Storing Your Boat: Garage Placement Tips

Storing a boat in a garage is a great way to protect your vessel from the elements and extend its life. However, fitting a boat into a garage can be challenging, and you may need to get creative with your storage solutions. Before attempting to fit your boat, it's essential to organise your garage to maximise space. This means more than just moving things around; it involves grouping similar items, storing them in modular containers, and placing those containers in accessible locations.

Once your garage is organised, you can start manoeuvring your boat. This process will depend on the size and shape of your boat and garage, as well as the presence of a trailer. For example, if your boat and trailer have a total length of 23', you may need to angle the trailer to fit the boat inside. Additionally, consider using a breakaway tongue to reduce the trailer's length.

If your boat still doesn't fit, you may need to explore other options, such as purchasing a smaller trailer or lifting the motor into the boat when it's stored. Alternatively, you could consider modifying your garage to accommodate your boat, but this may be a costly and complicated endeavour due to factors like property space, permitting issues, and homeowner's association restrictions.

Organise your garage to make space

To make space for a boat in your garage, you'll need to organise and declutter the space. Here are some tips to help you maximise your garage space:

Group Similar Items

A good place to start is by grouping similar items together. For example, keep all your garden supplies, sports equipment, or cleaning products in one place. This will not only create a more organised space but also make it easier to find what you need when you need it.

Utilise Wall Space

Think vertically and use your wall space effectively. Install wall-mounted shelves, baskets, and hooks to store items off the floor. You can also hang items like bicycles, lawn chairs, and garden tools on the wall to free up floor space. Consider using a slatwall panel or a track system to add versatility to your storage options.

Use Stackable Bins and Containers

Opt for stackable bins and containers to make the most of your space. Clear, stackable containers will allow you to identify the contents easily, and stacking them will help save floor space.

Overhead Storage

Don't forget to look up! Utilise the space near the ceiling for items you don't frequently access, such as holiday decorations, camping gear, or out-of-season clothing. You can install overhead racks or shelves to make the most of this space.

Custom Cabinets

If you're handy, consider building custom cabinets to fit your specific storage needs. You can also purchase ready-made storage cabinets to keep your items clean, dry, and dust-free.

Multipurpose Furniture

Look for furniture that can serve multiple purposes, such as a bench with storage space inside or a coat rack with shelves for sports equipment.

Get Creative with Corners

Corners can be great spots for additional shelving. Install corner shelves to store smaller items that might get lost on larger shelves.

Label Everything

Labelling your storage bins and containers will make it easier to find what you need and maintain an organised system.

Don't Forget the Ceiling

In addition to using the walls, you can also hang items from the ceiling. For example, you can hang ladders, bicycles, or extension ladders from the ceiling, ensuring they don't block the garage door.

Keep it Flexible

Use adjustable shelves so you can easily change the height to accommodate different-sized items as your storage needs change.

Get Rid of Clutter

Finally, before you start organising, take the time to declutter. Get rid of items you no longer need and donate or recycle them if possible. This will free up space and make your garage feel more spacious.

Measure your boat and garage

Before you attempt to fit your boat into your garage, it's important to take accurate measurements of both. This will help you determine if your boat can fit, and if so, how best to manoeuvre it into place.

Measuring Your Boat

First, you'll need to measure the length, width, and height of your boat. This includes the trailer, as this will affect the overall dimensions. The trailer can add several feet to the length of the boat, and it's crucial to account for this when measuring. The trailer is also likely to be wider than the boat, so pay close attention to its width rather than that of the boat itself.

If your boat has an outboard motor, remember to include this in your height measurement, as this can cause issues with garage doors. You may need to lower or remove the motor to get the boat inside. Similarly, if your boat has raised seats, measure from the highest point, as these may also cause problems with the garage door clearance.

Measuring Your Garage

When measuring your garage, you'll need to consider the width and height of the garage door, as well as the internal dimensions. Measure the width and height of the garage door to ensure your boat can pass through comfortably. Give yourself an extra 2-4 feet of clearance to be safe.

Next, measure the internal length, width, and height of the garage. You'll need to know these measurements to work out how to position the boat inside. If your garage is only being used for boat storage, you may be able to utilise the space in the corners to maximise the available area.

Comparing Measurements

Once you have the measurements for both the boat and the garage, you can determine if your boat will fit. If the boat's length and width, including the trailer, are less than the internal dimensions of the garage, you should be able to get it inside. However, don't forget to consider the shape of the boat and trailer when making this assessment. A narrower setup will be easier to manoeuvre.

If your boat is only slightly too long, you may be able to get it inside by angling it diagonally or using a device like the Trailer Valet to help with manoeuvring. Alternatively, you could consider a trailer with a breakaway tongue, which can be bent back or removed to reduce the overall length.

If your boat is too wide for the garage door or too tall for the door clearance, you may need to look into other storage options or consider modifying your garage.

Use a Trailer Valet device to manoeuvre your boat

The Trailer Valet device is a trailer tongue jack that allows boat owners to manoeuvre their rig into narrow parking stalls, tight corners, or anywhere else without the help of their trucks. It is a dolly system that brings flexibility, functionality, convenience, and safety to boat storage, especially in tight quarters.

The Trailer Valet replaces your current jack and provides a dolly system that brings flexibility, manoeuvrability, functionality, convenience, and safety to boat storage, especially in tight quarters. The Trailer Valet 5X and XL models are available for $350 and $540, respectively.

To use the Trailer Valet to manoeuvre your boat into your garage, follow these steps:

• Move the boat into the garage so that the beam (the widest part) of the boat is along the length of the bay door and the centreline of the boat trailer is at the centre of the garage.
• Note the position of the hitch; this will be the initial position.
• Using the Trailer Valet device, move the hitch of the boat trailer in a straight line from its initial position towards one of the edges of the bay door. At the same time, back the boat trailer into the opposite garage corner. This will provide the perfect angle for achieving the deepest manoeuvrability.
• If the boat trailer is successfully inside, continue adjusting the boat trailer to provide the best fit while also accommodating your other garage needs.

The Trailer Valet is a useful tool for those who struggle to physically move their boat trailers by hand. It is also helpful for those who need to get their rig into tight spaces, such as a garage, without the assistance of a truck.

Employ a breakaway tongue

Employing a breakaway tongue is a good option if the trailer hauling your boat is too long, even after several attempts at manoeuvring it. You can reduce the length of the trailer by using either a swing tongue that can be bent back or a removable tongue that can be removed entirely.

Some trailers have built-in breakaway tongues, but you can also install one on an existing trailer. This will require purchasing a hinge that fits snugly into the width of the tongue and carefully sawing and drilling the tongue to precise measurements. It is important to take special care when measuring, marking, and drilling the hinge bolt locations on both the main and detached tongues, as you will only have one chance to drill these holes correctly.

The advantages of employing a breakaway tongue include improved garage access, enhanced manoeuvrability, and space-saving storage. It is a convenient and practical solution for boat owners, especially those with limited garage space.

• Determine the size of the tongue frame and select the appropriate hinge part.
• Choose between bolt-on and weld-on hinge options based on your skills and preferences.
• Calculate the length of the swinging part of the tongue by considering factors such as trailer frame size, maximum loaded trailer weight, and possible obstructions.
• Ensure that the safety chains are mounted behind the hinge and, if necessary, move them back using stainless steel bolts and nuts.
• Address any electrical wiring requirements, grouping the wires together and providing protection to prevent them from getting pinched.
• Use the appropriate tools for drilling, including a high-torque corded drill for efficient and precise drilling.
• Follow the hinge installation instructions carefully, including marking and drilling holes for accurate hinge placement.
• Grease the pivot bolt to facilitate smooth movement when attaching the two hinge halves.
• Secure the hinge pin with a cotter pin or similar mechanism to prevent loss or theft.
• Carefully bundle and route the electrical wires through the front part of the tongue, ensuring sufficient slack for hinge movement.

Explore other options, e.g. lift the motor into the boat

If you're struggling to fit your boat in your garage, one option is to lift the motor out of the boat. This is a good solution if your garage is long enough but struggles with height clearance.

Before attempting to lift the motor, ensure you have all the necessary safety equipment and are following safety guidelines. You could use a crane propping stand, but this is not recommended as it could damage the boat. Instead, consider using a block and tackle system, with a high joist or beam to attach it to. You could also use a forklift, a tow truck with a hydraulic boom, a cherry picker engine hoist, or a boat crane. If you don't have access to this equipment, you could take your boat to a marina and ask them to lift the motor out for you.

Once the motor is out, you will need to store it safely. You could consider using an engine stand or placing it on a utility trailer.

Remember to take precise measurements of your boat, garage, and trailer before attempting to lift the motor, to ensure that this method will work for you.

Frequently asked questions