Winter Boat Storage Near Lewis and Clark Lake: What Yankton Boat Owners Need to Know

Lewis and Clark Lake draws over a million visitors a year. But when the temperature drops and the water turns to ice, your boat needs a safe place to spend the winter. Here’s how to handle winter boat storage near Yankton, SD — the right way.

Why Winter Boat Storage Matters in Southeast South Dakota

If you own a boat on Lewis and Clark Lake or anywhere near Yankton, South Dakota, you already know the season is short. You get maybe five solid months on the water — May through September if you’re lucky. The other seven months, that boat is sitting somewhere.

Where it sits, and how you prepare it, determines whether you launch clean next spring or spend your first weekend of the season at the repair shop.

South Dakota winters are brutal. We’re talking sustained temps below zero, heavy snow loads, ice storms, and freeze-thaw cycles that crack engine blocks and split water lines. Leaving your boat outside with no preparation isn’t storage — it’s neglect.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Boat Storage: Which Is Worth It?

This is the first decision every boat owner faces. Here’s the honest breakdown:

Outdoor Storage

What it is: Your boat sits on its trailer in an open lot, covered or uncovered.

Pros: - Cheapest option — sometimes half the cost of indoor storage - Easy access if you need to work on the boat during winter - No size restrictions (your 24-footer fits just fine)

Cons: - Full exposure to South Dakota wind, snow, ice, and UV damage - Requires a high-quality boat cover or shrink wrap ($200-400 per season) - Higher risk of rodent damage — mice love boats - Your trailer sits in moisture and salt runoff all winter, accelerating rust - Cosmetic wear: sun-faded paint, cracked vinyl seats, oxidized aluminum

Best for: Aluminum fishing boats, older boats where cosmetic condition isn’t a priority, or boat owners on a tight budget who are willing to invest in proper winterization and a good cover.

Indoor Storage

What it is: Your boat goes inside a building — either a dedicated storage facility, a personal garage, or a rented storage unit.

Pros: - Protected from all weather, UV, snow load, and temperature extremes - Dramatically lower risk of rodent and pest damage - No cover or shrink wrap needed (saves $200-400/year) - Your boat comes out in spring looking the same as it went in - Trailer stays dry and protected too

Cons: - More expensive — typically $100-250/month depending on boat size and facility - May have limited availability (popular facilities fill up by September) - Need a unit tall and long enough to fit your boat on its trailer

Best for: Fiberglass boats, pontoons, newer boats, anything with electronics or upholstery you want to protect. If your boat is worth more than $10,000, indoor storage usually pays for itself in avoided repairs and depreciation.

The Math

Let’s say outdoor storage costs $75/month and indoor costs $175/month. That’s a $100/month difference, or $700 over a 7-month winter.

Now consider: one cracked engine block from a bad winterization job costs $2,000-5,000 to repair. One season of UV damage to a gel coat costs $500-1,500 to buff and restore. Mice chewing through wiring harnesses? $800+ at the marina.

Indoor storage isn’t an expense. It’s insurance.

How to Winterize Your Boat Before Storage

Whether you store indoors or outdoors, proper winterization is non-negotiable in South Dakota. Skip any of these steps and you’re gambling with expensive repairs.

Engine Winterization

For outboard motors: 1. Flush the engine with fresh water using muffs or a flush adapter 2. Run the engine and fog the cylinders with fogging oil (spray it into the carburetors or throttle body while the engine runs, then shut it off) 3. Drain all water from the engine — the lower unit, water pump housing, and all passages 4. Change the lower unit gear oil and inspect for water contamination (milky oil means a bad seal) 5. Stabilize the fuel — add fuel stabilizer to a full tank and run the engine for 10 minutes to circulate it through the system 6. Disconnect the battery and store it somewhere above freezing (a basement or heated garage is fine)

For inboard/sterndrive motors: Everything above, plus: - Drain the engine block and exhaust manifolds completely - Run non-toxic antifreeze (propylene glycol, NOT automotive ethylene glycol) through the cooling system - Change the engine oil and filter

Fuel System

• Fill the tank to 90-95% (reduces air space where condensation forms, but leave room for expansion)
• Add marine-grade fuel stabilizer
• Run the engine long enough for treated fuel to reach the carburetors or injectors
• For boats stored more than 3 months, consider draining fuel systems with ethanol-blend gas — ethanol absorbs water and separates over time

Water Systems

• Drain all freshwater tanks, water heaters, and plumbing lines
• Run non-toxic RV antifreeze through the freshwater system, including faucets and shower
• Open all drain plugs and leave them open
• Remove the drain plug from the hull

Cleaning and Covering

• Wash the hull, deck, and interior thoroughly — dirt and grime cause staining and mildew over winter
• Clean and treat all vinyl seats and cushions with a UV protectant
• Remove all food, drinks, and anything that can attract pests
• Place rodent deterrents inside the boat (mothballs, dryer sheets, or commercial mouse repellent)
• If storing outdoors, invest in a quality fitted cover or professional shrink wrap

When to Arrange Winter Boat Storage Near Yankton

Here’s the mistake most Yankton-area boat owners make: they wait until October to think about winter storage.

By October, the good indoor spots are already taken. Serious boat owners start calling facilities in August and booking by early September. Lewis and Clark Lake boat pullout typically happens in late September through mid-October depending on the weather, and facilities near Yankton and Gavins Point Dam fill up fast.

Timeline: - August: Start calling storage facilities. Ask about availability, pricing, and unit sizes. Reserve your spot. - September: Schedule your winterization (DIY or marina service). Buy supplies. - Late September–October: Pull the boat, winterize it, and move it to storage. - October 15: You should be done. Don’t push it — one early hard freeze can catch you off guard.

What Size Storage Unit Fits a Boat?

This depends on your boat, obviously. Here are rough guidelines:

Always measure your boat on its trailer — length from hitch to motor, width at widest point (including mirrors or rod holders), and height from ground to highest point (tower, Bimini top, or windshield). Add 6-12 inches on each side for clearance.

Don’t forget the height of the storage unit door. A pontoon with a Bimini top can be 9-10 feet tall on a trailer. Standard garage doors are 8 feet. Make sure the door is tall enough before you commit.

Winter Boat Storage Options Near Lewis and Clark Lake

If you keep your boat on Lewis and Clark Lake or launch from Gavins Point Dam, you’ve got a few storage options in the area:

Yankton-area facilities offer a mix of indoor and outdoor storage, but availability is limited and prices are higher due to demand. The closer you are to the lake, the more you’ll pay.

South of Yankton — in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman — Lock N’ Leave It Storage offers large units that comfortably fit boats and trailers. Their 14x50 units are built for exactly this kind of storage: boats, pontoons, RVs, and large equipment. And because they’re just 20-30 minutes from the lake, you’re not driving hours to retrieve your boat in spring.

The advantage of storing slightly south of Yankton? Lower prices, easier availability, and the same drive time you’d spend fighting traffic closer to the lake.

Protect Your Investment This Winter

Your boat is one of your biggest recreational investments. A proper winterization and a solid indoor storage spot protects that investment and gets you back on Lewis and Clark Lake faster in spring — without surprise repair bills.

Don’t wait until the first frost to figure out where your boat is spending the winter.

Lock N’ Leave It Storage has large units available at their Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman, SD locations — perfect for boats, pontoons, and trailers of all sizes. Reserve your winter storage spot before they fill up.

👉 Visit locknleaveitstorage.org or call today to check availability.