As a boat owner, you already know where you want to keep your boat—in the water! After all, the whole reason you purchased a boat in the first place was to get out and use it as often as possible. Since you probably can’t be on board at all times, having a reliable boat storage solution will help you protect your boat’s condition over the long run. 

To create an affordable and convenient storage location for your boat, turn to the team at American Steel Carports, Inc. for help. We have many different types of metal buildings that could work perfectly for boat storage, including carports, lean-tos, and garages. It’s easy to experiment with various designs and features for your new structure by visiting our Build & Price Tool. For help, or to place your order, just contact us at your convenience. 

Boat Storage Basics

Before we talk more about where you will keep your boat when it isn’t in the water, let’s first go over a few of the basics related to boat storage. The exact steps you need to take will depend on the type of boat you own, but the following points apply to most vessels:

• Get it clean. For something that is used in the water, boats get surprisingly dirty. If you simply park your boat after taking it out of the water, the dirt and grime that are left on the hull can deteriorate the boat’s finish over time. The process of washing a boat is very similar to the process used to wash a car, so you should be able to complete this task quickly and easily. 
• Deal with the engine. If your boat has an engine, you’ll want to go through the appropriate process to prepare that engine for a long period of inactivity. Consult the owner’s manual for more information or check with the dealership where you purchased the boat and/or motor for advice on this step. 
• Perform basic repairs. It’s frustrating to get ready for an outing at the start of the next boating season only to find that there are repairs that weren’t performed at the end of last year. It’s best to take care of repairs at the start of a storage period so you don’t run into any unexpected problems and delays later. 

Unless your boat needs some kind of significant, dramatic repairs, you’ll likely be able to get it ready for storage in short order. Of course, it would be best to already have a storage location available, which brings us to the topic for our next section. 

Where Do I Store My Boat?

Once the chores have been handled and your boat is in tip-top shape, it will be time to park it for the season. Ideally, you’ll be able to park it under a roof, as boats are meant to handle water from below – but not so much from above. If you have room on your property for a new structure, adding a metal building is the ideal option to create dry storage without breaking the bank. 

For complete protection for your boat, go with a metal garage. Since the boat will be entirely inside during the storage period, you won’t have to worry about the elements at all. There won’t be any rain or snow affecting the boat’s condition. You can even work on it in comfort if there are any maintenance points you’d like to manage during the off-season. Additionally, creating a garage for your boat will give you some extra storage space, as there will almost certainly be parts of the garage that are still available even when the boat is parked. 

While not offering quite as much protection, a carport or lean-to is another solid boat storage solution. These buildings are even more affordable than a metal garage, and they will still do the important work of protecting your boat from rain and snow. The outside elements will affect your boat more than they would if it was parked inside a garage, but a carport or lean-to is still far better than just parking the boat out in the open. 

Make Boat Storage Simple

When everything lines up just right, owning a boat can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Unfortunately, some of the issues that come along with boat ownership can turn it into a headache if you don’t have the right solution. Storage is often something that gives boat owners trouble, but you can avoid that outcome by creating covered storage on your property. Order a carport, lean-to, or garage from American Steel Carports, Inc. today and look forward to many more years of smooth sailing.  

If you’d like to see what’s possible with a custom design, try out our Build & Price Tool at your convenience. We are excited to serve you!