Dry stack boat storage should be considered as an alternative to groups of in water boat houses and slips.

Dry stack boat storage has been established at several locations on the Coasts, Great Lakes, inland waterways and other inland lakes. These facilities are called Boatels, Rack and Stack and other local names. The Boatels are typically large metal buildings that store 30 to 100 boats up to 32 feet in length in vertical and horizontal racks. The boats are stored on bunks similar to those used on boat trailers. Boats are placed in storage and removed for use with a large fork lift.

A typical scenario has the boat owner calling ahead approximately two hours to the Boatel stating that they will be at the site and ready to use the boat at a certain time. The Boatel personnel use the forklift to remove the boat from the vertical rack and place it in the water. The boat is tied up at a courtesy dock with fuel and other liquids checked to make ready for the boat owner and their passengers. When the boater returns to the courtesy dock, the owner departs and the Boatel personnel pumpout the MSD or empty the porti-potti if necessary and place the boat back onto its inside rack storage location with the forklift.

The following benefits are provided;

• In today’s busy world people highly value their recreational time with family and or friends.
• The boating experience is focused on in-the-water enjoyment rather than the usual two to three hours to make ready and store the boat in a boat slip or on a boat trailer.
• The boat is typically stored out of the water in a weather protected location. Some Boatels are covered by a roof with open sides. Some are completely enclosed with large access doors.
• Negative environmental impacts are significantly reduced.
• Boat houses and slips are not necessary for these boats reducing the impact on limited shorelines.
• The boat hull is out of the water eliminating the expensive and recurring requirement for periodic removal of marine growth and hull painting with sometimes harmful anti-fouling chemicals.
• The boat’s propulsion system is out of the water reducing migration of lubricants and other undesirable chemicals.
• Boat oil and fuel does not leak or discharge into the water via bilge pumps during storage.
• Improved disposal of sewage from Marine Sanitation Devices and Porti-Pottis is often provided at the Boatel type facility.
• The public demand for lake access can be reduced without building numerous additional boat launching ramps and parking lots.
• The boat’s propulsion system requires less maintenance since it is out of the water.
• Reduced corrosion is expected on metal hull and propulsion surfaces.
• Boat hull blistering is reduced.
• No gel-coat fading or oxidation
• Fewer cracked fuel lines and steering cables
• No dry rotting boat cover
• No moisture trapped inside the boat cover, extending life to electrical switches and instrumentation.
• No dry rotting carpet or cushions due to exposure.
• Boaters can avoid purchasing expensive trucks, tow vehicles and boat trailers to tow boats to and from the lake. Most current passenger cars cannot tow over 2,000 lbs. including a fully loaded boat and boat trailer.
• Higher boat resale
• Reduced theft and vandalism
• Annual and life cycle dry stack boat storage costs are very competitive with in water boat storage.
• For example, a completely enclosed dry stack facility in Virginia has an annual cost ranging from $1,560 for a 20 foot long boat to $2,040 for a 30 foot boat. www.harborsidestorage.com
• Comparable Lake Texoma in water boat slips are $1,800 per year for a 20 foot slip and $2,880 a year for a 32 foot slip.

• The life cycle boat owner costs could be significantly lower if initial and recurring boat expenses can be reduced or eliminated as indicated above.
• The Boatel developer’s capital investment, ongoing operations and maintenance expenses and business model should be evaluated and tailored to the individual lake customers and lake location.
• The life cycle costs for a dry stack boat storage facility should be significantly less than a large group of boat houses with in water boat storage.
• A brief paper on dry stack boat storage investment is available at www.insideselfstorage.com/articles/311feat5.html.
• Information on different types of dry stack boat storage is available at www.boatracks.com.

1. Alternative means of boat storage should be considered by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and developers to avoid using preferred beaches, coves and bays for private in water boat storage instead of public recreation. Their use should be limited to lake areas already zoned for High-Density Public Recreation.
2. Boatel or dry stack boat storage should be considered as a demonstration project on Lake Texoma as a commercial concession rather than as a community type boat storage facility. A Boatel type facility should be considered as an alternative to adding significant numbers of boat houses and boat slips for large condominium or multiple dwelling developments.

Federal and State grant funds may be available for a demonstration project of this type. A Boatel type demonstration project could be considered in conjunction with a condominium or multiple-family residence development or marina type operations.