Whether you’re using a boat for leisure or you’re on a competitive rowing team, you should have a boat storage plan. The wrong decision could affect your boat’s condition during the winter, and the wrong boat storage choices can result in costly damages and time-consuming cleanup.

Boat storage is a problem that has more than one solution. The best storage option for you is one that combines affordability, security and practicality.

In this blog, we detail why finding the right boat storage option is important, discuss what you can do to preserve the quality and function of your boat when storing it, and provide some practical advice for boat storage, including dealing with pesky barnacles and damaging mold and mildew.

Why is Proper Boat Storage Important?

Proper boat storage is essential for preserving the longevity, performance, and safety of your vessel. Whether during the off-season or between outings, storing a boat correctly protects it from harsh weather, UV damage, corrosion and pests.

It also helps prevent costly repairs by safeguarding the engine, hull, and electrical systems. Choosing the right storage method ensures your boat remains in optimal condition and ready for the water when you are.

Proper boat storage can be the difference between a well-maintained boat that serves you well for many years.

Boat Storage Ideas

• Racks to store crew boats (Can be stored in two forty-foot shipping containers conjoined on their ends).
• Use boat covers when storing a boat inside to shield against dust, debris and moist conditions.
• Air circulation is crucial when storing a boat. Stagnant air leads to humid conditions, and humid conditions create an environment for mold and mildew to proliferate.
• Remove standing water from your boat with a bilge pump.

Boat Storage Options

When you’re looking for reliable boat storage, you likely have a lot of considerations. You want something that’s affordable, secure, and customizable for your needs.

You could rent a storage unit, but these can get expensive quickly with no limits on the frequency of rate increases — You’re completely at the whims of the storage market.

Outdoor boat storage is a more affordable option, but those savings come at the cost of security and protection from the elements. While a tarp is a wise idea when storing your boat outside, it’s not a surefire way to prevent deterioration from the climate and pests.

Next, let’s explore an underrated option that combines the affordability of outdoor storage with the security of a storage unit: shipping containers for boat storage.

Using Shipping Containers as a Secure Boat Storage Option

Now you may be thinking: “I thought shipping containers were supposed to go inside the boat, not the other way around!” You’d be right, at least when considering the boats used in ocean freight shipping. But the same security that shipping containers provides to exports during turbulent overseas journeys can also protect your boat and boating supplies in your day-to-day experiences.

Here’s a few reasons why shipping containers are a great option for secure boat storage:

Wind and Weather-Tight Protection

Perhaps the best feature of shipping containers for boat storage is that they offer protection from wind and weather effects, while being cheaper per square foot than a traditional storage unit. How can containers help you preserve your boat’s condition?

A container’s gaskets (thick rubber that fits into grooves along the edge of the container’s doors) prevents moisture from seeping into the container, ensuring a dry storage environment inside.

Advanced Anti-Theft Security Features

Rental containers from Southwest Mobile Storage come with several security features. While not an exhaustive list, here’s some of the reasons why you might want to secure your boat in a shipping container:

• Lockbox and slide bolt multi-point locking systems that increase the time required for thieves to break into your storage by protecting your padlock with thick cowl housing
• Puck locks that feature enclosed shackles that are significantly harder to break into compared with traditional padlocks
• 14-gauge corrugated steel, protecting your storage with a thicker shell than comparable portable storage options

A Variety of Customization Options

Unlike many other storage options, containers are easily customizable with additions that can make the process of accessing and organizing your storage easier. Here’s just a few modifications that you can add to your boat storage container:

• Roll up doors for easy entry and loading
• Ventilation systems to regulate internal temperature
• Moisture absorber strips to prevent container rain and regulate internal condensation
• Shelving and racking systems like gorilla racks that keep storing gear, tools and other accessories organized and within arms’ reach

A Note on Mold & Mildew

Moisture is your enemy when you’re trying to store anything for any length of time, but it can devastate the condition of your boat, leading to the development of mold and mildew on seats and floor mats. Protect your boat by deep cleaning seats and fabrics, removing all gear and storage from the vessel, and applying a spray of water and bleach (10:1 ratio) to take care of mildew stains.

Don’t wait — deal with mold and mildew immediately. Not only can these molds destroy your seats and leave unsightly stains, letting them develop can lead to various health problems. Common symptoms are sneezing, coughing and skin rashes, but more severe reactions can result in chest tightness, difficulty breathing, throat irritation and serious allergic reactions. Symptoms like that could make your next boating outing plans dead in the water.

The following sections will detail several ways to prevent mold & mildew from developing in your boat during both short and long-term storage.

Boat Storage: Winterization

When storing a boat for a short time, keep the following tips in mind. Your boat is a large investment, so here’s some tips to give your boat the best treatment to keep everything shipshape until spring:

• Remove dirt, salt and grime from the hull and interior then dry before storage
• Empty all water from the bilge, plumbing and cooling systems onboard
• Lay protective padding like blankets on the container floor before storage
• Use a breathable, fitted boat cover to prevent scratches to the hull during storage
• If container rain is a likelihood, consider adding desiccant packs or add vents to your container

Boat Storage: Long-Term

Storing a boat for any period longer than winterizing is considered “long-term” and comes with its own challenges. The steps you followed for winterization can keep your boat protected for up to a year. Any longer than that, and you should consider the following:

• Check in on your boat’s condition every few weeks, inspecting rubber components for dry rot, and identify if further maintenance work is required.
• Drain all freshwater systems on the boat and run non-toxic antifreeze through them.
• Open seacocks to drain water before boat storage
• Fog the engine cylinders
• Remove all electronics before storage, and store them separately to prevent moisture damage
• Wax and seal the hull to prevent oxidation and fading
• Utilize pest deterrents and check the exterior of the container monthly
• Store sails, cushions and life jackets in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent mildew
• Keep an inventory log inside the container with a record of maintenance and a list of stored gear (Make sure to mark down where you stored electronic components to make it easy to find them when it’s time to take your boat out on the water again)

Removing Barnacles & Cleaning

Barnacles can increase your boat’s fuel consumption, become an annoying eyesore, reducing your boat’s propeller speed, and obstruct the engine’s water intakes, leading to overheating and the degradation of other technical systems.

However, removing barnacles can be an intimidating process due to the arthropod’s ability to secrete a natural cement — one of the strongest natural-occurring glues, to stick to the side of your boat. Because of this, you’ll need equipment to deal with the problem. Additionally, when barnacles are older and larger, it becomes an even more herculean task to detach them.

After taking care of the burdensome barnacles, you can do a few things to prevent barnacle buildup. For one, you can wax the hull, adding a temporary layer of protection to slow the formation of future barnacles.

Additionally, you can apply anti-fouling paint, which can prevent the colonization of bacteria, algae, mollusks, barnacles and mussels.

Recently, silicone-based antifouling has shown promise as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional copper-based anti-fouling paint, with some studies showing that it’s even more effective in repelling the growth of barnacles, algae and slime.

It’s easy to clean too! Just be careful when hoisting your boat to and from the water, as silicone-based products make your ship’s hull more slippery than usual.

Boat Storage Inspection Checklist

1. Check the expiration dates for all safety equipment aboard like fire extinguishers, flares, and examine life jackets for signs of wear and tear.
2. Change oil filter and reset oil supply.
3. Disconnect battery, store in a dry place and protect your boat with a cover.
4. After disconnecting battery, wait for engine to cool, then examine spark plugs for deterioration, and replace if necessary.
5. Remove salt, barnacles and grime from the boat’s exterior with a pressure washer (Spraying parallel to the hull’s surface can attack barnacle buildup while preventing damage to the boat). Smaller patches can be dealt with by a few scrapes from a plastic or wooden scraper.
6. Inspect electrical components and identify systems that should be repaired or replaced.
7. Stand chair cushions on their side to improve airflow to the seat bottom.
8. Refresh yourself on your insurance policy to see what damage is and isn’t covered under your plan.
9. Check the deck for weak wood or other rot conditions.
10. Check and clear drainage systems to ensure free flow of moisture.
11. Flush the engine with fresh water and drain (Non-drained water can freeze and damage the engine block).
12. Clean boat plugs and set aside for storage.
13. Apply fogging oil to the carburetor, throttle body throat and cylinders.

Shipping Containers for Boat Storage

Shipping containers can be a great option for boat storage because they’re secure, affordable and customizable.

To get your free shipping container quote, contact us and speak with a dedicated container sales rep. They can answer any questions you have, and provide you specific information about our delivery, pickup, and pro-rated rental policies after the first 28-day billing cycle.

Regardless of the boat storage option you choose, with regular maintenance and a careful eye you can ensure your boat is shipshape and ready to sail the next time you’re eyeing an excursion on the water.