas will winterize by actually pumping antifreeze through the system instead of just draining the block.<br /><br />As for oil, gas, battery etc...they all take freezing temps just fine. I left 'em alone and did normal annual maintenance changes.

 

[robpoe]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

murph . what lake do you go to? I use Perry for the most part, though I think next summer I might be in for a change of scenery and might try Pomona. <br /><br />I do wanna hit Melvern at least once

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

craze I used to live in Kansas city... you'd be amazed at the # of people that store their boats in the caves... Its great dry storage that maintains temp and keeps weather away from your boat. My cousin stores his in the caves every year.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

Info on the caves, or vaults.<br />This is where hollywood stores their valuable films.<br />Some caves are over 6 million sq feet !!!<br /><br /><br /> http://www.earth-house.com/Mystery_Travel/Deep_Vaults/deep_vaults.html

 

[murphini]

Re: Winter Storage on Lift in Water....

We've gone to Perry once, but we mostly go to Hillsdale since it's 30 mins closer. I've heard good things about Pomona, but again, 30 minutes farther. Hillsdale is wet and relatively uncrowded....and full of trees.