4/12/01 - Dry boat storage: How does it work? As we wait for our dock and lift to be built, we keep our boat at a local marina. Our boat is kept in dry storage (definition below), and whenever we want to use it, we simply call and let them know. Within 15 to 30 minutes they have our boat in the water waiting for us. In a nutshell, if you are a salt-water boater, you want to keep your boat out of the water whenever you are not using it. Sea Ray, for example, considers salt water to be very severe on your boat's components (hull, engine, etc..) In Florida, it is really common for marinas to offer dry storage (where your boat is kept out of the water until you are ready to use it), along with the more common wet storage (where your boat is kept in the water, tied to a dock). Typically, you can dry store any boat less than 30 feet. Once we are done using our boat, we wash it off with fresh water (via long hoses at the marina), and then wipe it down with a towel. Finally, we snap the covers on the boat, and then head home. Note: Captain Jerry (from the local Sea Ray dealer) says it is VERY important to assure your trim tabs are in the up position before covering your boat, as the forklift used to pull your boat out of the water has been known to break trim tabs if they aren't up. Today, however, I asked the dockmaster if I could snap a few pictures of him taking the boat out, and he said "Sure!"... Enjoy!
Using a long extendable pole with a hook on the end...	...the dockmaster moves the boat into position in front of the forklift.	There are two forklifts here, the one behind the one you see has its forks in the water, that will be the one used to lift our boat out.
Once the boat is in position, he fires up the forklift, spaces out the forks to assure they fit snugly around the boat hull and...	...slowly begins to bring them up.	Once the boat is out of the water, he leans the forklift back and lets the water drain for a bit.
Then, slowly...	...he backs...	...up.
Since our boat is stored on an upper rack, he raises it...	...once he is near its spot.	Then he slowly moves it into place, assuring its...
...lined up just perfectly. :)	He slowly backs up, and...	...whola! A success! Simply reverse the process, and you'll know exactly how they put the boat in the water! Neat, eh?
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