You’ve had your boat in storage and are now ready to start using it again. Before heading out on the water, you’ll need to do a few things first. Follow this handy checklist to ensure there are no problems.

Visually Inspect the Boat

Check your boat’s body, hull, and propellers for signs of damage. Look for cracks, dings, dents, or any apparent moisture damage. Give the exterior a thorough power washing, then make any necessary repairs.

Check Your Engine

The last thing you want is for your boat not to crank up when you finally do take it out. Make sure it is ready now by checking your engine. Follow these steps:

• Drain fuel and add fresh gasoline.
• Check the oil level.
• Change your oil if it was not done prior to placing the boat in storage or the fluid looks especially dark.
• Check the condition of your spark plug and replace if necessary.
• Crank up the motor and allow it to run for a few minutes. Pay attention to whether it is difficult to start or appears to run rough.

Inspect Other Components

Once you are satisfied with your engine’s performance, you’ll then want to check your remaining fluids as well as your belts and hoses. Inspect your battery for signs of corrosion, and add water if needed.

Perform a Safety Check

A boat inspection is not complete until you have covered safety. Ensure that your boat has the appropriate safety equipment and that everything is in good working order. This should include life jackets, life preservers, and fire extinguishers.

Safe, Reliable Boat Storage from Party Barn

At Party Barn Boat & RV Storage, we’ll provide you with the ideal space to park your boat during the off-season. Ideally, this should mean that your boat will require as little effort as possible to get it up and running again. To reserve your spot, please contact us.

When taking your RV out of storage, the last thing you want to worry about is an insect or rodent infestation. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ensure your camper remains as pest free as possible.

Seal up any Openings

Check underneath your RV for holes or cracks so that you can either seal or cover them. One of the best ways to find hidden cracks is to wait until it is dark outside and then turn on the lights on inside your RV. Crawl underneath and the light shining through will make these openings obvious.

Remember that any opening can become an avenue for creatures to enter. Accordingly, you should cover all vents and plug up sink and shower drains.

Drain Water Lines

Insects and vermin will be attracted to any source of water. As such, you should ensure that your water lines are completely drained. Get rid of any water left in your toilet, shower, or sink while you are at it.

Install Insect Screens

Insect screens do more than just protect your windows, as they can also provide a barrier around openings that might otherwise be difficult to seal up. Consider adding them around your water heater, furnace, refrigerator, or other appliances.

Ensure a Tidy Parking Spot

Critters are more likely to visit your RV if the location it sits on is overgrown. Keep grass and weeds neatly trimmed, and avoid stacking hay, wood, or similar items anywhere near your camper.

Protect with Covered and Uncovered Storage

One of the best ways to prevent pests is by renting one of our covered or uncovered storage spaces. Rodents in particular do not like to nest near areas of vast concrete or gravel. We keep our lot well maintained so that you will not have to worry about unwanted guests taking up residence. To see our available spaces, please contact us.

Owning a boat in an area with sizable lakes nearby will give you plenty of opportunities to get out in the water throughout most of the year. But, while you may be able to get away with taking your boat out at any time, you may like the idea of treating it as a seasonal activity. This means that you will need a place to store your boat during seasons in which you plan to stay on land.

Renting a storage space is a great idea because it will give you a dedicated spot to keep your boat from the moment you stop using it until you want to take it out again. Choosing covered storage is ideal because it will give you reliable protection from the elements throughout the year.

Sunlight

If you look around at boats and cars that are constantly exposed to the sun over the course of several years, you may notice the exterior paint jobs looking faded and certain areas oxidizing. A quick look at the interior of cars or boats may expose seats with cracked leather or faded fabric.

By getting covered storage, you will not have to worry about your boat being exposed to direct sunlight that can damage your boat and reduce its resale value over time.

Wind

Another problem that you will not have to worry about with covered storage is the wind. Even if the sides are not covered, you will notice the storage area providing protection with the combination of the top and all the boats lined up in a row to prevent wind from getting through.

When wind is not able to blow freely, you will reduce how much dirt and dust flies around the area and onto exposed parts where your boat’s cover does not provide protection.

Rain

If your boat cover has some exposure on the bottom side, you will appreciate covered storage for protection from the rain. It will prevent rain drops from hitting the ground and bouncing upward where water could reach the bottom boat parts and cause wear and tear over time.

Contact us if you have any questions about our boat storage options.

It does not matter if you are a part-time RV user or a full-time RV user, you will eventually need to find the right place to store your RV. While many RV owners choose to park it in their driveway, do you really want to have your RV using that much of your driveway space? Many owners think too much work goes into finding RV storage, but it is actually pretty simple.

When you are searching for RV storage, it is essential that you make sure you use the right tools to find the right location that will meet all of your needs. If you google the words “RV” and “storage”, you may be overwhelmed with all the results. So, how do you know where you should start? Not every situation will be the same, but when we are discussing RV storage, there are a few things you should not forget about when you are looking for the right RV facility for you.

Covered Storage and Uncovered Storage

The location you choose to store your RV can all depend on a variety of factors, including how long you plan to keep your RV stored and the time of the year. If you plan to keep your RV stored during a time of year when extreme weather takes place, you may want to consider finding a facility that offers enclosed parking. If you only want to store your RV for a brief period of time, you may think about uncovered parking. If you want to protect your RV from being damaged by sunlight, you may want to think about covered parking. Fortunately, there are multiple options on the table.

Security Features

You cannot afford to forget about security features when you are considering RV storage. Your RV is something that has become valuable to you, and you should make sure you store it properly. The storage facility you choose should have the proper security features and security measures. A storage facility that has the proper security measures will be able to protect your RV from being stolen or vandalized.

Storage Capacity

RVs are not the same in size, and this is why it is important to have enough space to store your RV properly. You will need enough room so it will be easier to bring your RV in and exit with your RV. You will also need to have the peace of mind in knowing that your RV will not be in the way of other RVs.

We know that you want to have peace of mind in knowing that your RV is properly stored. When you are ready to have your RV stored in the right place, please do not hesitate to contact us today.