Floating indoor storage

[Pete]

A curiosity question? What is the advantage of floating heated winter storage for a fiberglass hull? Understand the reason one would choose this option for a wood hull, but the chance to put a fiberglass hull in heated dry indoor storage would be my choice. But I have never used either and have no plans to. Just curiosity as I stated.

Pete

 

[MikeP]

I personally don't see any good reason to take a boat out of the water at all except for bottom painting or maint/installation that requires it. The water provides the best support for the boat and every time you have it hoisted and blocked up is another chance for an accident. Heated would be a convenience in cold winters if you are doing work but otherwise I can't see any reason to bother with that either.

While boating in Long Island I met a guy with a mid 40's size Silverton who told me it hasn't been out of the water in 14 years. He has a diver clean the bottom periodically. This might be a bit to the OTHER extreme!

 

[Pete]

When we were searching for the perfect boat for us, I looked at one in LaSalle, Michigan that was in heated dry storage. As I understand, it is a trade off with the cost and inconvenience of winterizing a boat. I could go for that, having winterized a few when I lived in the North East. The added advantage for fiberglass hulls is a drying out period. 50 degrees or so at super low humidity is great for the boat, in my opinion.

Pete

 

[REBrueckner]

There is a long list of pro and cons...including likelihood of winter storm damage, likelihood of engines sweating in temperature extremes w/o heat, ease of access for winter projects, relative storage costs, liklihood of sinking, cost of haulout for spring bottom painting or other bottom maintenace, ability to use your boat (toilets,sleep aboard,etc).

I happen to leave my YF in the water in NY with diesel heat all winter...I don't winterize except outside deck and cockpit shower fittings. I do have to check peridoically but it's a nice change of pace from being cooped up winter time...Perfect time for upgrades and engine room mtc, ideal is to have a live aboard next door who can check a thermometer placed at a porthole while still in the water.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have stored in an unheated building on land, in the water under cover, and in a heated building on land. By far, the heated inside storage is the best. The hull drys out, it's great for working in your shirt sleeves in the winter, and you don't have to worry about storm damage, sweating, or winterizing.

The in-the-water storage was a little scary for me. I always worried if my heaters were working, if the bubblers were working, and if my boat was just getting all damp and musty inside. Plus, the idiots at the facility kept throwing salt all over the docks and I had to polish all of my outside metal surfaces in the spring.

 

[Walter P]

Sky,

Indoor heated storage sounds great, but I don't know of any such facility here in Central Jersey. Just to satisfy my curiosity, how expensive is such an arrangement? Winter storage here costs about 75 - 80 dollars per foot. Add winterizing costs and I would guess you're in the range of about a hundred a ft. I'm sure there are yards that would cost less, but the facilities are not only substandard, but inconvieniently located. I have been keeping my boat in the water in my slip at my club. We bubbled the entire marina and it's great, but I like the idea of drying out during the winter at least every other year.

Walt

 

[nyrussell]

Dang, I just tossed salt onto the finger so we did not have an ice rink...

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Sky,

Indoor heated storage sounds great, but I don't know of any such facility here in Central Jersey. Just to satisfy my curiosity, how expensive is such an arrangement? Winter storage here costs about 75 - 80 dollars per foot. Add winterizing costs and I would guess you're in the range of about a hundred a ft. I'm sure there are yards that would cost less, but the facilities are not only substandard, but inconvieniently located. I have been keeping my boat in the water in my slip at my club. We bubbled the entire marina and it's great, but I like the idea of drying out during the winter at least every other year.

Walt

Walt,
I pay $5.65 per sq ft which is figured by LOA x Beam. That includes hauling, pressure washing the bottom, jack stands, and launch in the spring.

Dang, I just tossed salt onto the finger so we did not have an ice rink...

I know, you salt water guys don't worry about salt corrosion too much, but for us fresh water guys, any salt is disturbing.

 

[nyrussell]

Sky,

I had a choice... Either toss the salt or watch the 2 year old and admiral flip into the water when a water taxi comes by.... Stupid damn storm turned to bloody ice LOL

 

[Walter P]

Sky, That comes out to about 90 dollars/ft. As I said, that's not too bad considering that you don't need to winterize. Thanks for the info.

Walt

 

[Bugsy]

I was in-water heated storage for two winters just north of detroit. It was fantastic!! We were partying in 70 degree weather and just outside the doors, they were ice fishing. The cost was about $10,000. but this was all-inclusive with dockside pump-out and for a live-aboard, VERY reasonable.

We were able to do all sorts of work topside wearing shorts.

This year, we're inside heated storage "on the hard" and though it's $4500, there is limit on what you can reasonably do because the boats are packed in like sardines.

 

[LENZ]

I leave my boat in the water year round. They keep the bldg around 55 or so. I did notice a little sweating in the engine room last week so I put a bildge heater down there and a fan that kicks on every 4 hours, sweating gone! The building has windows all around the boat so it's not so bad in there during the day. I have a stereo on my work bench that plays tropical music while I'm there, it keeps me in the mood. Each dock has it's own pump out, wireless internet and cable TV, so you all know where I go when the admiral and I get into a fight! Being inside is nice because I can get so much work done. The cost is $4500 a winter in the water and about $3000 dry dock which includes winterizing the motors and shrink wrap. I pull the boat every 2 years to power wash the bottom/paint and wax the hull sides.

Lenz
43DC

 

[John Dickson]

Lenz

Here's to MacRays!! I still need to stop by and say hi. Are you around much during the winter? I've been there 5 times in the last 10 days.

John

 

[LENZ]

Lenz

Here's to MacRays!! I still need to stop by and say hi. Are you around much during the winter? I've been there 5 times in the last 10 days.

John

I go there about twice a week right after lunch. I'm there every Saturday working on something stop by!! What vehicle do you usaully drive? so I know when your there. I drive 08 King cab F-150 (white)

 

[Bugsy]

Lenz....

MacRays is where I was in 1996 and 1997 but as stated, I paid something around $10,000!!! (48MY)


Boy! What happened to those MacRay prices? We were "live aboards" and there were two other boats similarly occupied. The heat wasn't controlled then and we had it cranked up to around 70 and you could putter in your shorts.

 

[LENZ]

Lenz....

MacRays is where I was in 1996 and 1997 but as stated, I paid something around $10,000!!! (48MY)


Boy! What happened to those MacRay prices? We were "live aboards" and there were two other boats similarly occupied. The heat wasn't controlled then and we had it cranked up to around 70 and you could putter in your shorts.

I pay $4500 for the winter and $3500 in the summer. They say I'm getting a great deal because I've been there so long?? I'm in the bldg right next to the hoist well on the left if looking at selfridge. Oh yeah they put locks on thermostats too!! No more 70!! What was the name of your boat?

Lenz
43DC

 

[Bugsy]

My boat was "French Lady". The prior owner was from Mich. and a GLCC member---Ferguson. Her name then was Pied Piper. I bought her in Naples; brought her up here for two years then back to Ft.Myers and in 1998, carried on through the Caribbean to Grenada.

She was sold in St.Maarten in 2000 (after Hurricane Lennie) to a nice couple who had work done in JAX but unfortunately, they had to sell before enjoying her because of health issues. I saw "my" boat again at the Miami Beach marina in 2005 with new owners.

While at MacRays, my neighbor was "Gerry", another Canuck. My building had no condos but I think the next one towards the lake did have.

 

[John Dickson]

Lenz

I have a Green 99 XJ8L Jaguar
Evergreen, #10
Hope to be there this Saturday afternoon,
will look for u, think you are west end

John

 

[LENZ]

Lenz

I have a Green 99 XJ8L Jaguar
Evergreen, #10
Hope to be there this Saturday afternoon,
will look for u, think you are west end

John

I'll be there Saturday from 11:00 to 5:00. next to the hoist well on the right if looking at Selfridge.

Lenz

 

[John Dickson]

Got it.