Winter Boat Storage: How to Store Your Boat for a North Dakota Winter
When boating season ends, figuring out winter boat storage becomes part of owning a boat in North Dakota.
You can keep your boat outside, move it to a dedicated outdoor parking space, or put the entire boat and trailer inside an enclosed storage unit. The right choice depends on your boat, your budget, how much protection you want, and how much space the complete boat-and-trailer combination requires.
At Storage Kings, boat owners can choose from outdoor parking, concrete parking pads, large enclosed drive-up units, heated options, and extra-large drive-through storage, depending on location.
For Fargo boat owners, options range from approximately $100 per month for a concrete outdoor parking pad to large enclosed spaces designed for substantially bigger storage needs.
Storage Kings also offers month-to-month rentals at all of our facilities, which works particularly well for seasonal boat storage. Store for the winter, keep the space longer if you want it, and avoid committing to a long-term rental agreement just because boating season is over.
All prices in this article are estimated Storage Kings pricing based on location and unit type. Actual rental rates and promotions may change.
You can also compare our Boat & RV Storage options for more information about storing your boat at Storage Kings.
How to Store a Boat
Good winter storage starts before you park the boat and walk away until spring.
First, decide whether you want indoor or outdoor boat winter storage. Outdoor storage is generally more economical, while enclosed storage gets the boat and trailer completely indoors and out of direct exposure to snow, ice, wind, hail, and sun.
Measure the complete boat-and-trailer combination.
Don't rely solely on the advertised length of the boat. Measure from the front of the trailer tongue to the farthest point at the rear, including the motor, swim platform, or other equipment.
Also measure the overall width and height, including towers and other equipment that won't be removed or lowered.
Before storage, clean and dry the boat, remove food and trash, secure loose equipment, and follow the winterization recommendations for your specific boat, engine, fuel system, batteries, plumbing, and onboard equipment.
Storage and winterization are related, but they aren't the same thing. Putting a boat indoors doesn't automatically mean it has been properly winterized.
Covering a Boat for Winter Storage
Whether you need to cover a boat during winter storage depends partly on where and how you're storing it.
For outdoor winter boat storage, an appropriate cover can help protect the boat from direct exposure to snow, ice, moisture, debris, and other outdoor conditions. The cover should be appropriate for your particular boat and winter storage conditions.
It also needs to be secured properly. A poorly fitted cover that collects snow or water isn't accomplishing what you want it to.
Indoor storage changes the situation because the boat is no longer directly exposed to outdoor precipitation and weather. Even indoors, some owners may choose to use a cover to help keep dust and debris off the boat during the off-season.
Before covering your boat:
- Make sure the boat is clean and dry.
- Use a cover appropriate for your boat and storage conditions.
- Secure the cover properly.
- Avoid trapping unnecessary moisture inside.
- Follow the boat and cover manufacturers' storage recommendations.
How to Store a Boat Outside in Winter
Outdoor storage is often the most economical choice for winter storage for boats.
At Storage Kings Bismarck, estimated outdoor parking is approximately $50 per month, while a concrete parking pad is approximately $70 per month.
At Storage Kings Fargo, a concrete parking pad is approximately $100 per month.
Bismarck Outdoor Parking
Approximately $50/month
Bismarck Concrete Pad
Approximately $70/month
Fargo Concrete Pad
Approximately $100/month
If you choose outdoor winter storage, properly prepare the boat for the conditions it will experience. Complete the appropriate winterization for your boat and engine, remove items that shouldn't remain inside, make sure the boat is clean and dry, and use an appropriate cover if recommended.
Don't forget the trailer either. The boat may sit in the same place for months, so inspect the complete boat-and-trailer setup before putting it away.
The tradeoff is simple: outdoor storage keeps the monthly cost considerably lower than renting hundreds of square feet of enclosed storage, but your boat remains outside through a North Dakota winter.
How to Keep Mice Out of a Boat During Winter Storage
A quiet boat can become an attractive place for mice and other rodents looking for shelter.
Before putting your boat into winter storage, remove anything that could attract them, particularly food, crumbs, trash, and other organic material.
Clean storage compartments, seating areas, floors, and other spaces where food residue or nesting material could remain.
Before storing your boat:
- Remove food, crumbs, trash, and organic material.
- Clean compartments, seating areas, and floors.
- Remove unnecessary soft materials that could become nesting material when practical.
- Inspect the boat for potential entry points.
- Follow the manufacturer's guidance for safely protecting appropriate openings.
Be careful not to block ventilation, drains, exhausts, or other components that need to remain unobstructed.
No storage method can guarantee that a boat will never encounter pests, but starting with a clean, dry, properly prepared boat can help reduce things that attract them.
Fuel Stabilizer for Winter Storage
Fuel is another important part of preparing a boat for winter.
Depending on the engine and fuel system, the manufacturer may recommend using a fuel stabilizer for winter storage or following other specific procedures before the boat sits unused for an extended period.
There isn't one universal fuel-storage procedure that applies to every boat.
The correct amount of stabilizer, whether the fuel tank should be full or at another level, how treated fuel should be circulated, and other winterization procedures can vary by engine and fuel system.
Follow the recommendations in your boat and engine owner's manuals or have the boat winterized by a qualified marine service provider.
Choosing indoor or heated storage doesn't automatically eliminate the need to prepare the boat's engine and fuel system for an extended period of inactivity.
Indoor vs. Outdoor Winter Boat Storage
For many boat owners, this is the biggest decision. Outdoor storage costs less, while enclosed storage provides substantially more protection from direct exposure to the elements.
At Storage Kings, outdoor options are approximately $50–$100 per month, depending on the facility and parking type.
Enclosed storage starts considerably higher because you're renting hundreds of square feet of private indoor space.
For someone with a smaller or older fishing boat, outdoor parking may make perfect sense. For someone who has invested significantly in a newer fishing boat, pontoon, wake boat, or other recreational boat, keeping the boat and trailer completely indoors may be worth considering.
There isn't one right answer. The better choice depends on the boat you're storing, your budget, and how much protection you want during a North Dakota winter.
How Much Does Winter Boat Storage Cost?
Your winter boat storage cost can vary dramatically depending on whether you keep the boat outside or move it indoors.
Outdoor Storage Kings options generally run approximately $50–$100 per month.
For enclosed storage, many boat owners should begin by comparing 14x40 and 14x50 units.
Bismarck 14x40–14x50 Enclosed Storage
Approximately $375–$450/month
Fargo 14x40–14x50 Enclosed Storage
Approximately $425–$495/month
Fargo 18x50 Storage
Approximately $735–$825/month
Fargo 18x55 Drive-Through
Approximately $825/month
The price difference is significant because the products are different. You're comparing an outdoor parking space with hundreds of square feet of private enclosed storage.
For a more detailed breakdown of pricing, see our Boat Storage Cost guide.
What Does Winter Boat Storage Cost for the Whole Season?
Because Storage Kings offers month-to-month rentals, there isn't one required winter storage period.
But using six months makes the different options easier to compare.
- $50/month outdoor parking = approximately $300 for six months
- $70/month concrete pad = approximately $420 for six months
- $100/month Fargo concrete pad = approximately $600 for six months
- $375/month enclosed storage = approximately $2,250 for six months
- $425/month enclosed storage = approximately $2,550 for six months
- $450/month enclosed storage = approximately $2,700 for six months
- $495/month enclosed storage = approximately $2,970 for six months
These examples don't mean you have to rent for six months. They're simply a way to compare the potential seasonal cost.
With month-to-month rentals available at all Storage Kings facilities, you can choose storage based on how long you actually need it.
These examples use estimated monthly rates and do not account for promotions, rate changes, or other applicable charges.
What Size Storage Unit Do You Need for a Boat?
For many boats on trailers, 14x40 is a good starting point when comparing enclosed storage, although the right size depends entirely on your complete boat-and-trailer dimensions.
Storage Kings' larger sizes include:
- 14x40 — approximately 560 sq. ft.
- 14x50 — approximately 700 sq. ft.
- 18x50 — approximately 900 sq. ft.
- 18x55 — approximately 990 sq. ft.
- 24x50 — approximately 1,200 sq. ft.
Remember that a 22-foot boat doesn't necessarily have a 22-foot storage footprint.
The trailer tongue adds length in front. An outboard motor, swim platform, or other equipment can add length at the rear.
Measure the entire setup before choosing a unit.
Measure the complete length, width, and height of the boat and trailer, then compare those measurements with the actual unit dimensions and overhead-door opening.
Having a little extra room can also make parking, accessing gear, and preparing the boat for spring considerably easier.
Winter Boat Storage in Fargo, ND
Storage Kings Fargo is especially well suited to boat owners who need larger storage spaces.
Storage options include:
- Concrete outdoor parking pads
- 14x40 drive-up storage
- 14x50 drive-up storage
- 18x50 drive-up storage
- 18x50 heated storage
- 20x50 heated storage
- 18x55 drive-through storage
- 24x50 drive-through storage
If price is the priority, a Fargo concrete parking pad is approximately $100 per month.
If you want your boat and trailer indoors, estimated 14x40–14x50 pricing is approximately $425–$495 per month.
For larger boat-and-trailer combinations, Fargo's 18x50 options provide approximately 900 square feet of storage, with estimated pricing around $735–$825 per month, depending on the specific unit and storage type.
For even easier access with a large trailer, the drive-through units are worth comparing.
Learn more about Storage Kings Fargo and our Boat & RV Storage options.
Drive-Through Winter Boat Storage in Fargo
Backing a boat trailer into a traditional enclosed unit isn't everyone's idea of a good time.
Storage Kings Fargo offers 18x55 and 24x50 drive-through units designed with large-vehicle access in mind.
The 18x55 provides approximately 990 square feet of enclosed space and has estimated pricing of approximately $825 per month.
The drive-through configuration allows you to enter through one side and exit through the other.
For larger boats and trailers, drive-through access can make winter storage considerably easier.
For larger fishing boats, pontoons, wake boats, and other substantial boat-and-trailer combinations, that extra convenience can make a major difference.
Pull in. Unhook. Keep the boat indoors for the winter. When boating season returns, hook up and pull out.
Storage Kings Fargo's 24x50 drive-through option provides approximately 1,200 square feet for customers who need even more room.
Is Heated Winter Boat Storage Worth It?
Storage Kings Fargo also offers select large heated storage options, including 18x50 and 20x50 units.
Heated storage can be worth considering if you want your boat stored indoors with additional protection from North Dakota's extreme winter temperatures.
18x50 Heated Storage
Approximately 900 square feet
20x50 Heated Storage
Approximately 1,000 square feet
Heated storage and proper boat winterization are two separate things.
Don't assume that putting a boat into a heated unit means you can skip the procedures recommended by the boat or engine manufacturer.
The safest approach is to prepare the boat correctly for extended winter storage regardless of which Storage Kings option you choose.
Can You Store Your Boating Gear With Your Boat?
One advantage of choosing a large enclosed storage unit is having room beyond the boat itself.
Depending on the space available, you may be able to keep approved belongings such as life jackets, fishing rods and tackle, boat covers, water toys, dock accessories, and other seasonal equipment together with your boat.
That can help free up space in your garage or shop while keeping your boating equipment together during the off-season.
When spring arrives, you aren't searching multiple places for everything you need. Your boat and gear are already together.
Do You Need a Long-Term Contract for Winter Boat Storage?
No. Storage Kings offers month-to-month rentals at all of our facilities.
That's particularly useful for seasonal boat storage.
Maybe you want to move the boat into storage in October and take it out when the weather cooperates in spring. Maybe you want enclosed storage during the winter but keep the boat at home during boating season. Or maybe you decide you like having your garage and driveway back and keep the storage space year-round.
Month-to-month rentals give you flexibility without requiring a long-term storage commitment simply because you need a place for your boat during the winter.
When Should You Reserve Winter Boat Storage?
It's better to start looking before the first major winter storm.
Large enclosed units can work for boats, RVs, vehicles, contractors, businesses, and customers with large equipment, so checking your options as boating season winds down gives you more time to find a unit that works for your boat and trailer.
It also gives you time to complete the necessary winterization and preparation before moving the boat into storage.
Measure first. Compare your storage options. Prepare the boat. Then get it stored before North Dakota winter weather arrives.
Find Winter Boat Storage in Fargo, ND
Whether you're looking for affordable outdoor winter boat storage or want to move your boat completely indoors, Storage Kings Fargo gives you several options.
A concrete outdoor parking pad is approximately $100 per month.
Large 14x40 and 14x50 enclosed drive-up storage is approximately $425–$495 per month.
For larger boats and trailers, Fargo offers 18x50 storage, along with extra-large 18x55 and 24x50 drive-through units.
Heated options are also available for customers who want additional protection from extreme North Dakota winter temperatures.
And because Storage Kings offers month-to-month rentals at all of our facilities, you can store your boat for the winter without committing to a long-term rental agreement.
Before choosing a winter boat storage space, measure the entire boat and trailer — not just the boat itself.
Then decide whether outdoor, enclosed, heated, or drive-through storage makes the most sense for your boat, budget, and storage priorities.
Compare our Boat & RV Storage options or visit Storage Kings Fargo to learn more about the facility.
All prices listed are estimated Storage Kings pricing for the locations and unit types discussed. Actual rental rates and promotions may change.
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