Preferred order of boat storage options:

1. Heated boatyard hangar or barn (best, but most expensive)
2. Unheated barn or garage
3. Outside, covered (shrink-wrap or suitable off-season cover)
4. Outside, uncovered (avoid this option, if possible)

Some places to store your boat during the offseason:

• Some Boatyards Near Falmouth
  • Great Island Boatyard (Harpswell)
  • Brewer South Freeport (So. Freeport)
  • Royal River Boatyard (Yarmouth) – They have a drive-in self-storage lot off Bayview St.
  • Yankee Boatyard (Yarmouth)
  • Yarmouth Boatyard
  • Bayside Boat Sales (Freeport) – Steve Trenholm
  • Handy Boat
  • Maine Yacht Center
  • Portland Yacht Services
• Cumberland Fairground
• Someone’s barn
• Someone’s yard

Boatyards in mid-coast or down-east, or inland (e.g., Sebago) typically are less expensive than those here in the Portland/Falmouth area.

---

Winter Storage Covers

Below are some approaches to DIY boat covers (actually the support frames) used when storing your boat outside during the Maine winter.

WhiteHawk Template:

This is a stick-figure diagram looking at the side of the cover, bow on the right…

Stern Deck      Cockpit       Chainplates      Bow Deck
           C                       B                   A1
L—————-T——————-TT———-=\
|                     |                         /  \                 \ 
| 4                  | 3             2P  /      \  2S              \
|                     |                      /         \                      \

I have turned 1 and A into one angled pipe of 139”

• “2” = 60 inches on long surface, 57” on underside, cut ends at 125 degrees.
• “3” = 76”
• “4” = 49 “
• “B” = 74
• “C” = 106”
• “A” has a 12” pipe glued to a 22 Degree angled joint that attaches to a 95” pipe that mates to a coupler with another 32” of pipe with a steeply angled cut of 20 degrees to lie along the foredeck.

---

Fortitude Template:

1174 Fortitude, similar to 1350 Schadenfreude 2:

Stern Deck      Cockpit       Chainplates      Bow Deck
           C                       B                        A
L—————-T——————–TT——————L
|                     |                          /  \                       |
| 4                  | 3               2P  /      \  2S           1 | 
|                     |                       /         \                   |

Assembly Breakdown:

• A = 98” straight pipe.    30” tie ropes installed in each end, for assembly. 
• B = 75” straight pipe.    30” tie rope aft, 48” tie rope fwd (holds both TTs)
• C = 105” straight pipe.  30” tie rope in each end.
• 1 = 44” upright pipe, includes L,  placed on plywood base on foredeck.
• 2P, 2S = pipe legs, 59.5” long side 56.5” short side, includes “Ts,” ends cut to 35 degree angle to fit deck. Small 3/16” line installed in deck ends, tie to chainplates.
• 3 = 76” upright pipe, includes “T,” ties to aft end of center console, extends down to cockpit deck, placed on plywood base, front edge cut to fit flush against console.
• On 1174, a recess hole is cut in the forward face of #3 upright, fits over the backstay cam cleat, so #3 can be tied flush to console.
• 4 = 49” upright pipe, includes L, placed on plywood base.  Strong winds require this upright to be tied in place with guy ropes, from “L” to trailer, both sides.

PVC Fittings:

• L = 90 degree PVC “L”
• T = 90 degree PVC “T” fitting
• TT = two (2) PVC “T” fittings, with short coupling pipe in aft “T,” rotated to place legs just inside the chainplates
• BASE = under #1, #3 and #4;  plywood, carpet underneath, with PVC adapter ring on top (bases are removable for storage). 

Assembly Sequence (bow to stern):

• Assemble A, 1 and 1-Base on fwd deck; tie A to the “L.”
• Assemble 2P & 2S to aft end of A; tie “Ts” and A together; tie chainplates.
• Secure 3 to console; assemble 3 and B;  tie at “T.”
• Assemble 4 and C, tie at “L” and “T.”  Secure “4L” with side guys.