Tips for Choosing the Best Storage Option for Your Yacht in Australia

Being one of the more expensive assets in your portfolio, you will want to ensure that your yacht is appropriately stored when you’re not out sailing the open seas. There are many options available for yacht storage, but it is important to choose the right option for you and one that is specifically right for your vessel. The following tips on how to choose the right yacht storage facility in Australia will help guide you in your search for the perfect place to keep your leisure craft safe and secure in non-sailing times. 

Wet or dry facility

The first choice is one that can usually be dictated by the size of your vessel. For those with smaller boats, dry storage is an option if there are long periods when your vessel will not be in use. Though this is a more expensive option, it offers the highest levels of security for your yacht. Most marinas offer a dry storage option, and pricing can often be negotiated in relation to the length of time you want to use the facility. 

Wet storage, otherwise known as in-water storage, allows you to keep your boat in the water in a dedicated space within the confines of a marina. If you are considering wet storage for your yacht, you will have the choice of a dedicated marina berth, which offers the most protection from the elements or a swing mooring, which is a more affordable option. 

How to choose the right marina

Choosing the right marina for your yacht is much like choosing what suburb you want to live in. You need to consider the services offered, what the management is like, the neighbours you will have and the kind of exposure the area has to major weather events. Exploring the marinas in the city or state where you are looking to store your boat is a good idea when you are initially making your choice. Most marinas offer guided inspections of the facilities so you can have all the information before making your decision. 

You should consider the year-round weather concerning the available berths and make sure that your vessel will be protected from strong winds and big waves. There is no sense in choosing a berth on a calm day only to realise later that it is exposed to the elements more than you would have liked. All in all, there is a great deal to consider when choosing the marina that will be right for you and your vessel.   

Safety and security – what to look for

Choosing boat storage means you will be deciding on a place to store your craft when you are not around, so safety and security should be a big part of your considerations. You should get a definitive list of the security measures in place from any marinas you are considering. Do they have proper security cameras? Is there night security in place? Are there secure gates? The answers to all these questions should be taken into consideration when choosing the right marina. 

When choosing a secure marina berth, you should widen your scope a little and consider the general crime rate in the area too. There are many tools on the internet to help you establish an understanding of the risk in any given suburb or city so you can feel secure in the location of the marina you choose. If you have any security concerns, talking to others who have boats moored in the same place can be helpful, and the marina staff can provide useful information on how the risks are mitigated.

To rent or to buy? 

Once you have your location nailed down, the next choice you need to make is whether to rent, lease, or buy a berth in the marina you have chosen. This involves a little forward planning to understand how long you need the berth. If you don’t plan on having your yacht for a long time or plan to store your vessel in different locations throughout the year, then it might be more financially prudent to rent a berth from a marina or yacht club. If you are looking for a long-term home for your yacht, the considerations might be a little different.

The waters around most marinas are considered Crown Land, so in many cases, buying a berth is not an option. In this scenario, you may be able to negotiate a long-term lease on a berth for your boat. These can last for anything from 20 to 99 years, depending on the location of the marina and their leasehold rules. For marinas that are constructed on private land, purchasing a berth may be possible. Marina berths are assets that can increase in value over time, so this might also be a way to diversify your investment portfolio. 

Choosing the right yacht storage for you

How to choose the right yacht storage facility in Australia for your vessel can be a challenge, with many factors to be considered. If you need a little extra assistance, consulting experts in the field of yachts and marinas could be a helpful move. Please contact us at [email protected], our friendly team at Simpson Marine can provide expert advice on some of the best marinas in the country so you can find the location that offers the right yacht storage for you.