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Posts: 17
Location: Park Falls, WI | Not sure if this topic belongs here or somewhere else.
With limited space I am wondering about options for keeping boat and gear in good shape over the winter. My first question is shrink wrapping a boat. Is there any negatives in this option and any things to consider when using this option?
I am also wondering about storing gear in cold weather conditions but out of the elements. Is there certain baits that may break or have negative effects when doing this? This goes for rods, reels, or anything else you may think of.
Living in northern WI it gets really cold.
Any help or tips would be appreciated. Thanks! |
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Posts: 275
| Don't know about all of your gear but I recently called St. Croix and asked this exact question about their Premier and Mojo rods. They said storing them in the cold is fine. I'm in Northern Illinois.
Jaimy |
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Posts: 388
Location: Northern Illinois | I would try to store the baits in a moderate temperature dry place if possible. If not possible, then at least a dry place. I use alot of plastic cases to store my lures. After I come back off the water, no matter how tired I am, I allways open up the cases in a dry area and allow everything to dry off. I've learned from personal experience that if the lures are completely wet and allowed to stay that way without drying that they can start to rust in a weeks time. Also, I would recommend cleaning the reels at the end of the season to get any water out of them that might be trapped inside. |
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| I've had mine shrink-wrapped and stored outside for a few years without major issue. However, since I use it right up to ice-up and then wrap/stored right away it doesn't have much opportunity to dry out thoroughly. My boat has developed a very slight leak (aluminum hull) maybe because they didn't wrap it well but probably because I didn't get it fully dried out before I had it wrapped and stored. |
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Posts: 17
Location: Park Falls, WI | Thanks for the info so far.
I would like to hear from more people that have gone the shrink wrap route. Especially the possibility of having it done when it is wet possibly. Thanks |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I winterize my boat myself prop open all compartments with a small bit of wood. I then place 4 plastic milk cases on the casting decks 2 front and 2 back with 2x4's across them . This supports a 17 foot upturned canoe which inturn supports a large heavy duty plastic tarp. This tarp extends to the ground on all sides completely covering the trailer and it is ancored all round with concrete patio stones . The tarp lasts 2 or 3 years and is then used on a woodpile and a new tarp is purchaced usually around $40 on sale. Before covering I sprinkle a liberal dose of cloves around in the boat to deter mice these vaccume out in the spring. On nice days before the onset of winter if there is a breeze I open up the back end to be sure everything dries out . Batteries go in a shed and are charged a couple times over the winter all equipment goes in the basement as would the batteries if they wern't so dam heavy.I live in the country and have lots of property behind the house.
Edited by horsehunter 10/18/2012 3:18 PM
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Posts: 4266
| Where ever or how you store it, watch out for mice! Those little sob's will eat any and everything. |
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Posts: 99
| Beaver - 10/18/2012 5:09 PM
Where ever or how you store it, watch out for mice! Those little sob's will eat any and everything.
Use Irish Spring soap. A guy I work with told me to put bars of Irish Spring soap in the boat before you store it. I have never had a mouse problem since I started doing that. I stick 4 bars in a 18' Lund. |
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Posts: 399
Location: WI | You can also use dryer sheets in your boat to keep the mice out. It's worked for me the last 4 winters. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | The mice in my neck of the woods like to make nests out of the dryer sheets |
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Posts: 121
Location: Plymouth IA | Our cat keeps the mice out. She is given the leftover suckers so thinks the boat is a food source.
I am a fan of storing the boat covered but I put a box on each fender on the trailer and stretch the boat cover over them so air can flow through. But it is in the shed too, with the automatic trickle charger on the battery's and heat lamp under the motor with a tarp over that. I know that is complete overkill but i like the idea of my motor staying above freezing. |
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Winter storage