Preparing to store your boat help

[balzack6]

Hey guys, I am officially a Nautique owner!!! I just purchased a 2004 Super Air Nautique LE. I hate to store it outside but I can't really justify paying $200 a month to keep it inside. I just had the motor winterized so I am good there. Also, I have a custom cover on my boat which is water proof. Should I treat my vinyl and carpet with some kind of conditioner over the winter to prevent mildew or just longevity? Also, would it be better to take out all the removable seats and put them inside or is it better to just leave my seats inside the boat? The interior on this boat is immaculate and I want to keep it that way. I am pretty anal when it comes to my stuff and it is killing me keeping the boat outside even though it is covered up! lol

One more quick question. There is oxidation on the outside of my boat and I have heard of a million ways to take it off. Besides the vaseline trick what other products or compound do you recommend taking it off with?

Thanks again for your help!

Danny

[Quinner]

$200 a month?? You should shop a little harder on that. It's not too difficult here in the Chicagoland area to find inside dry cold storage for $300 for the entire off season, that would be from Sept/Oct through April/May. Keeping the boat/trailer on concrete, dry and out of the elements will make a big difference in keeping everything nice.

Depending on the level of oxidation, a real buffer and 3m compound should bring it back to new. There are many great threads here and on CCfan describing the process, procedures and supplies you will need.

A thorough cleaning and conditioning is a great idea prior to storage, also spread some bounce dryer sheets throughout the interior, supposed to deter any rodents.

[balzack6]

I have searched high and low for a good deal. I live in Kennesaw, GA and I may have found one for $169 a month. If anybody knows of any places near where I live where I could get that kind of deal I would definitely do that! Thanks for your help Quinner!

[TxJole]

Its about $200 to $300 a month around here in Dallas in some prime locations.

[wawasee]

For years I left my Sport Nautique in the driveway of my lake house covered in shrink wrap all winter in Northern Indiana. Never an issue and it sat through some of the harshest of winters. That will provide you very cheap storage, shrink wrap is low cost. That boat looked brand new every spring with a little spring cleaning. I was always told it is better to have the boat in a non heated garage or shrunk wrap and sitting outside than in heated storage because the heat will dry out the air too much causing your vinyl to dry out. I too had oxidation on our teal sport nautique and Mequiar's wax and buff took it right off although I am sure there are better products. Enjoy your new boat!!

[balzack6]

Man I am jealous of you guys! I just thought of another question. Should I go ahead and treat my teak platform now or just wait until May or so when I start to use my boat again?

[BrennanK]

Man I am jealous of you guys! I just thought of another question. Should I go ahead and treat my teak platform now or just wait until May or so when I start to use my boat again?

Being as you mentioned a teak platform. If I were you that would be the one thing that must come inside. If you have a cover that covers it fully, that is better; but I would still bring it inside.
My boat sits in my insulated garage all winter and the platform still comes inside during that time.

[Nautiquehunter]

May ? You will be able to start much earlier than that in GA. What lake do you go to? You should think about coming to the Music City reunion in Nashville in June. I cant think of a better way to join in for some on the water fun with the CCF guys.

[migs]

give it a good thorough cleaning and conditioning before the winter & make sure to check on her every few weeks. Open her up, get inside and check everything.

[madcityskier]

I like to keep mine inside, but have stored outside in the past too. Be sure to use damp-rid or a similar product to keep humidity under control and mildew shouldn't be a problem. Shrinkwrapping is great, before that was an option we used a large plastic tarp with reinforeced grommets, some rope and a bit of duct tape. Biggest thing is to make sure it doesn't sag in such a way as to let water accumulate without draining.

[balzack6]

Thanks guys! To answer your question Nautiquehunter I usually go to Lake Allatoona and also Lake Keowee in South Carolina. I'll have to look up Music City Reunin deal. Sounds like a blast!