Do you offer indoor and outdoor boat storage on Rice Lake?

Outdoor only. Our storage lot in Gores Landing is fenced, monitored, and staffed daily through the off-season. Boats are blocked, shrinkwrapped, and stored on our property from fall pickup through spring commissioning. We don't operate indoor heated storage. If your boat needs climate-controlled indoor space, we'll point you to a facility that does it without making a thing of it. For most aluminum fishing boats, pontoons, and smaller fiberglass boats, outdoor with professional shrinkwrap is the right answer, and it's what we've been doing since 1947.

What's included in your winterization package?

Our standard winterization covers the engine and systems that can't survive an Ontario freeze-thaw cycle: fuel stabilization, fogging oil in the cylinders, draining the cooling system, gearcase lube inspection or change, battery removal or trickle-charge setup, and antifreeze in any water systems (livewells, freshwater, head). The motor is trimmed up to drain, and the boat is prepped for its winter cover. We bundle this with storage and shrinkwrap so you don't have to coordinate three different vendors. Full details are in our outdoor boat storage and shrinkwrap guide.

How much does boat storage cost in the Kawartha Lakes?

Pricing depends on boat length, whether you bundle winterization and spring commissioning, and what cover option you choose. As a general planning range for the Kawartha Lakes area: outdoor storage with shrinkwrap typically runs from several hundred dollars for a small fishing boat up to roughly a thousand dollars or more for a larger pontoon or cabin boat. Winterization is usually an additional few hundred dollars. Spring commissioning, fuel system check, battery reinstall, water system flush, and launch-prep, is typically in the low-to-mid hundreds. The best way to get a real number for your boat is to request a storage quote through hbw.wiki/service with your boat model and length.

Can I store my boat at HBW if I keep it on Pigeon / Sturgeon / Buckhorn?

Yes. About half our storage customers don't keep their boats on Rice Lake during the season. They trailer from Pigeon Lake (about 45 min by road), Sturgeon Lake (20 - 25 min), Buckhorn Lake (30 - 35 min), or Stoney Lake (25 - 30 min) for winterization and storage because it simplifies spring launch, the boat is already winterized, wrapped, and sitting on a lake that connects to the Trent-Severn Waterway. You pick it up in April, commission it on-site, and launch the same day instead of hauling it home, finding the battery, and discovering the tarp didn't survive the winter.

When should I book winter storage?

Mid-September is the sweet spot. You get choice of slot, time to sort out any late-season repairs, and you avoid the October panic when the first frost warning hits and everyone calls at once. By the last week of October we're usually full and turning people away. If you're reading this in August, you're in good shape. If you're reading this in late October, call immediately, 905-342-2153, and we'll tell you honestly what's left.

Do you do shrinkwrap separately from storage?

We can, but most customers bundle it. Shrinkwrap alone is a legitimate service if you're storing at home and just need a proper winter cover. The wrap is heat-shrunk polyethylene over a frame, vents to prevent moisture buildup, and removes cleanly in spring. If you only need shrinkwrap (no storage, no winterization), contact us and we'll quote it. If you need the full package, winterization, storage, shrinkwrap, and spring commissioning, bundling saves you money and means one phone number for the whole off-season.

Do you offer spring commissioning when I pick the boat up?

Yes, and we recommend it. Spring commissioning is the reverse of winterization: reinstall the battery, flush and test the water systems, inspect the fuel system, check gearcase lube, run the motor on earmuffs, and do a pre-launch safety check. The boat goes from 'wrapped and stored' to 'ready to launch' in one appointment. You can pick up the boat on a Saturday morning and be on the water by noon instead of spending your first spring weekend troubleshooting a dead battery or figuring out why the livewell won't prime. Our spring outboard commissioning checklist walks through exactly what's included.

What if my boat isn't a Mercury, can I still store it?

Yes. We store and winterize all makes of outboard-powered boats. Our service shop specializes in Mercury and Mercruiser engine work, but storage and general winterization aren't brand-specific. If your boat has a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, or Evinrude outboard, we can still winterize it, store it, and commission it in spring. We just won't be the right shop for major engine repairs on non-Mercury motors, for that, we can recommend a qualified mechanic.

Boat Storage Rice Lake Kawarthas

Quick answer: Harris Boat Works offers winter boat storage, shrinkwrap, winterization, and spring commissioning from our Rice Lake marina in Gores Landing, accessible to boaters across the Kawartha Lakes (Rice, Pigeon, Sturgeon, Buckhorn, Stoney) and the GTA-east region....

Mercury Premier Dealer·Family-owned since 1947·Mercury dealer since 1965·Gores Landing, ON·Quote builder available

Quick answer: Harris Boat Works offers winter boat storage, shrinkwrap, winterization, and spring commissioning from our Rice Lake marina in Gores Landing, accessible to boaters across the Kawartha Lakes (Rice, Pigeon, Sturgeon, Buckhorn, Stoney) and the GTA-east region. Storing where you boat means no spring scavenger hunt for the battery, cover, paperwork, or "who has the key?"

Three ways to store your boat on Rice Lake — at home DIY, HBW outdoor shrinkwrap, or indoor elsewhere, compared on cost and effort

What good boat storage actually includes

Boat storage shouldn't create a spring scavenger hunt. A proper storage package does more than park your boat on a gravel lot for six months.

Shrinkwrap that survives an Ontario winter. Not a blue tarp that flaps itself to shreds by January. Professional shrinkwrap is heat-shrunk polyethylene over a fitted frame. It sheds snow, vents moisture, and removes cleanly in April without leaving tape residue or mystery tears.

Winterization done right. Fuel stabilizer in the tank so your gas doesn't turn to varnish. Fogging oil in the cylinders so rust doesn't start. Lower unit drained and inspected. Battery pulled and trickle-charged, or at least tested. Water systems, livewells, freshwater tank, head, drained and protected with antifreeze. A boat that's just "put away" without winterization is a boat that won't start in May.

Spring commissioning. The reverse process: battery back in, systems flushed, fuel system checked, motor run on earmuffs, pre-launch safety inspection. You pick up the boat ready to launch, not ready to troubleshoot.

Secure storage area. Fenced, monitored, staffed daily. Not a back field where anyone with a pickup can back up and help themselves.

Easy spring launch. The boat is stored on the water system you actually boat on. Pick it up, commission it, launch the same day. No 90-minute tow from your home garage to the lake, no discovering the trailer bearings seized over winter.

That's what good storage looks like. Everything else is just parking.

Outdoor storage, shrinkwrap, winterization, and spring commissioning at HBW

We bundle storage into straightforward tiers based on what your boat needs and how hands-on you want to be:

Storage + Shrinkwrap

Blocked and positioned on our fenced property in Gores Landing
Professional shrinkwrap with frame and vents
Visual checks through winter after storms
Unwrap and staging in spring

Storage + Shrinkwrap + Winterization

Everything in the tier above, plus:
Fuel system stabilization
Engine fogging and cooling system drain
Gearcase lube inspection/change
Battery removal or trickle-charge setup
Water system drain and antifreeze protection

Full Season Package, Storage + Shrinkwrap + Winterization + Spring Commissioning

Everything above, plus:
Spring battery reinstall and test
Fuel system and water system flush
Motor run-up on earmuffs
Pre-launch safety check
Ready-to-launch handoff

Most customers choose the middle or full package because it eliminates phone tag between fall and spring. You drop the boat off in October, pick it up in April, and it's ready to run. The marina is closed during winter months, but we are available by phone, text, or email anytime, so all storage drop-offs and pickups happen on either side of that window. Harris Boat Works is drop-off only: customers bring the boat to our Gores Landing marina, we do not offer pickup or delivery service. For a detailed breakdown of what's included at each step, see our outdoor boat storage and shrinkwrap guide.

Why storing near your boating water matters

We've heard every reason boaters haul their boats home for winter. Some are valid. Most create more work than they save.

The trailering math: Home storage means trailering the boat home in fall (fuel, time, wear on the trailer), storing it on your driveway or in your garage for six months, then trailering it back to the lake in spring. If you live 90 minutes from Rice Lake, that's six hours of towing per year, plus the risk of a lower-unit strike on a gravel driveway or the realization that your garage door is two inches too low.

The spring delay: If your boat is at home, you can't launch on the first nice Saturday in April. You have to tow it back, find the ramp, launch, and then discover what winter broke. If it's stored at HBW, you commission it on-site and launch the same morning.

The "where's the battery?" problem: Boat storage at home often means the battery lives in your basement, the cover lives in your shed, the paperwork lives in your glovebox, and the keys are... somewhere. Storing with a marina means everything stays with the boat. One phone call, one pickup, one launch.

Storing where you boat isn't a luxury. It's a practical decision that saves time, towing wear, and spring panic.

Kawartha Lakes coverage

HBW is based on Rice Lake in Gores Landing, but our storage customers come from across the Kawarthas. Here's the reality of driving distance from our marina to neighbouring lakes:

Lake	Approx. drive from Gores Landing	Notes
Rice Lake	On-site	Our home lake; launch from our property
Pigeon Lake	about 45 min by road	Popular with families; easy haul via County Rd 18
Sturgeon Lake	20–25 min	Good walleye and bass; close to Lindsay
Buckhorn Lake	30–35 min	Part of the Trent-Severn; lots of cottagers
Stoney Lake	25–30 min	Clear water, great fishing, slightly longer haul

If you boat on any of these lakes, storing at HBW means your boat winters on a connected waterway in the same region. In spring, you commission it, launch on Rice Lake, and run the Trent-Severn to your home lake, or trailer it the short distance back to your usual ramp.

You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.

Rows of shrinkwrapped pleasure boats in a Canadian marina winter storage yard

Store at HBW vs Haul Home: which is right for you?

Store at HBW vs Haul Home, which is right for you?

There's no wrong answer, but there is a right answer for most Kawartha boaters.

Store with HBW

You live 90+ minutes from your home lake
You want winterization, shrinkwrap, and storage from one vendor
You hate spring scavenger hunts for batteries, covers, and keys
You want to launch on the first nice day in April
Your boat lives on a Kawartha lake during the season

Recommended for most Kawartha boaters

Haul home

You have proper indoor storage space at home (garage, barn, shed)
You enjoy doing your own winterization and spring commissioning
You live close to your boating lake and towing is no burden
You're hands-on and prefer to manage every step yourself

Good for DIY winterizers with indoor space

When in doubt:If you're more than 90 minutes from home or don't love doing your own winterization, store with us.

Questions to ask before choosing storage

Not all storage is equal. Ask these questions before you hand over your keys:

Indoor vs outdoor? Outdoor with professional shrinkwrap is right for most aluminum and smaller fiberglass boats. Indoor heated storage is worth the premium for high-end cabin cruisers or boats with sensitive electronics. Ask honestly which category your boat falls into.

Is winterization included? Some places store the boat and leave winterization to you. Others bundle it. Know what you're signing up for, a stored but unwinterized boat is a damaged boat by spring.

Who does the work? Ask whether the marina's own staff handles winterization or whether they subcontract. At HBW, our techs do the work. If something's wrong in spring, you talk to the person who did it.

What's the spring handoff? Do you get the boat wrapped and parked, or do you get the boat ready to launch? Spring commissioning is the difference between "here's your boat" and "here's your boat, it's running, and the livewell works."

When's the last access date? Some facilities lock down in November and you can't get to your boat until April. If you might need mid-winter access, ask.

What about the battery? Dead batteries are the #1 spring surprise. Ask whether the battery is removed and trickle-charged, or whether it's left in the boat with a tender.

Insurance? Confirm your boat insurance covers off-season storage at the facility, and ask whether the storage facility carries its own liability coverage.

When to book

Don't leave it to the last week of October.

Mid-September is the sweet spot. You get choice of slot, time to address any late-season repairs, and you avoid the panic when the first frost warning hits.

October works. Most spots still have room, but the best slots are gone.

The last week before freeze-up is when everyone calls at once. That's when we start saying no.

If you're reading this in summer, book now. If you're reading this in late fall, call 905-342-2153 and we'll tell you honestly what's left.

What we see at HBW

Storage season kicks off the second weekend of October. By mid-November, the outdoor lot is packed. Most of our storage customers are GTA-based (Toronto, Markham, Mississauga) and chose Rice Lake specifically because of the storage pricing and the proximity to highway 401.

The pattern we see year over year: customers underbook in October, then panic-call in early November when winter hits. Our advice: book in September, drop off in mid-October. Cheaper that way, and you do not get stuck calling around at the last minute. Harris Boat Works is drop-off only. The marina is closed during winter months, but we are available by phone, text, or email anytime.

Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer indoor and outdoor boat storage on Rice Lake?: Outdoor only. Our storage lot in Gores Landing is fenced, monitored, and staffed daily through the off-season. Boats are blocked, shrinkwrapped, and stored on our property from fall pickup through spring commissioning. We don't operate indoor heated storage. If your boat needs climate-controlled indoor space, we'll point you to a facility that does it without making a thing of it. For most aluminum fishing boats, pontoons, and smaller fiberglass boats, outdoor with professional shrinkwrap is the right answer, and it's what we've been doing since 1947.
What's included in your winterization package?: Our standard winterization covers the engine and systems that can't survive an Ontario freeze-thaw cycle: fuel stabilization, fogging oil in the cylinders, draining the cooling system, gearcase lube inspection or change, battery removal or trickle-charge setup, and antifreeze in any water systems (livewells, freshwater, head). The motor is trimmed up to drain, and the boat is prepped for its winter cover. We bundle this with storage and shrinkwrap so you don't have to coordinate three different vendors. Full details are in our outdoor boat storage and shrinkwrap guide.
How much does boat storage cost in the Kawartha Lakes?: Pricing depends on boat length, whether you bundle winterization and spring commissioning, and what cover option you choose. As a general planning range for the Kawartha Lakes area: outdoor storage with shrinkwrap typically runs from several hundred dollars for a small fishing boat up to roughly a thousand dollars or more for a larger pontoon or cabin boat. Winterization is usually an additional few hundred dollars. Spring commissioning, fuel system check, battery reinstall, water system flush, and launch-prep, is typically in the low-to-mid hundreds. The best way to get a real number for your boat is to request a storage quote through hbw.wiki/service with your boat model and length.
Can I store my boat at HBW if I keep it on Pigeon / Sturgeon / Buckhorn?: Yes. About half our storage customers don't keep their boats on Rice Lake during the season. They trailer from Pigeon Lake (about 45 min by road), Sturgeon Lake (20 - 25 min), Buckhorn Lake (30 - 35 min), or Stoney Lake (25 - 30 min) for winterization and storage because it simplifies spring launch, the boat is already winterized, wrapped, and sitting on a lake that connects to the Trent-Severn Waterway. You pick it up in April, commission it on-site, and launch the same day instead of hauling it home, finding the battery, and discovering the tarp didn't survive the winter.
When should I book winter storage?: Mid-September is the sweet spot. You get choice of slot, time to sort out any late-season repairs, and you avoid the October panic when the first frost warning hits and everyone calls at once. By the last week of October we're usually full and turning people away. If you're reading this in August, you're in good shape. If you're reading this in late October, call immediately, 905-342-2153, and we'll tell you honestly what's left.
Do you do shrinkwrap separately from storage?: We can, but most customers bundle it. Shrinkwrap alone is a legitimate service if you're storing at home and just need a proper winter cover. The wrap is heat-shrunk polyethylene over a frame, vents to prevent moisture buildup, and removes cleanly in spring. If you only need shrinkwrap (no storage, no winterization), contact us and we'll quote it. If you need the full package, winterization, storage, shrinkwrap, and spring commissioning, bundling saves you money and means one phone number for the whole off-season.
Do you offer spring commissioning when I pick the boat up?: Yes, and we recommend it. Spring commissioning is the reverse of winterization: reinstall the battery, flush and test the water systems, inspect the fuel system, check gearcase lube, run the motor on earmuffs, and do a pre-launch safety check. The boat goes from 'wrapped and stored' to 'ready to launch' in one appointment. You can pick up the boat on a Saturday morning and be on the water by noon instead of spending your first spring weekend troubleshooting a dead battery or figuring out why the livewell won't prime. Our spring outboard commissioning checklist walks through exactly what's included.
What if my boat isn't a Mercury, can I still store it?: Yes. We store and winterize all makes of outboard-powered boats. Our service shop specializes in Mercury and Mercruiser engine work, but storage and general winterization aren't brand-specific. If your boat has a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, or Evinrude outboard, we can still winterize it, store it, and commission it in spring. We just won't be the right shop for major engine repairs on non-Mercury motors, for that, we can recommend a qualified mechanic.

Harris Boat Works · 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON · (905) 342-2153

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