A marina can be a profitable business because so many people need a safe and secure place to store their boats. Customers can come to your boatyard whenever they want their vessels and they are waiting in wet slips. Also, for long term storage needs you can offer dry uncovered and covered storage on study boat stands or racks. However, not all stands are the same and some will provide better service than others, plus additional benefits. Here are some helpful tips for choosing the right stands for your business.
Size and Type Matters
Do you store mostly sailboats or powerboats? This will determine the type and amount of jack stands you have in your business. It’s simply not feasible to store a sailboat (with its V-shaped bottom) on supports designed for flat bottomed powerboats. This could cause a number of issues which result in damage claims and it can also damage one’s business reputation.
Make sure to have sufficient supports for the type of vessels you usually dry store. This can save you a lot of time and trouble. However, there can still be a problem, especially since dry storage is usually a seasonal issue. What are you going to do with all those vessel supports during the warm weather?
Space Saving Ideas
You could build a separate structure to hold all your boat stands. This will keep them dry and safe and out of the way during the boating season. However, this can involve a great deal of additional costs. For example, you must pay to build another structure. Also, this structure can rob you of valuable marina space and there is only so much space available near the water.
Since boatyard space is at a premium, consider a simple and effective solution. Buy supports which are made to stack on atop the other. This can save you a tremendous amount of space and even if you have to buy new supports, the space you save can make it well worth the investment.
Choose Quality Boat Stands for Your Business
When you shop for new supports, take issues like corrosion into account. This is especially important if you are located on or near saltwater. Look for supports with features like these:
- Pads made from marine grade wood
- Heavy angle iron to prevent twisting and distorting
- Hot dipped galvanized finish
- Zinc coated handles and screws
- Tripod design for maximum stability
- Full base between legs to prevent sinking into soft surfaces like asphalt or gravel
