How to Store a Sailboat

Storing your sailboat correctly is just as important as sailing the boat the right way. Poor storage methods and conditions can create dangerous flaws in the boat and cut the boat's effective lifespan in half. If you are looking to store your sailboat, follow these steps to prepare and keep the boat in the right condition.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Consider how often you use your boat. Pulling a sailboat out of the water (and putting it back in) is no easy task, especially with larger-keel boats. You should first decide how often you plan to sail your boat so you know whether to pull it out of the water and keep it on land or leave it in a safe harbor or marina.
2. Strip the boat to its bare parts. Take the sails, removable rigging, lines and blocks off the boat to protect these expensive items from wear but also to keep the boat more secure in the face of theft and storms. A bare boat is more likely to be overlooked by thieves and less battered by the harsh winds of a storm, so get your boat down to bare bones for storage.
3. Know your location. Learn as much as possible about any place you might store the boat. If you store the boat in a marina, find out about insurance coverage and the marina's accident statistics, in addition to regular fees and charges. If the boat is going to stay in the water, learn all about the local weather conditions and mooring to know that the boat is stored safely.
4. Check on the boat regularly. Just because a boat is being stored does not mean that it can be ignored. Even out of the water, a boat is constantly undergoing wear and tear that needs to be taken care of immediately. For boats that stay in the water, this is especially true. Hull cleaning, leaks and structural problems all need to be addressed to prevent further damage, so check up on the boat often to make sure it stays in good condition.