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Off-premise dry storage gives boaters
alternatives
Second of a two-part series on
boat storage around Lanier
By
Pamela A. Keene
The Lake Lanier area is filled with boat-storage
facilities. From the lake’s 10 marinas to off-premise trailer
storage, boaters have many choices for storing their boats.
 As
for dry storage off premise, there are a number of yards and
facilities from which to choose. The two largest providers on Lanier
are Hidden Harbor/Little Harbor on Buford Dam Road owned by Brandon
Hastings and two facilities operated by Phil Markert: Holiday Road
Boat Storage and Buford Dam Road Boat Storage. Both have paved lots,
covered and uncovered storage and 24-hour gated access.
Just how do you go about selecting the boat-storage
facility that’s right for you?
“A lot of it has to do with location,” said Hastings.
“It depends on how close you want to be to the lake and launch
ramps.”
 Markert’s
Holiday Road location is within two miles of five launch ramps.
Additionally, it is located on the same road as many of the boat
dealers in the area. Hastings’ locations are near ramps as well.
Gravel lots, as many of the older facilities are,
usually cost less per month than storage in yards that have paved
lots and parking spaces.
Additionally, security is a big issue with boaters
and with facility owners.
“Look for a company that has someone on duty 24 hours
a day, at least reachable by telephone,” said Markert. “We even have
an on-premise caretaker who lives at our location on Buford Dam
Road.”
Markert’s and Hastings’ storage locations each have
surveillance cameras and individually coded gate access.
“That way, we can always tell who’s been here,”
Markert said. “And that’s a good way to keep an eye on people’s
property.”
Boat storage on trailers allows owners to come and
get their boats and launch them themselves, spending less per month
than boats that are kept in wet slips.
“Think of it this way,” Hastings said. “People spend
$75 to $100 a month on their cable bills, and for something that
costs a whole lot more – your boat – you should take good care of
it, storing it in covered storage at a professional facility.”
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