Thoughts on Dry Stack Storage

[Mike in SC]

Hey everyone- what are the pros and cons with regards to dry stack storage?
We've signed an annual contract to put our boat in a nearby facility convenient to us.
The previous lake access had become denied to us, and no wet slips were available at the time.
I like that it's stored out of the sun...so far it hasn't been too much hassle getting the boat in the water.
What are ya'lls experiences with dry stack?

[thunder550]

No personal experience but I've heard issues with boat getting scratched, not being ready when you ask, sitting in the water for a long time (sometimes days) after you ask it to be out away, boats above leaking, etc. Personally I don't trust anyone to take care of my stuff the way I would, but there's probably lots of people who have had good experiences too.

[ajcampen]

No personal experience but I've heard issues with boat getting scratched, not being ready when you ask, sitting in the water for a long time (sometimes days) after you ask it to be out away, boats above leaking, etc. Personally I don't trust anyone to take care of my stuff the way I would, but there's probably lots of people who have had good experiences too.

Im looking for a part time job...have any work for me? I can baby sit your stuff!

[tgrace98]

So I use to dry stack previous boats of mine on the Mississippi river before getting my place at table rock.

Pro's
Boat doesn't sit in the water
Place I kept it at power sprayed the hull before it went on its rack
Indoor so no sun damage

Con's
Couldn't just go down and plug the battery charger in or charge batteries when I was gone. I would have to put it in a wet slip overnight to charge
I would schedule a time and sometimes it would not be in the water at that time(might not be an issue for you at the facility you are at)
I couldn't clean the boat whenever I wanted or work on it

Overall to me dry stack is better than launching each time you go out. But if I had the option between a slip or dry stack. Slip all day

[Big Block Power]

No personal experience but I've heard issues with boat getting scratched, not being ready when you ask, sitting in the water for a long time (sometimes days) after you ask it to be out away, boats above leaking, etc. Personally I don't trust anyone to take care of my stuff the way I would, but there's probably lots of people who have had good experiences too.

X2. I thought about it but my nerves would kill me. I like the idea.

[Mike in SC]

X2. I thought about it but my nerves would kill me. I like the idea.
[/quote]

My wife and I had gotten really proficient at trailering, launching and loading our boat.
Having the boat stacked in a building is sort of strange, but I trust the guys running those big ass forklifts.
I've watched quite a few boats get placed in the water, it looks pretty deliberate and safe.
We have seen some dirt and stains from whatever is racked above...not too hard to remove, but an annoyance.
And we have to lay down the bimini every time we put the boat away.
We had a dead battery yesterday, couldn't crank the boat. Was able to buy a new cranking Interstate and had it installed in a few minutes.
But...to do any troubleshooting or deep cleaning will require us to trailer it home.
So...the best of times, the worst of times! lol..

[akorcovelos]

Our friends dry stacked and the biggest problem was they had to have the boat back before the marina closes or it sits at the transient dock all night. They had to be back by 6 o’clock, so no fireworks, or boat races, or pretty much anything fun, lol.

[Mike in SC]

Our friends dry stacked and the biggest problem was they had to have the boat back before the marina closes or it sits at the transient dock all night. They had to be back by 6 o’clock, so no fireworks, or boat races, or pretty much anything fun, lol.

That's our situation, too. We have an island on Lake Murray that was used for target practice by bombers back in WWII. Every night during the summer, Purple Martins swarm the island in the tens of thousands, putting on quite a show until the sun sets and they roost. Going out to see the birds means you'll leave the boat out overnight...I guess I'll get used to either adjusting my schedule, or leaving it out!

[tgrace98]

Yes the place we were at was the same way. If it wasn’t in by 6 it sat tied to the dock all night

[TruckerTim]

Slip on a lift is the way to go, no doubt, but if that's not an option dry stack for me is great. Had a lake place for 17 years with covered dock and lift and towed it twice a year. Once to the lake and second back to inside storage. Loved it. Sold the house and bought the Cobalt and trailered it for the fist several months. Towing, launching and storing after all those years of slip storage was a huge hassle and adjustment, (mostly for the wife). Decided to dry stack late last summer, against my will, (wife's idea) and it flat spoiled us. I did worry about boats above leaking but we just slide the cover loosely over it when we pull in. No issues. We also have only had to wait once or twice for them to put the boat in. But, I always arrive early so I can catch it myself and make sure the fenders are out. The downside is you do have to be back at the dock by 5 or it sits till morning. They wash it and flush it every time and will fuel it as well. It is a bit of a hassle to work on it, but they will set it out on a cradle so you can get to it.

Overall for me, it's not as good as having it on my own dock and lift, but beats towing, launching and storing every weekend.

[akorcovelos]

Another popular option around here is in/out service where you leave the boat on the trailer and they launch it for you and have the trailer ready when you say you’ll be back to pull it out. Still same problem as dry stack in terms of time on the water, but you don’t have to worry about the boats above you leaking or anything.

[Mike in SC]

Slip on a lift is the way to go, no doubt, but if that's not an option dry stack for me is great. Had a lake place for 17 years with covered dock and lift and towed it twice a year. Once to the lake and second back to inside storage. Loved it. Sold the house and bought the Cobalt and trailered it for the fist several months. Towing, launching and storing after all those years of slip storage was a huge hassle and adjustment, (mostly for the wife). Decided to dry stack late last summer, against my will, (wife's idea) and it flat spoiled us. I did worry about boats above leaking but we just slide the cover loosely over it when we pull in. No issues. We also have only had to wait once or twice for them to put the boat in. But, I always arrive early so I can catch it myself and make sure the fenders are out. The downside is you do have to be back at the dock by 5 or it sits till morning. They wash it and flush it every time and will fuel it as well. It is a bit of a hassle to work on it, but they will set it out on a cradle so you can get to it.

Overall for me, it's not as good as having it on my own dock and lift, but beats towing, launching and storing every weekend.

Looks like your facility really offers some extra service!
Ours will fuel it up, also put ice onboard if we like. Haven't heard of washing...are you in salt water?

[MikeBo]

I dry stack my boat currently and love it, mine is at the Port of Kimberling Tablerock. I have had wet slips with a lift and would never go back. Maybe it’s just this set up but I have never used another dry stack anywhere.

-Boat hours until 8, if u are late park in a covered slip.
-Can put the boat away with no cover if you are using it, just like a garage.
- gets no sun damage
- if u want to clean, they just put it on the service racks, water and power available
- to have it serviced they just use the rack, you don’t need to be around
- way cheaper than a slip when I include the lift
- Tablerock I always had coons, mink, and geese getting on the boat...none of that
- ours is temp controlled so u don’t really have to winterize

I love it

[AsLan7]

I dry stack my boat currently and love it, mine is at the Port of Kimberling Tablerock. I have had wet slips with a lift and would never go back. Maybe it’s just this set up but I have never used another dry stack anywhere.

-Boat hours until 8, if u are late park in a covered slip.
-Can put the boat away with no cover if you are using it, just like a garage.
- gets no sun damage
- if u want to clean, they just put it on the service racks, water and power available
- to have it serviced they just use the rack, you don’t need to be around
- way cheaper than a slip when I include the lift
- Tablerock I always had coons, mink, and geese getting on the boat...none of that
- ours is temp controlled so u don’t really have to winterize

I love it

.
That seems like a nice setup MB

.

[Big Block Power]

I dry stack my boat currently and love it, mine is at the Port of Kimberling Tablerock. I have had wet slips with a lift and would never go back. Maybe it’s just this set up but I have never used another dry stack anywhere.

-Boat hours until 8, if u are late park in a covered slip.
-Can put the boat away with no cover if you are using it, just like a garage.
- gets no sun damage
- if u want to clean, they just put it on the service racks, water and power available
- to have it serviced they just use the rack, you don’t need to be around
- way cheaper than a slip when I include the lift
- Tablerock I always had coons, mink, and geese getting on the boat...none of that
- ours is temp controlled so u don’t really have to winterize

I love it

Tgrace told be about them. Good to know. Any pictures of how they store it and do on at Kimberling? I was thinking about them from my last and future adventures. How many do they normally have avail and is that normal to be able to get on? And a grand a year? Do you tip the guys?