Cramped indoor storage frustrations

Blueone

Well-Known Member
SILVER Sponsor
Jan 24, 2007
13,691
Lake Erie, Ohio
Boat Info
2004 420 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins 6CTA 450's
A storage neighbor took a couple pics of my boat... I went down there before Christmas and found out I can’t lift my engine hatch because the boat behind me is over the cockpit. The boat in front of me has my anchor in his cockpit with no room to raise him off the blocks.
I am 5 years into this indoor heated storage at two different places and I am not impressed so far. Is this the norm or am I just the victim of bad luck?

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I cant even go in the building after it goes in. My deal is drop it in a slip in November, Pick it up in April. Waxed and ready to roll. Takes some getting use to, Did my own stuff for years, Now I pay more and go boating.
 
You mean like this?

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That was before the port side neighbor came in. They are equally close. Fortunately there is space against the walls to walk through so getting to the boat is possible. We were just as close when we shrink wrapped and had snow banks to crawl over.
 
I cant even go in the building after it goes in. My deal is drop it in a slip in November, Pick it up in April. Waxed and ready to roll. Takes some getting use to, Did my own stuff for years, Now I pay more and go boating.

we do the same. The wife says, “We have people”.
 
The boats are pretty much packed in like that where I store also. I noticed this year they're blocking them up higher and asked about it. They said they're doing it so they can get some boats farther under the bow of other boats.

What I do...I'm with the boat the day it's lifted out, hauled down the hwy to the storage building, and blocked up inside. I make sure it's blocked the way I want and that I can open the engine hatch.

It makes me nervous every time. Being there I've witnessed some things that aren't right, like dragging my brand new props down the road, like not loading it on the trailer properly, like 10" blocking falling off the trailer while going down the road and being run over. I've had to 'talk';) to them a couple times. Problem is crew members come and go, for me each time is like the first time with all of them.
 
A storage neighbor took a couple pics of my boat... I went down there before Christmas and found out I can’t lift my engine hatch because the boat behind me is over the cockpit. The boat in front of me has my anchor in his cockpit with no room to raise him off the blocks.
I am 5 years into this indoor heated storage at two different places and I am not impressed so far. Is this the norm or am I just the victim of bad luck?

View attachment 78499 View attachment 78500
 
Wow...I've never had it quite that bad. I leave my canvas up and while other boats anchors have come "really close" to my canvas it's never been this bad.

Getting into the engine room for some quiet time during winter is something I look forward to. I'd be pretty bummed if I couldn't open that up.
 
Yeah, ours are pretty tight too, but not quite that bad. Anchor behind us is over our platform, our anchor is over someone else's platform, but not in the cockpits. What is more of a pita imo is the jet skis on trailers that are crammed in the spaces available at the bow areas. Makes it really difficult to get back to the boat. Every piece of floor space is covered with something. Seems like half of the building's square footage is paid for twice, but I'm still happy to be there. After missing two winters over the last 3 years because of traveling, they welcomed me back inside this winter. They didn't have to, there is quite a waiting list for those spaces. Also, our building is unheated, so nobody really starts to go in there until spring anyway.
 
I'm really afraid to see how my boat is stored. I drop it in a lot and it is prepped and dropped back in a lot in the spring. It is stored inside. But, not heated. I didn't find any issues with the bowrider after being stored there. Nervous about the DA, though. It is the biggest boat they can store and they are kinda "country". I got really concerned when they called to ask me how to winterize the AC. Pins and needles 'til spring. :(
 
A storage neighbor took a couple pics of my boat... I went down there before Christmas and found out I can’t lift my engine hatch because the boat behind me is over the cockpit. The boat in front of me has my anchor in his cockpit with no room to raise him off the blocks.
I am 5 years into this indoor heated storage at two different places and I am not impressed so far. Is this the norm or am I just the victim of bad luck?

View attachment 78499 View attachment 78500
Mine isn't quite as tight as yours. However, I do have the anchor of the boat in back over my swim platform. My biggest issue is on the sides. I won't be able to polish my hull this winter because I can just slide through between boats. On the other hand I've got plenty of light so I'll be polishing topsides this winter.
 
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Marinas sell space by the square foot, and they try to sell as much as they can to maximize profits. It's a business decision on how they achieve their financial requirements. One of the more innovative approaches I have seen is to add storage racks above stored boats that are too large to place on racks. This allows them to rent the space above the floor before moving the big boats into the building beneath the storage racks. We have a number of really nice storage condominiums that have been developed over the years by people who want more control over their boats in the winter months. That is a very nice alternative to marinas that allows owners to manage haul outs, storage, maintenance, detailing and launches.
 
Just ask to buy more space - I'm sure they don't care if they sell it to you or another boat
Of course... but I already pay total length X beam.

45’ x 14’ = 630 sqft... I am overlapped 5’ aft and 3’ over bow so 112 sqft. And the boat ahead and behind me is also paying 112 sqft extra so you would need to pay for 224 sqft extra... so over $1,400 more not to overlap.
 
Of course... but I already pay total length X beam.

45’ x 14’ = 630 sqft... I am overlapped 5’ aft and 3’ over bow so 112 sqft. And the boat ahead and behind me is also paying 112 sqft extra so you would need to pay for 224 sqft extra... so over $1,400 more not to overlap.

Yeah, I get it, but I think it's rare (and nice) to have more room. I honestly thought maybe Heated storage was different (more room) because everybody talks about being freely able to go work on their boats in nice 50 degree environment. Have seen some pictures here of boats with a lot of room around them. I thought maybe the more room was reflected in the high price for heated. I pay a touch over $2K for cold indoor and like I said, nobody goes inside to work until spring anyway. Heck I'm in Fl for 2 months in a condo, I wouldn't want heated this year anyway..not there. Maybe a courteous request next year might help get you a little elbow room? I kind of always thank our yard manager for putting me right next to a power receptacle on the outside of the building so that there is another boat only on the starboard side. I always (at least so far) have ended up in that same spot every time.
 
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You would think the insurance companies would frown on that type of overcrowding. I'm sure it's an insurance nightmare when one boat catches fire and spreads to other boats so easily. Then the finger pointing begins.
 
I think if one boat goes, they're all going anyway, no matter how close. But I always think about that...A few guys leave their boats plugged into power all winter for their chargers. I don't agree. Fully charged, disconnected batteries have no issues sitting there for 7 months.
Hopefully everyone's circuits are safe and protected and their chargers don't go rogue over the winter.
 
Looks just like mine, usually anchors are off but pulpits are in the boat in front of you. I got lucky this year guy behind me isn't blocking my boat to bad. pretty tough to wax with the boats so tight though.
 
We are packed in like that. They remove my dingy to get the boat behind me closer. I can't open my stern locker. Mike
 
Of course... but I already pay total length X beam.

45’ x 14’ = 630 sqft... I am overlapped 5’ aft and 3’ over bow so 112 sqft. And the boat ahead and behind me is also paying 112 sqft extra so you would need to pay for 224 sqft extra... so over $1,400 more not to overlap.

"I already pay total length X beam"

If this is the case, then it sounds like your not getting what your paying for.
 

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