Outdoor Boat Storage

[BigBankBassin]

I am stuck in limbo again about fiberglass vs Aluminum.  I believe I am stuck with Aluminum as I will need to store the boat outside during winter her ein the Midwest.

 

Does storing a fiberglass boat outdoors winterized fully covered and protected as much as possible have any negative impact on the integrity of the boat? I am not worried about oxidation as I can fix that. 

[redmexican5081]

Thousands of boats are stored outdoors each winter season.  Garage and indoor stored boats always look "nicer" than a boat stored in the elements, but if you would be storing it outside during the usage season and as long as you winterize it properly and cover it appropriately for the snow load it may encounter, it will be OK

[slonezp]

17 minutes ago, redmexican5081 said:

Thousands of boats are stored outdoors each winter season.  Garage and indoor stored boats always look "nicer" than a boat stored in the elements, but if you would be storing it outside during the usage season and as long as you winterize it properly and cover it appropriately for the snow load it may encounter, it will be OK

I would bet millions of boat are stored outside in inclement weather 

[NHBull]

No...

[OnthePotomac]

I am a G3 aluminum owner and my boat has been stored in the local state park yard for 18 years.  I have a nice cover for it and over the cover I have a big tarp, which covers the boat from over the motor (with its own cover) to over the bow and hanging down over the side 4ft on each side.  The tires are covered with RV padded vinyl wheel covers and the tongue is covered with a heavy outdoor leaf bag tied on with rope ties. I fill the tank to the brim for winter storage to prevent condensation in  the gas and no additives of any kind in the gas.  I pull the prop and all the batteries in winter and they stay in my basement.  The batteries go on a tender/desulfinater.  Long ago I saved large big blogs of foam from the boxes of items we have purchased and place then on the corners of the deck under the cover for water and ice run off.  I also made a "tent brace" of PVC pipe extending from the back deck to the front deck.  I do check it periodically during the winter for mice and keep mice food blocks on the deck during winter.  I have found a couple of dead bodies on occasion. It is always bone dry in spring and starts right up on first try.  The cover and tarp arrangement stays on year round.  If it snows, I go to the boat immediately after and remove the snow/ice.  OK, I am paranoid about outdoor storage.