Yacht Storage

Clever Yacht Storage Tips for the Newbie

Owning a yacht for many is more than just a status symbol or occasional hobby: it is a passion! Yet considering that a yacht is quite possibly your most expensive hobby, you will want to ensure that your investment is safe, properly cared for, and ready for use when the next season arrives. Understanding some clever yacht storage tips for the newbie focuses on helping the fresh baked yacht aficionado to not only find a good storage facility, but to also ready the big toy for its dormancy which may span months.

By and large, a yacht may either be a sailing vessel or a power vessel. When preparing for storage of your boat, make sure that the guide you follow has been written for your particular kind of vessel. For example, storage suggestions of a motor yacht will not deal with the proper storage of the sail components, while yacht storage check off lists for a sail yacht will probably not touch on the winterizing steps you will need to take in order to ensure that the boat’s motor is in good operating condition when you start it up again during the spring or early summer months.

When looking for a boatyard, consider your options: the reputable places will usually offer you the choice between indoor and outdoor storage. Before signing on the dotted line, double check that the facility’s storage bays are long enough to permit your yacht to be safe and secure from passing boats and other activity. If you have a small boat, perhaps 45 feet, then you probably will not have a problem, but if your yacht approaches the 80 to 100 feet mark, bays may be harder to come by. Rather than relying on the protestations of the boatyard’s manager, come equipped with a measuring tape.

Understand the services that may be purchased at the boatyard, and find out which ones are included in a storage contract and which one need to be purchased at an extra charge. Many a yacht owner has entrusted their boat to a boatyard with the thought of having the staff clean and maintain the vessel, only to find out the following spring that this service was available at an extra charge – as revealed in the fine print of the glossy brochure – and thus their boat received no maintenance or cleaning for upward of four months. You will want to find a storage facility that includes the haul out of the boat, the actual launch, an outside wash package and stands that will keep the vessel safe and secure. Extra services may include interior cleaning and engine maintenance.

Additional services – which may be pricey but well worth the investment – usually include a regular check of the electrical system, radar and echo sounding navigation, battery charge metering, and air conditioning recharge. Motor maintenance and sail maintenance may also be purchased, and while you may like the idea of being a yacht owner and sailor, these tasks are not only time consuming but also require a fine touch and some experience. For at least the first one or two seasons it is a good idea to pay someone to take care of these tasks. If you stick around to watch, you will probably be able to take care of them yourself the following seasons. As the yacht matures, you may wish to have a yearly overhaul conducted, and if the engine needs replacing or rebuilding, the indoor storage facility is your best bet. Similarly, if the winters in your region are pretty harsh and ice storms are anticipated, then indoor storage is a must.

Tweet This Post