off season sneakbox storage

Chris S.

Chris S.

Well-known member
I put a lot of time and effort into my sneakbox this last summer to make her good as new and wanna keep her that way. I am wondering what the best way to store her for the off saeason is? I don't have a garage to keep her in as that would be the best. I do have a half covered carport. It covers the sneakbox about 8ft and leaves the bow exposed. The good part is that the cockpit is covered. I know that I can't just leave the hard cover on all summer cuz it just cooks the boat from the inside out. A little info my sneakbox is all cedar redone this last summer with 6oz glass and epoxy not glassed inside just painted. I was told by a sneakbox builder that the best way to store a sneakbox outdoors is to tent the boat with a tarp so use a long 2X4 from the winch back to the transom keep it about 2ft above the deck and put a tarp over like a tent and leave the hard cover ajar about 6inches off the front or back of the cockpit. He said by tenting it this way it will let air flow under the tarp and won't trap any moisture under the tarp. Also by letting the hard cover be ajar by 6 inches it won't trap the hot air inside the boat kinda like leaving your windows cracked on your car in the summer. This seems like a very good idea. I was wondering if any of you guys have to keep your duck boats outside and how you store them and protect them. Or what you think of the tent idea good or bad. Thank you.
 
Chris,

The only thing I might add is do something to keep wild critters from making the interior of your boat their home. Even wasps and spiders can be problems. I put several open containers of moth balls inside my fishing boat for over winter storage. My duck boat gets used year round doing double duty, so that is why I referred to my fishing boat storage.
 
Chris you've got the right idea. You want to keep some airflow going if you can't keep it inside somewhere. Keep the hatch cover cracked a bit so it won't cook from the inside out. Squirrels and other animals can chew up parts of the boat so keep an eye on it.
 
Chris, I have mine in a tent so out of the weather and out of the sun year round. During the season, after each hunt, I pull up the floor boards, and sponge out the water. I then lay a box fan over my boat hook and crab net so it is blowing down into the boat. This is there for several days to completely dry out the cockpit. A couple peanutbutter baited mouse traps are set just in case the mice get nosey.... we have a fox family in the back woods, so I don't want to use poision for the mice.

I think the tarp will serve you well if it protects from the UV of the sun.
 
Can you store it upside down. I don't think you care if the outside of the hull gets wet.

Mark W
 
Shrinkwrap it! I do all of my boats. It's like putting it in tupperware. Knock a couple vents in it and you get real good ventilation.
 
I was told not to shrink wrap a boat that is not 100% glasses cuz the moisture will get traped inside.That's why the builder said to tent the boat for good air flow
 
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Off season for a boat. What's that????? What do you fish out of?
Click to expand...

I've already got my 15hp winterized, (or should it be summer-ized?) for the offseason.

For fishing I like a little more boat underneath me :)

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But Chris moth balls sounds like a good idea. A friend of mine had squirrels get into his sneakbox. Ate the rubrails and some of the decoy racks... though this was over a few years.
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That's why you put vents in it. With proper ventilation, there is no condensation. I must state that I have been shrink wrapping my own boats for about 20 years and I have more than recouped the cost of the equipment. The initial cost of equipment can be prohibitive. When I first started it was $30 to do our 25 ft cruiser. This Fall I did my Brother-in-law's 25ft pontoon for $110. My duckboat is about $20 for materials.
 
[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]
Off season for a boat. What's that????? What do you fish out of?
Click to expand...

I've already got my 15hp winterized, (or should it be summer-ized?) for the offseason.

For fishing I like a little more boat underneath me :)

IMG_1048.jpg


But Chris moth balls sounds like a good idea. A friend of mine had squirrels get into his sneakbox. Ate the rubrails and some of the decoy racks... though this was over a few years.
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Click to expand...


It's funny we go out in 20+ foot boats to fish in the summer when its 90+ degrees and the water is 70 degrees but in December when its 20 outside and the water is 35 degrees (not this year of course) we go out in little 12 foot sneakboxes with 15 horses on the back. With the boat packed with decoys and gear. I guess thats what makes us all duck hunters. Wouldn't have it any other way.
 
I would have to say I would not shrink wrap a glassed over wood sneakbox...The more air flow the better and just keep it out of the sun as best you can with no standing water left in the boat clear out the gear,floorboards,gas tank etc,and the hatch cover propped open..
 
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Chris, I had the Bud Miles BBSB that Bill Simonson rebuilt last year. I stored it outside for many years by simply buying a cheap boat cover from walmart, 14 ft v model which will cover your motor also. These covers are waterproof but allow it to breath because the bottom is open and air circulates well. never even had a hatch cover on it and no water through the cover. Cost is about $30.00. Last about 3-4 years.
 
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