When to Put Your Boat Away for the Season

As a boat owner, you get a fair amount of usage out of your vehicle once spring starts, taking it out to the lake to explore or fish until fall hits. By this time of year, once everyone's going back to school or returning from summer vacation, you find yourself taking the boat out less and less – but the waters are still good for a weekend trip.

Yet, the conditions turn cold and the waters freeze over. You find fewer and fewer fish, and think to yourself that this is it for the year and it's time to winterize.

Although now might seem like the right time to put the boat in storage, not everyone thinks the same way. Unsure of when to call it quits? Consider these timelines.

The Water Starts to Freeze Over

In line with the points listed above, the one factor that's absolutely key in putting your boat away for the season is finding the lakes, ponds, and rivers frozen over. At this point, when ice is starting to form, going out into the cold isn't just an inconvenience; it can do some serious damage to your watercraft, too. Believe it or not, if water gets into your boat and expands, the ice causes interior parts to crack, which results in more repairs down the line.

So, by this metric, those in the Northeast and Midwest might want to officially retire their boats by late fall or early winter.

After Labor Day

Across the country, “boating season” officially lasts from Memorial Day through Labor Day, although many start as early as March and go out to the water through November. Yet, while this timeline clearly overlaps with summer vacation for many families, waters in fall often become too rough for a fishing trip. Further, if you live in the South, hurricane season picks up right before fall.

When You're Not Traveling as Often

Why keep a boat out when you're not using it? If you realize you're only making the occasional weekend trip as the temperatures cool down, it might be time to set up the portable boat shelter and officially winterize your watercraft.

If you're still not certain about a storage plan, turn to Portable Garage Depot for a boat shelter. Depending upon the size of your vehicle, find a match among our selection of types and shapes.