Winter is Coming

[captainhook]

$300/month is obscene but I guess people must be paying it or they wouldn’t charge it. The increased depreciation over the life of the boat likely doesn’t exceed the cost of that. Crazy. I just keep mine outside but much milder winters here. Some day soon I will get one of those metal buildings but knowing me I haven’t even looked into it because it will wind up bigger than my house with an office, heat, A/C, a lift, and whatever else comes to mind.

 

[Sean R]

I have a buddy in Monroe and in Lapeer MI. It would be outside. I'll tell them $100 a month from Nov thru Mar. Want me to ask? they are good guys. Ive read a lot of your post you seem on the level.

 

[GiddYupJoe]

@mark_m will call them tomorrow.

Now someone educate me......

When I look at that picture for the Wayne County Fairgrounds, they are packing everything inside tight and ass to nose. Does that mean you can't get your boat out till the spring or on a certain day? I mean do you leave the keys to the car and the boat hitch unlocked and they can move it around to get someone else's vehicle or boat out? What is the process come spring or in an emergency if you need your vehicle/boat?

At our fairgrounds it is one weekend in, and one weekend out. No other options. If you leave it and screw up someone else’s chance of getting their boat there are big fines.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I have a buddy in Monroe and in Lapeer MI. It would be outside. I'll tell them $100 a month from Nov thru Mar. Want me to ask? they are good guys. Ive read a lot of your post you seem on the level.

I will let you know. Let me talk to the admiral tomorrow.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

There is an app you can download where people rent out their extra space, might be worth a shot. Never used it but have seen quite often, maybe find someone’s garage that wants to make an extra $150 a month?

edit: it’s called the Neighbor app

double edit.... This might work? https://www.neighbor.com/rentals/Wyandotte--Michigan-self-storage-space-18409

 

[mark_m]

@mark_m will call them tomorrow.

Now someone educate me......

When I look at that picture for the Wayne County Fairgrounds, they are packing everything inside tight and ass to nose. Does that mean you can't get your boat out till the spring or on a certain day? I mean do you leave the keys to the car and the boat hitch unlocked and they can move it around to get someone else's vehicle or boat out? What is the process come spring or in an emergency if you need your vehicle/boat?

Here’s how it works in my county. I schedule the drop off and park it in the barn where she sits for the off-season. The guys use a loader / skid steer with a ball hitch and can jockey the boats around as needed (but I like to go in first and come out last) so the boat stays untouched.

They do not allow access during the off season and I prefer it that way. I don’t have any locks on the hitch so they have flexibility to move me if they have to.

In Spring, I call and arrange to pickup. Last year I pulled a little earlier because of how work was scheduled, so I helped them hook and move around the other boats like puzzle pieces so I could get out from storage.

They have a process, I’m sure and have done this for years. They’ll likely call you to remind you and let you know when you can drop off when the season ends.

 

[mark_m]

At our fairgrounds it is one weekend in, and one weekend out. No other options. If you leave it and screw up someone else’s chance of getting their boat there are big fines.

That’s typical pattern for our county too... but helping them jockey boats around (latch, unlatch hitches) so they can concentrate on driving the boats around with the loader and not bother with getting in and out of the rig gets you some nice perks (call ahead early drop, pick up) tipping them some money so they can get lunch helps too

 

[drewkaree]

not sure not sure how you feel about coming to Middle Wisconsin, but I can get you $400 total inside unheated storage from October-ish until Memorial Day. I think I'm correct on the time frame, but if I'm wrong, I'm not that far off

 

[shnknapp]

@mark_m will call them tomorrow.

Now someone educate me......

When I look at that picture for the Wayne County Fairgrounds, they are packing everything inside tight and ass to nose. Does that mean you can't get your boat out till the spring or on a certain day? I mean do you leave the keys to the car and the boat hitch unlocked and they can move it around to get someone else's vehicle or boat out? What is the process come spring or in an emergency if you need your vehicle/boat?

Not sure how it is in Michigan but the process is as follows at the Minnesota State Fair:

1. Apply for a spot and after approved, they give you a time slot and date for drop off.
2. Drop off your item, and do not put a lock on the coupler.
3. They use a lift to get the trailer in the building and postion it by hand
4. They give you a time frame for when pickup will be. For us, it's the end of April.
5. In March, they identify the date and time slot for pick up.
6. If you want to pick up early, they charge $100 since they need to move everything around.

If you do go the with the fair grounds or any other location, let your insurance provider know the address where it will be stored.

 

[SCP1]

My garage door is 7' so that is out. I wanted to build a 16' by 30' in the back yard. I have a 330' deep lot on suburban city, one of the few. Anyhow, planning on sticking a 9' door on it so I can just glide back in. Also 30' so if I upgrade boats I will always be able to get it in there. BUT, admiral said no go this year so maybe next summer/fall. I guess it will all depend on how much we spend on boating and any trips the family wants to take. May have to just figure out something else for this winter and for next at the latest.

Going to need to make that a 10’ door, AR250 states 111’ with the tower folded.

 

[zipper]

Just move to the Country, buy some land...build one of these...you can store others' boats for the Winter, even sailboats with the mast up. Oh yea, I will store yours, as long as you don't mind a sawmill in the barn.

 

[Bssmith1220]

If it makes you feel better I was quoted $309 per month for storage in my area too. I’m in maryland. I was shocked and I think I’m just going to wrap it and store it at home this year.

 

[WiskyDan]

Stored my 06' SX230 boat in climate controlled warehouse (45 degrees or so) last year for $900 - October through May. I've found that "climate controlled" and "heated" are usually two different things. Climate controlled is an insulated building that is not heated - when the doors are closed it holds a temp of about 45 degrees. Heated (at the place that I'm looking at) is actually heated and kept at 55 degrees.


Got a few quotes for this year:

• Place that I stored it at last year will be about $1000
• Place that I dry-stack at has "heated" storage for about $1200
• Dealership that I bought the boat from has indoor cold storage that includes winterizing and run up in the spring for $1400

Leaning towards the heated storage at the place I dry-stack at - mostly for convenience purposes.

 

[mark_m]

Does Michigan have county fairs? I ask because we store ours in one of their barns for cheap at the end of October until April. Cheap like < $20 per foot to store on the trailer, in the barn.

I checked on pricing, it’s a flat fee for the whole storage season. $12 per foot to store it. Call it ~$300 to store for 5 months. (November thru March)

 

[2kwik4u]

This is the reason I refuse yo buy a boat that won't fit in my garage, indoor storage in my area is scarce and expensive. My SX210 went in with the caster mod and it's a PITA, so for that reason we are leaning towards a Mastercraft NXT20 as our next boat, I can keep it hooked to my truck when I move it in and out of my garage. My garage never gets to freezing so I don't have to worry about anything getting frozen and break.

I'm really close to this as well. We went after an AR240, and came home with an AR190 when we realized it would fit in the garage. Looking forward at possibly a AR210S, and I'm finding storage to be a PIA. I have gotten REALLY REALLY spoiled having the boat at home. Work on it whenever I want, go sit in it at night and drink a cool beverage and surf the web, wash/clean/dry it at my leisure. Having it at home, covered, and secured, is amazing.

We're to the point that I've had a contractor out to quote raising the header in the garage "one door panel height". Guess what.....The cost of the construction is just under 18mo covered storage cost. I already have the volume in the garage (25ft deep with 12ft ceilings), just have to get the tower down (and the header raised) to get the boat in there. Wife thinks I'm nuts, but I want the boat at home with me.

My second option is to pay to have a door and electric added to a "stall" at one of the local storage facilities. Most of those are just covered, with a gravel lot and floor, and no electricity. I really want that "4th side" on the storage area so I can leave the boat open to air dry, but not lose the security of having all my "stuff" exposed when drying. Even then it's going to be $150+ a month for that, so that takes away from the boating budget in general.

 

[2kwik4u]

@mark_m will call them tomorrow.

Now someone educate me......

When I look at that picture for the Wayne County Fairgrounds, they are packing everything inside tight and ass to nose. Does that mean you can't get your boat out till the spring or on a certain day? I mean do you leave the keys to the car and the boat hitch unlocked and they can move it around to get someone else's vehicle or boat out? What is the process come spring or in an emergency if you need your vehicle/boat?

We have a place down here that does that.

Louisville Underground.

It's actually a cave under the zoo. They store all kinds of stuff under there. It works like a valet service. You call a minimum of 3 days ahead, and they will bring your vehicle/trailer out of storage and place it in a temporary holding lot until you get there to pick it up. They store year round, and it's around $250/mo or so for our sized boats. Being a cave, it's always 52 deg, has exceptional security from both theft, and natural disasters. I know many guys will do that and drop it off in October and not get it back out until May or so.

 

[the MfM]

Trade it in on that 250 now and hope it doesn’t show up till April?

 

[Dixie Highway]

Unfortunately the good deals for inside storage are usually shady parts of town. I had $50/mo for unheated storage in an old warehouse last year, but it was an hour away. This is a town I wouldn't live in if you paid me to, but that's where the unused commercial buildings are typically. The guy gave me copies of his building insurance, I verified with mine that I'd be covered for storage (they prefer indoor storage, less chance of damage from winter weather). It's parked in there behind other vehicles so not likely to be stolen unless they move 10 others to get to mine. Shrink wrap costs around here are about $25/ft, this ends up cheaper and safer.

 

[Evil Sports]

Winterize it, Wrap it, Park it, forget about it till May. 8 years with this boat and never any issue

 

[dadofral]

That monthly rate stinks...I live in west Michigan and pay $230 for indoor, cold storage for the whole winter...basically October thru middle of May.