Best Place To Store Pontoon Boat Over Winter

There are several places where you can store your pontoon boat during winter, for instance, using your dock, using a public dock, keeping it in your garage, or a public storage facility.

Key Takeaways

• Storing the pontoon boat in the dock is an expensive way of storing your pontoon boat because you’ll have to spend a significant amount and it could range between $80,000 and $150,000
• If you have a garage then you can choose to park your car outside and leave the garage for your boat
• You can also consider storing your pontoon boat in a public storage facility
• You must clean your pontoon boat properly before storing it to ensure the watercraft’s safety after use

1. Using Your Dock

If you have your private dock, you will have secure and reliable storage for your pontoon every winter. However, it is probably the most expensive way of storing your pontoon boat because you’ll have to spend a significant amount to have such a boating estate. Depending on your needs and disposable income, you could either rent or buy. In 2012, for a premium piece of boating space, you could pay somewhere between $80,000 and $150,000. Keep in mind that that was ten years ago, so the prices have gone up a little by now. For dockominiums, that is, they have amenities such as Wi-Fi and laundry facilities, you can rent for $820 per month, but if you want to rent such a space, you will need at least $47,200 of course, you could pay as a monthly mortgage if you wish. Before settling on this, you have to ensure that it is worth it and manage. 

If you own a dock, you will have to take care of it. In the same way, you have to clean your house, but you don’t clean your friends when you visit. Having your dock also gives you the chance to go by as much as possible to check on how your boat is doing. Peek a bit below the cover and ensure it is dry. 

2. Storing In Your Garage

This choice may come out as unrealistic because of the size of the pontoon relative to that of your garage, but it is possible. You can choose to park your car outside and leave the garage for your boat. This is the cheapest option for storage you have as the cost is 0. 

You will, however, have to invest in a trailer as you should not just toss your pontoon boat on the floor and leave it there. The floor may scrap it off, or temperature changes may affect it, and damaging your boat is the last thing you want, significantly damaging it while not in use. When purchasing a trailer, you have to ensure that your boat will fit perfectly. It would be best if you did not surpass the limit of the trailer, or else you will regret it. You can get a basic one at $150 or a good one at around $5000, or better yet, you could get a customized trailer at just a little more than $5000. But this one will serve you for an extended period. 

If you are buying a trailer, you should buy a scissor-style trailer because they are made specifically for pontoon boats. 

3. Storing In A Public Storage Facility 

Some facilities provide storage for boats, and each boat will have a cubicle, or one boat will be put atop another. The latter is often used with speedboats. Wondering how much you will spend at such a facility? Well, you will have to consider several factors, such as your location. This is the issue of supply and demand, where if there are many such facilities in your location, then the price may go a bit lower than where there are fewer. For cubicle storage, you could pay anywhere from $200 to $300 per month. 

If you go the route of stacked storage, then maintaining your pontoon boat during the winter will not be possible because it will be piled so high. You should ensure that you do not forget any step of cleaning and winterizing your boat, or else you will be all tears in spring. However, if you rent your cube, you could always drop by to check on your boat during working hours. It would help if you used a trailer for such storage too.

Before you settle on which storage facility you use, you have to look at some factors like security. It would help if you opted for indoor storage over outdoor storage because the temperature is regulated inside.

4. Public Dock

If you want to store your pontoon boat on a dock but can’t afford to rent or buy yours, you still have an opportunity. You can keep it in a public port where you will have two storage options, that is, wet slipping and dry storage. Which one you choose will depend on how cold it gets in the area. 

If you are wondering how much it will cost you, first of all, because you will be renting, you will have to pay monthly fees. The cost will mainly depend on three factors: the size of your boat, your area, and the marina you will rent with. You should do your research and get the best deal.

Accessing your boat for such a dock may not be easy since some work for hours, and some may even close for the winter. You should only ensure that you double-check everything before storing your boat. 

How To Store Your Pontoon 

It poses difficulties to boat users in how they will store their watercraft during the winter when they are not using them. Give your boat maximum care during that season so that when spring arrives, you should be ready to boat as usual. Below are a few guidelines on storing your boat and protecting it from destruction. 

1. Clean The Boat

Cleaning your pontoon boat before storing it is one of the obvious things that a paddler must always do to ensure his watercraft’s safety after use. When the barnacles, dust, and grime get stuck to your boat, it’ll be difficult to remove them. If you leave food that remains in your ship and forgets to clean it, rodents and insects will be attracted, and in the process, they will cause mechanical damages, which will require capital for repair. If water is spilled in your pontoon boat and not removed, there will be an accumulation of mold and mildew, weakening its durability and reducing its life span. It can be cleaned both inside and outside, as discussed below;

A. Inside The Boat

Mold and mildew may have a breeding spot on your boats’ items and equipment such as audio systems, floats, fishing gears, and depth finders as moisture is easily trapped in them. Therefore, start by removing those unmounted accessories to prevent molding from occurring. Remove all the electronic appliances in your boat to avoid them being damaged by rodents, elements, insects, or even stolen. 

B. Outside The Boat

To clean outside the boat, start by dislodging plants, barnacles, and other materials, then spray and wash it with mild detergent. Make sure that you remove all the elements that could ground the paint and polish the tubes to prevent rusting.

2. Battery Removal Or Disconnection

When not using your pontoon boat during winter, ensure you disconnect or remove the battery from your watercraft. You can also leave it on board; either way will work perfectly, as long as you follow the recommended guidelines given. If you decide to remove it, you have to charge it fully first, then store it in your garage or indoors, according to the recommended measures, where the temperature is above the freezing point. Disconnect the battery. If you prefer to leave the battery intact, connect it to the trickle charger, continue charging and prevent charge drainage.

3. Cover Your Boat

One of the best ways to protect your boat from Mother Nature when not in use is by covering it with a cover that suits its model and makes. To ensure that you’ll use your boat next season, give it the utmost care during winter. Ensure that you cover it as required and protect it from being destroyed by elements such as water. The protector you will use should be cold-resistant to avoid getting affected by cold temperatures and contract slightly to match the varying temperature. If you put it slightly above the underneath, it will be good to enable air circulation and prevent it from being flooded on.

Take Away

When winter approaches, you start thinking of how to store your boat for several months. In the article, we have discussed several places to keep your boat and ensure safety. Before deciding where you will store your boat, you should consider the distance from your home, cost, and even accessibility. Accessibility is not as important because you don’t have to check on your pontoon boat now and then to ensure its safety. You only have to ensure that everything is okay before storage.

References:

• https://veravise.com/how-to-store-a-pontoon-boat/
• https://www.donjohnsonmotors.com/how-to-store-your-pontoon-boat-for-the-winter/
• https://pontoonopedia.com/how-store-pontoon-boat-without-trailer/