Self Storage Blog

Getting your boat ready for storage before the winter arrives can save you alot of time and hassle.  Long term storing your boat is very different than storing your boat short term between outings.  When there is long periods of time between your boat usage it is good to follow a boat storage routine to ensure the continued reliabiliy and usefullness of your recreational boat.  Here are some tips to long term boat storage that will help to get your boat ready for storage that is quick and easy.

Your first most important factor when preparing your boat for storage is to ensure that their is no condensation that forms in the full lines and the gas tank of your boat.  Before boat storage, fill the gas tank completely and add a fuel stabilizer to the tank thus eliminating condensation.  Proper instructions conerning fuel stabalizers vary so be sure to read carefully.  Do not make the assumption that all fuel stabilizers are the same because they are not.  After you add the fluid, start your boat engine on flusher and run for about a minute or so to get the fuel with the stabilizer working its way through your boats system.

Next you can apply oil to prevent fogging to the boats carburetors.  Most boats come equipped with fittings to apply fogging oil so read your owners manuals if you do not know.  If you boat does not have the fittings available, it is alright to just ad the fluid manually anyway.  You may find it easy just to remove the cover for easy application.  Remember that when you retrieve your boat from storage and start it again that it is going to smoke when you start it.  This smoking is just the oil burning from the carburators but will disapate after a short period.

Fogging oil must be also applied to the engine cylinders for you place it in boat storage.  Remove the spark plugs and spray the oil directly onto the cylinders for a small coating.  Replace the existing spark plugs with new ones to eliminate corrision.  Spend extra time cleaning the housing of your boat before storage and use an anti corrision spray on all wired connections.

Check the steering cables in and on the steering colum of the boat.  Clean excess dirt or any residue that may have built up and air the shaft out.  Be sure to spray all the cables with anti-corrsion spray.  After that, give the oil time to drain and competely flush out the boats gear casing.  Unhook the flusher and then begain draining the gear case.  Check the lubricant for water and make sure there is none in the case.  If so, replace your shaft seal immediatley.  Do not hesitate as it can lead to costly repairs in the next season.  Refill the gear case with new lubricant for storing.

Before you use boat storage, disconnect your boats battery and remove it from the boat and clean the terminals.  Apply anti corrision spay to the terminals to prevent corrision and store in a warm safe place.  Be sure to charge your battery every so often while it is in boat storage to keep it in working condition.

Place the cover around the motor and cover the boat.  Always use a cover that allows breathing to eliminate trapped moisture that can be devasting to your boat.  Greese all the bearings of your boat if it is kept on a trailer and spray all unprotecteed parts.

When you are ready for boat storage, you can find a local boat storage provider by searching the internet for any boat storage locator database.  It will provide you will a list of boat storage facilties in your local area by city, state or zip code.

More on boat storage at self storage blog, self storage forum or self storage wiki.

Boat Storage: http://www.selfstorages.net