If you have a boat that you don’t take out on the water all the time, then you likely want to store your boat in a safe location until you are free to enjoy the fun that it offers. During times of the year when it’s too cold to take your boat out, consider dry boat storage so that it doesn’t get damaged throughout the winter. Here are some tips to keep in mind for minimal damage and to ensure that your boat stays securely in place.
Plan Ahead
The first thing to do before using dry boat storage is to plan out where your boat will be kept and determine how your boat handles while it’s being moved. Consider the amount of storage space that you will have for your boat so that you can easily maneuver it into the proper area. You also need to consider how long it will stay in storage so as not to block the entrance to the area if you plan to retrieve your boat within a short amount of time.
Reverse
As you try to navigate your boat and get it to the docking area, try to use reverse as much as possible in order to get the boat to its location. This is often easier than trying to ensure that you’re moving your boat forward while attempting to turn to maneuver the vessel into the position you want.
Lines
When docking your boat, you’re going to need to know how to position the lines so that the boat doesn’t become loose or even unattached. Lines located on the downward side should be secured before the others as this is the side that likely won’t interact with the weather. Check all of the lines twice to ensure that they are tight before leaving the boat docked. Cover your boat to prevent damage from occurring as well.
