Winter Storage

Bodkin Creek George

Bodkin Creek George

Member
Sep 11, 2008
550
Bodkin Creek, Chesapeake Bay Md.
Boat Info
2004 340 SDA
Engines
8.1 V-Drives
:huh:
This is our first dink and our first winter with it. It's the standard West Marine/Zodiac PVC. We have a large boat shed where we keep all our marine and fishing gear down by our dock. Is it ok to leave the dink inflated for the winter or should we break it down and put it in the bag? Any help or opinions on this will be appreciated.
Thanks,
George:thumbsup:
 
i have the same question , same dink too i washed and dried it then deflated it and storing it down in the cabin of the boat i'm wondering if thats ok ,now that you brought up the topic?
 
We put ours in the basement where there is consistent temps. Don't know if there is a difference just think it can't hurt.
 
Mice love these things. Put it someplace warm, dry and clean.
 
I store mine in our basement. I'm sure it would be fine just about anywhere, but I figure I have space and the temps are a little warmer and that can't hurt. I thought about storing it inflated at a very low PSI. I've had it for a few years and it's still in great shape ready to go.
 
I leave mine inflated in basement. I do not like rolling,folding, an wrinkling stuff if I don't have to.
 
Let some air out, put it on the bow of the boat and Shrinkrap right over it. I prefer to leave air in it so I can just inflate in spring and go.
 
As you can see there're several ways to store your dink, but as others have pointed out the important part is to keep it inflated. Any infaltable item is best to keep filled with air (just enough air to prevent from folding). I've heard that folks leave them either on a trailer or on the bow of their boats, but I have enought room and keep mine in the basement (nice and warm).
 
Bringing up an old thread here.
I just bought a dinghy and was wondering what was the best way to store it. The manual says to store it inflated to a little below full pressure or rolled up in the bag. Inflated seemed like the best option to me, but then a friend told me that he was told by a dinghy repair guy to leave it inflated to full pressure at a constant temp because it's best for the seams and glue to have the pressure on it. Any more opinions? Maybe it doesn't matter, but I want to do what's best and protect the investment!
 
I bought mine at the end of last season. I washed it, dried it, and then stowed it back in its bag. Its new and I didn't want to frreeze it, so I stood it in the corner in one of the kids rooms with a "you touch it, you do the dishes and wash both cars every day for a month" order. I'll be brushing the dust off of it in a week or so.

The admiral was pissed in November, but she got over it. Sometimes you just gotta put your foot down.
 
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