Entrusting a cherished car to the care of strangers is not something most owners would do lightly. If circumstances require putting your vehicle into short or long term storage, you need to be certain it will be in safe hands.

When only the best will do, you could narrow the choice by looking for a specialist company such as those that offer Classic Car storage or Racing Car storage. But before you hand over your keys to anyone you should make sure they can satisfy the following demands:

1. Indoor Vehicle Storage

For complete protection from harsh weather your vehicle must be kept in a dry, frost-free building at all times.

2. High Safety and Security Standards

Indoor car storage on its own doesnt provide total security. Find out what precautions are in place to prevent any accidental damage, and check the companys security measures. How will they ensure that no unauthorised person will have access to your vehicle?

3. Adequate Insurance Cover

Ask if your vehicle will be insured to its full market value against all claims.

4. Routine Maintenance

Any reputable company providing prestige vehicle storage will know that its not enough to simply leave your car in a safe place. If your car is going to be returned to you in the same condition as you left it, cleaning, tyre checks and engine exercising will all be included in the service.

5. MOT tests and Servicing

At the end of the storage period you will want to be able to use your vehicle straight away. If it has been in storage when it was due for an MOT test or servicing you should be able to trust the storage company to have organised these for you.

Prestige vehicle storage: when only the best will do, ensure you have high standards, and make sure they will be met by your chosen cherished car storage company!

All of life’s pleasures come with some sort of baggage. Boats are no exception to the rule. Boating is summer’s most pleasurable activity; however, they require high maintenance, especially in the winter. Boat storage is the last thing on a boat shoppers mind when they are purchasing a brand new boat. They only see themselves enjoying it on a lake, or on the ocean. Pending boat owners never vision where the boat will be doing in the winter.

There are many different types of boat storage and some have more advantages than the other. Most people assume that they will store the boat at their house for winter boat storage. It is the cheapest option considering that it is free. However, not all properties are capable for storing a boat and not all home owner associations allow boat owners to use their property for boat storage. Nevertheless, boat stored in the neighborhood become eyesores for other neighbors. Though it is free, boat storage at home may not be an option.

Many marinas offer boat storage during the winter months. This is convenient for boat owners who rent summer boat slip from the same marina, because you don’t have to haul the boat to another location. However, marinas usually take advantage of this convenience by charging premium boat storage rates. Also, marinas may only have enough boat storage space for their current customers. If you trailer your boat to a boat ramp every summer weekend, this may not be an option for you; on the other hand, there still is another option.

The best option for boat owners; especially for boat owners who use a boat trailer, is self storage. There are two types of boat self storage, indoor boat storage and outdoor boat storage. Indoor boat storage usually involves a self storage unit. If the boat is small enough, and if the property manager allows it, storing a boat inside a self storage unit is a smart idea. The boat is kept inside your own personal self storage unit. Only you have access to the boat. It is protected from the winter weather elements as well as thieves.

Indoor boat storage also may be inside a huge community storage warehouse where it will be parked next to other boats. Outdoor boat storage is just what it means but the boat is safe and secure. Boats are stored in an outside parking lot but within a fenced access controlled gate. Only boat storage customers have access to the secure property. This option is perfect for large boats that are too large of indoor boat storage. Outdoor boat storage at a self storage facility is the cheaper option. It cost less then indoor boat storage and marina storage.

Indoor and outdoor boat storage at a self storage facility is much safer and more secure than boat marina storage. Many marinas are open to the public. Anyone can walk in and out of a marina. Marina managers are usually gone for the winter, so there is no one keeping an eye on your boat.

So before you buy a boat for summer fun, think about what you are going to do about winter boat storage. Review these options and pick the right one for you

Most people would love to own a boat. Those who do not sigh with envy when they see that truck pulling a boat behind it are living in denial. They long for a warm afternoon in the sun spent cruising around the waves. Unless you own a boat yourself, you may not realize that it is not as easy to store as your car.

If you’re considering fulfilling a long-awaited dream of buying a boat, you should consider where you will store it first. Chances are that if you own a home in a modern subdivision, there will be rules prohibiting you from storing your boat in your driveway. What would your alternatives be?

Obviously, you have to have a trailer to take your boat anywhere. Your trailer can double as a storage unit for your boat if your subdivision allows you to keep it in the driveway or in the backyard. If your garage is big enough, you may be able to store the boat in the garage as well. The nice thing about storing your boat on your own property is that you don’t have to pay any rental storage expenses.

If you’re your own property is not an option for storage, there are storage sheds that will store your boat on a rack when you’re not using it. The boat is transported to and from the rack by means of a fork lift. Before you buy your boat, check with your dealer for the names of boat storage facilities.

One of the best ways to store your boat is at a boat marina. Imagine taking your fishing equipment and your food for a trip out on your boat. You don’t have to load the boat on the trailer because it is already there on the water. This option can get pricey so it is best suited for those people who can afford it. Slip ownership is another possibility for those who do not wish to rent their boat slip. Prices and availability vary by locale.

Good marinas will have access to water, electricity, and showers. Are you concerned about the winter? Some marinas will service and store your boat during the off-season for an extra charge.

Storage units are one other option to consider. Many inland communities do not have access to a marina. Modern subdivisions in residential neighborhoods often prohibit the storage of boats or RVs on neighborhood properties. Storage facilities usually have covered parking or enclosed storage units that give boat owners an extra option for off-season storage. Check with local storage companies to see if they will allow boat storage.

Storage is one of the most important things that a potential owner has to consider before they ever set out to buy a boat. Your storage options include leaving your boat on the trailer including it in your driveway or in your backyard, buying or renting a boat slip at the local marina, or stowing your boat away at a storage facility.

Owning a boat is a big responsibility. Under the right conditions, boat recreation can leave a family with lasting memories for years to come.

If you are one of the lucky ones to have your own boat, then you will need a great place for your boat storage for the times of the year when you are not using it. There are a great many options available to you for the storage of your boat and you will have to make some important decisions about how and where you want your boat storage to be accomplished. It is important that you become knowledgeable about boat storage and the amount of money that each of the options is likely to cost you. The most important part of your boat storage will be the protection that your boat receives while it is being stored.

The first place that you can look for boat storage is your marina. The marinas where you dock your boat during the summer season may be the perfect place to store it when it is out of the water. Many marinas will provide you with storage services and will even take your boat out of the water for you. Wrapping the boat in shrink-wrap while it is being stored is another part of the service that you should look for in your marina storage facility. The size of your boat is likely to be a consideration when you are looking for boat storage. If you have a smaller boat, you may be able to get away with boat storage at your own home. However, those with larger boats will have to find an adequate facility to keep their boat when they are not using it.

Check out the facility where you will be storing your boat. To prevent damage to your boat, you want to choose a place that is clean and dry. See how well the boat storage facility is maintained before you agree to put your boat in the location. Security is another issue. Your boat likely has many expensive electronics on the boat that are a target for thieves. Fish finders and other electronics that are contained on a boat can be sold for a great deal of money. Make sure that the boat storage facility that you choose has a good security system in place to protect your boat.

It is also important that the location of your boat storage be taken into consideration. If you have to transport your boat to the facility it can greatly increase your costs. It is a better idea to store your boat in an area that is relatively close to the marina where you dock your boat in the months when you are using it. Find out if there is a facility nearby or if the marina has its own boat storage facility.

Of course, the cost of your boat storage is an important consideration as well. Owning and maintaining a boat is not an inexpensive hobby. The boat storage is just another cost that is added to the cost of boat ownership. Take some time to compare the costs of each of your options and choose one that makes the most practical sense for you. Include the cost of transporting your boat to and from the boat storage facility at the end and beginning of the boating season.

You have likely invested a great deal of money into the upkeep and maintenance of your boat. Make sure that the boat storage you use is up to the challenge of keeping your expensive hobby safe and secure. Shop around for the best deal, but also make sure that the company you are using is reputable. Ask some of your boating friends where they store their boats for a good word of mouth advertisement. This is a great way to find the best boat storage options.

In some parts of the world, you will be able to store your boat in the water all year long. If you do not live in this type of area, your job is to find a place to bring your boat when the day comes to take it out of the water. Many of the boat storage facilities will arrange the transport for you as well. Find out what services are included with your boat storage to get the best deal. They may even bring it back to the marina at the beginning of the season as well. To save on costs, you may be able to arrange the transport on your own. Determine which will be the most practical for the storage and movement of your boat at the beginning of the boating season.

Once the crispness of autumn hits the air it is a good indicator that it is time to get the boat ready for winter storage. If only there was a way to simplify this process. Well, good news, there is! If you can make a comprehensive list of what needs to be done to properly winterize your boat. If you are new to this process then check online or with your local marina and they should have one printed up for their customers to use. There are several key issues that have to be addressed but don’t be intimidated, it sounds scarier than it really is, IF you are organized.

Include preparing the engine, plumbing, and electronics first. Then address any other things that your boat might require. Spend some time creating the initial list because you can use it each year and it is sure to pay off especially because it addresses your boat specifically. You will be able to relax over the winter knowing that your boat is safe and sound and will be ready to hit the water in the spring. Possibly this might also be the best time for you to tend to some of those things, little imperfections or maintenance that you have been procrastinating on all summer such as little dings, exhaust, etc.

First, clean your boat both inside and out very thoroughly. Plus while you are doing that you might find some little surprises that you weren’t aware of that need to be tended to. Anything that is electronic needs to be stored where it is warm and dry and you should also take such things as fire extinguishers, sails, curtains, and PFD’s off of the boat for safe storage on land. Clean out the refrigerator and always be sure to leave it propped open. This will eliminate any mildew from developing over the winter months.

When it comes to the engine cooling systems and the plumbing, flush the systems and fill them with virgin propylene glycol antifreeze. Remember, this is protecting your drinking system for the summer so make sure you don’t use any recycled products. If you really don’t feel confident in doing these things then consider hiring the job out to a boat mechanic. This will avoid costly repairs for the upcoming season. Make sure that bilge spaces are very clean and oil free. If you live in a region that endures harsh winters then consider putting an absorbent sock in it while it is in storage.

One big consideration is where you are going to store your boat and likely this will depend greatly on your budget. For all obvious reasons it would be best if your boat could be stored in a climate controlled storage facility where is will be safe and dry. However, these can cost a few bucks. A more affordable option is to store your boat outside and under a covering but this option will include allowing your boat to withstand at least some of the elements. It is a cheaper option though. Some have opted for shrink wrapping their boat but your boat will still be outdoors and have to endure the brutal winter temperatures.

Always place your boat in storage with a full tank of gas and be sure to add a fuel stabilizer. If you use ethanol fuel then just drain the tank and clean it well before you fill it next season. Any lead acid batteries need to come out and be stored where they can be fully charged and warm, possibly a heated garage. Read the battery manufacturers directions on how to store it for the winter months and follow that guide. Sometimes it is in your best interest to utilize portable heaters or air dryers on the boat while it is being stored. It really depends on your boat and where it will be stored.

Whatever choices you decide on just make sure that you have supported the hull because if you failed to do so you will run the risk of your bulkheads cracking, stringers can break, and there can be a misalignment in the engine. This is why people often choose cradles for their boats because they offer the proper support in the right areas.

These suggestions can be of great help to you when boat storage times comes rolling along as it does every year. It might seem at first that it is best to go with the cheaper route for storage but in the end it might have been easier and cheaper to just rent the climate controlled unit.