Keeping your boat at home in the winter months

[Mecubana]

I live in Chicago and in the pass I keep my boats in the back yard, never had an issue, but the boat was a 27 Sport Cruiser since I purchased the 290 never been clear in wether or not is legal to keep this boat in my property, with the local winter storages rates I keep thinking it may be scheaper to purchase a trailer and go back to keep it at home but not sure what the city ordenances are, does any one knows what the deal is the city hall is not clear on this

 

[rcknecht]

I have always found it matters most what you neighbors think... If they aren't bothered by the boat, it should not be a problem... Where I live people keep there boat in the front yards...

 

[spfortjohn]

I keep mine in Dry Storage and bring it to my office in November and keep it on the trailer in my warehouse. I like keeping the boat in Dry Stroage but I do not like the fact that I cannot clean and tinker with it doing the week. Down here we get to use our boats in the winter so I will take it out on some nice Saturdays over the winter months and drain the water between times. In our subdivision we cannot keep boats in the driveway or yard if they can be seen from the street. Glad I bought my office with a warehouse. Boat, trailer when boat is in dry storage, Waverunners, Utility Trailers and other junk from the garage keep it full.

 

[tbirdvet]

Is your beam over the legal trailerable limit?

 

[Mecubana]

9.6

 

[Gunn]

9.6

You may be over the standard limit (8'6"), but not be for your area. In any case, that boat is definately trailerable as long as you have a good truck to tow it with.

 

[Bob & Sue]

Is the cost of a trailer worth the difference in keeping it in dry storage? Will you be using the trailer for any other reason? Our dry storage is temp controlled with backup generator never goes below 50 deg. Our hoa won't allow a boat that large on the property.

 

[CV-23]

We keep or 270/290 at home. I have an acre of land and will be putting up a second carport to cover it. 12 foot sides will be pretty high but the 12G steel should be fine. My current car port houses the CV-23 and the 31ft 270 carport will be tied in next to it. We have no lifts at our boat club so a trailer is required plus traveling a bit is nice. My beam is 9ft, Mike.

 

[spfortjohn]

We keep or 270/290 at home. I have an acre of land and will be putting up a second carport to cover it. 12 foot sides will be pretty high but the 12G steel should be fine. My current car port houses the CV-23 and the 31ft 270 carport will be tied in next to it. We have no lifts at our boat club so a trailer is required plus traveling a bit is nice. My beam is 9ft, Mike.

Mike that is a 1990 model boat? Man that is nice looking boat.. We see so many of them down here on the side of the road ready for the junk heap...

 

[CV-23]

Thanks!....1990 and just turned 800 hours. I'm the second owner. I put 75 hours on it in since June 2010. It was very well cared for in Ohio/Indiana by the previous owner with tons of service receipts for regular marina service each year. The interior is all original with little or no wear and it came with a like new 2002 trailer. I just touched up the bottom paint on the sides & stern this spring. This was a shot coming home from Columbus Ohio last year. She was built in the Michigan Plant, Mike.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Is the cost of a trailer worth the difference in keeping it in dry storage? Will you be using the trailer for any other reason? Our dry storage is temp controlled with backup generator never goes below 50 deg. Our hoa won't allow a boat that large on the property.

I don't think it pays. But it depends on the economics, and those may be different where you are. For us winter storage including stands, haul out and launch in spring and power washing the bottom costs about $ 1,200.00 for our 280. This is storage outside inside a secure yard. So ignoring the need for a bigger truck, it would take about 7 seasons to break even on the cost of a properly sized trailer. The other thing is that even though you only store the boat on the trailer and use it twice a year you still have maintenance expenses on the trailer. We used to do trailer storage with our previous smaller boats and there is no difference.

The other valid point is the neighbors. You have HOA rules that disallow it. If I had a big winter project to do, I probably could get away with storing the boat at home. In our case it would have to be in the front because of trees and fences. However, the neighbors would go nuts if it was every winter (and so would I if it was one of them doing it!).

Henry