Boat Storage Options

One of the many joys of living in Chicago is its location on the shores of Lake Michigan — so it’s no surprise that boating and sailing are such popular activities during the summer months. But if there is one disadvantage to lakeshore recreation, it must surely be that the Chicago winter is so cold! So owners of sailing craft large and small need to find practical boat storage solutions for the off season.

When the lake freezes over, Chicago boat owners take the opportunity to winterize their vessels and put them into secure storage until the spring. Luckily there are many facilities for indoor and outdoor storage of boats as well as RVs, trailers, cars and the like within easy reach of the city.

If you have a small boat, one of the simplest options may be to keep it at home — maybe in a garage, if you have the space — though this is really only practical for the smallest items such as canoes or dinghies. A motorized vessel, large enough to accommodate several people, will likely need dry storage at a specialist facility or boatyard, where it can be lifted out of the water and protected against damage and corrosion.

Not only does this type of dry storage safeguard it against the elements — it also gives you or your service provider the chance to do essential maintenance and repair work during the months when you’re not using it.

You don’t have to keep your boat in a storage slip if you need to store it during the season, of course, and there are marinas that can offer wet as well as dry storage in situations like this according to your preference. It may well be more convenient to keep your boat in wet storage if you are using it intermittently during the season, unless you need to put it on a trailer for transportation to another location.

Careful storage and winterization are key to getting the most out of your boat during the summer months, and are a good way to make sure that it’s shipshape and ready for the water when the warmer weather finally comes around.