Storage for Everyone,
Income for Bays.
Find a safe berth on dry land, drop the boat, and get back on the water. No dramas, just fair deals.
No subscription fees. No listing fees. Founder Hosts pay 0% platform fee for 6 months from launch. After that, a 15% commission applies.
Zero Fees
for Storers.
Searching, browsing, and booking is 100% free for storers. You only pay the yard owner's rate and the payment processing fee. Hosts currently pay 0% commission as Founder Hosts for 6 months from launch.
Finding Space
Your boat, in a trusted yard.
We handle the details so you can focus on the water. Simple steps, zero hidden agendas.
Browse local spots without the dramas
If you have ever tried to find short-term boat storage near a boat ramp, you will know that marinas often have waiting lists and commercial facilities do not always want to deal with trailers. FindBoatStorage works differently. You are searching private properties: farms, rural blocks, coastal acreage from people who have the space and want to put it to work.
Use the map to search near your preferred launch point or your home. Filter by storage type (covered shed, open hardstand, gravel yard), access to a boat ramp, and whether the host accepts trailer boats versus hull-only storage. Listings show real dimensions including shed door widths, mast clearances, and yard surface, so you can tell before contact whether your setup will fit.
Jet ski and PWC storage is well covered too, and many listings are flexible enough to take a mix of vessels on separate arrangements.
Request your spot in seconds
When you have found a yard that works, send the host a message. Tell them what you are storing: the make, length, beam, and whether it is on a trailer or off. If you have a sailing boat, mention the mast. Even with it down, a trailered yacht can be surprisingly tall with the boom and rigging. Hosts appreciate the heads up.
Most boat storage hosts are boaties themselves or rural property owners who understand that access schedules do not always line up with office hours. If you need to get in for a pre-dawn run to the ramp, say so. If you only need access twice a month, that is handy to know too. Some hosts manage gate access differently depending on frequency.
Secure payment via Stripe
Pay when you book, your request only reaches the host after payment is confirmed. If the host declines or doesn't respond within 72 hours, you get a full refund. Stripe handles everything with bank-level security and your payment details are never seen by the host.
Once confirmed, you receive the host's contact details and access instructions. The Handover takes care of condition records at drop-off and pick-up. No paperwork to argue over. Just a fair transaction between two people who both want it to be simple.
New to storage? Read How to Store Your Vehicle
Marinas have waiting lists. Your backyard neighbour does not.
Commercial marina dry storage is expensive, often booked out, and rarely close to where you actually launch. Private yards, coastal properties, rural blocks near the river, suburban houses with long driveways, are available right now at a fraction of the cost. Owners are earning from space they were not using. Boaties are getting access they could not find elsewhere. That is what this platform was built for.
The Practical Guide
What you need to know before you store your boat
Washing before storage
If your boat has been in salt water, wash it thoroughly before dropping it at a private yard. Salt causes corrosion on trailer components, outboard motors, and any bare metal fittings. It can also affect a host's driveway or yard surface over time.
Anti-foul paint on boat hulls is another consideration. Freshly painted hulls can leave residue on sealed or concrete surfaces. Let the host know if your boat has been recently anti-fouled, and check whether they have a preference for where the hull sits.
Mast height and shed clearances
If you are storing a sailing boat, mast height is the first thing to resolve. With the mast up, most trailered sailing dinghies and small keelboats sit at 6 to 12 metres. Even with the mast down, the profile of a trailered yacht can exceed 2.5 to 3 metres at the forestay or boom.
Measure your actual trailer height before searching for shed storage. Door clearances for listed sheds are noted in the listing details.
Battery maintenance over winter
Outboard batteries and onboard electronics batteries discharge in storage. For long-term storage, a trickle charger will keep the battery at the right charge without overcharging it. Some private yard hosts have power access, and it is worth asking if you need it. If power is not available, pull the battery and keep it at home on a charger, or accept that you will need to charge it before each use.
Engine flushing for outboards
If you are storing for more than a few weeks, flush the outboard engine with fresh water before storage, fog the cylinders with corrosion inhibitor, and either run the fuel tank dry or add fuel stabiliser. Stale fuel causes carburettor issues, and a corroded engine discovered at the start of summer is an expensive problem. These steps take 20 minutes and save significant money.
Boat registration while stored
In most Australian states, vessel registration must stay current even if the boat is not being used. In NSW, for example, recreational vessel registration must be renewed annually regardless of usage. Check your state's maritime authority requirements before letting registration lapse.
Storage proximity to your launch point
Think about how often you will be accessing the storage and what route you will take to the ramp. Private storage works best when it is reasonably close to either your home or your preferred launch point. Driving 45 minutes each way to retrieve your boat before you can even get to the ramp adds hours to what should be a quick weekend trip.
The Handover.
Two photos per booking. A clear record for both sides if anything ever comes up.
Arrival photo
Record how things looked on arrival. Clear starting point for both sides.
Departure photo
Hull is out, yard is clear, job is done.
Encrypted & Timestamped
You only use the boat on weekends. Your storage should reflect that.
Most recreational boaties are on the water six to twelve times a year. Paying for a marina berth or a full-service storage bay twelve months a year is a bad deal. Private storage lets you negotiate directly: three months in summer, a long-term arrangement, or casual access when you need it. Hosts are flexible because they want the income. You are flexible because you do not need daily access. It works.
List Your YardHost a Space
Your yard. Your rules. Your earnings.
Start earning from day one
Upload photos, set your rules, and pick your price. It is completely free to put your unused space to work.
You pick who stores, you pick what stays
Review every request. Approve the boats that fit your yard and reject the ones that do not. No surprises.
Cash in your back pocket
Payouts are initiated after check-in and typically arrive in your bank account within 2–5 business days, depending on your bank and payment processing times.
Built on Trust
Verified Members
Email and phone verified. Earn a Verified Member badge with photo ID.
Secure Payments
All payments processed securely through Stripe with platform-facilitated dispute resolution.
Handshake Deals
Transparent pricing, fair terms, and no hidden fees. Ever.
Real Help
Real people, based locally. Chat, email, or call.
Common Questions
Got questions? We have answers.
Can I store a boat with the mast up?
It depends on the listing. Some open yards have no height restriction and can accommodate masts of 10 metres or more. Enclosed sheds typically cannot. Search for listings that mention mast clearance or send the host your mast height. Most will tell you immediately whether it works.
Is anti-foul paint a problem for private yard hosts?
Freshly applied anti-foul can leach onto concrete or sealed surfaces, which some hosts are not comfortable with. Disclose this when you make your request. If your hull was anti-fouled recently, a layer of sacrificial drop sheet under the hull when stationary will generally resolve any concerns. Most hosts are practical about it.
Do I need to wash my boat before drop-off?
It is good practice and expected by most hosts, particularly if the boat has been in salt water. Rinse the hull, trailer, and wheels before drop-off. Salt residue causes corrosion over time and can affect the yard surface. It is the kind of thing a decent boatie does as a matter of course.