Every fall, GTA boaters face the same decision: where do I store the boat for winter? The useful comparison is not a generic per-foot number. It is whether the quoted package includes outdoor storage, shrinkwrap, engine winterization, spring commissioning, trailer handling,...
Quick answer: HBW offers outdoor shrinkwrap storage only. Customers arrange their own fall drop-off and spring pickup at Gores Landing; HBW does not provide pickup, delivery, hauling, mobile service, or transport referrals. The marina is closed December 1 through April 1, so no service, repower, install, inspection, or customer access happens during that period. Winter is for remote planning and approvals; physical work starts after the marina reopens in early April. Request the current storage scope and price at hbw.wiki/service.
Every fall, GTA boaters face the same decision: where do I store the boat for winter? The useful comparison is not a generic per-foot number. It is whether the quoted package includes outdoor storage, shrinkwrap, engine winterization, spring commissioning, trailer handling, and any model-specific work your boat actually needs.
HBW is a fit when you can trailer the boat to Gores Landing yourself and want the same Mercury dealer handling the fall work, storage record, and spring return-to-service. It is not a fit when you need indoor storage, heated storage, pickup, delivery, mobile service, or arranged transportation.
The Quick Comparison
| Storage option |
What it provides |
Fit for HBW? |
| Outdoor storage with shrinkwrap |
Weather protection on land; winterization scope is a separate item to confirm |
Yes. This is HBW's storage model. |
| Indoor unheated storage |
A roof and enclosure, but freezing temperatures may still occur |
No. HBW does not offer indoor storage. |
| Indoor heated storage |
Heated indoor space with different layup requirements |
No. HBW does not offer heated storage. |
| Pickup, delivery, or mobile storage service |
A provider moves or services the boat off-site |
No. HBW is customer drop-off and pickup only. |
Ask every provider for a written scope. A low storage number is not comparable to a package that also includes shrinkwrap, engine winterization, or spring commissioning. HBW confirms the current scope and price on the service work order; use hbw.wiki/service rather than an old blog figure.
From the Shop
What "Storage" Actually Includes (Often Different Than You Think)
GTA boaters often discover that "boat storage" at a local marina is just parking, not winterization, not service, not anything else. That's a budget problem.
The written scope should answer:
- Is the quoted amount storage only, or does it include shrinkwrap?
- Is engine winterization included, and is it matched to the exact engine and owner's manual?
- Is the gearcase lubricant inspected or changed?
- Is the fuel system treated under the applicable engine procedure?
- Is the battery left in the boat and disconnected to prevent parasitic drain, or is another documented arrangement approved?
- Is spring commissioning included?
- What work, if any, needs separate authorization?
Do not assume every storage contract includes every item. HBW records the approved scope on the work order. For Mercury engines, the exact owner's manual and service literature control the procedure.
The Transport Reality
HBW does not operate or arrange boat transport. Customers are responsible for getting their own boat to and from Gores Landing.
- Trailer the boat to HBW for the fall drop-off.
- Leave it on the approved trailer or follow the handling instructions on the work order.
- Pick it up after the marina reopens and the authorized spring work is complete.
If you cannot arrange your own transport, choose a storage provider whose logistics model fits your situation. HBW does not quote third-party hauling prices or promise referrals.
The Real Differences That Justify Driving
Three reasons GTA boat owners specifically choose HBW for winter storage:
1. The boat returns to the same Mercury dealer in spring
HBW completes the authorized fall work before the December closure. From December 1 through April 1, the marina is closed and no inspection, service, repower, installation, or customer access occurs. Customers can discuss and approve spring work remotely during the closure; physical work begins after reopening.
2. The "boat we know" stays with the people who know it
When a GTA customer's boat lives at HBW year-round (slip in summer, storage in winter), our techs know that specific boat. They know the modifications, the prop history, the weak points, the previous service. A boat that bounces between marinas annually loses that continuity.
3. Spring commissioning is planned before pickup
As of July 2026, HBW spring commissioning is included for winter-storage customers; the current price for non-storage customers is $99. Confirm the current scope when booking at hbw.wiki/service. Physical commissioning begins only after the marina reopens in early April.
When NOT to Drive to HBW for Storage
Honest cases where local GTA storage makes more sense:
You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.
- Boat is owned by a Lake Ontario marina dweller. If your boat lives in a Toronto-area slip and you boat exclusively on Lake Ontario, the round-trip storage transport doesn't pencil out vs. local options.
- You're renting a slip in the GTA somewhere that includes winter storage. Some marina contracts bundle slip + storage; you're already paying for it.
- Boat is over 30 ft. Transport costs scale with boat size; over 30 ft, transport may exceed any savings.
- You don't have winter access to GTA + Rice Lake area. If you live abroad or out-of-province for winter, leaving the boat with someone you can't reach is harder. Local-storage with a good local relationship is sometimes better.
For everyone else, particularly GTA boaters who travel to Rice Lake or the Kawarthas in summer, or who have any service relationship with HBW, winter storage on our property is the right answer.
A Sample GTA Storage Schedule
Walking through the actual timeline for a GTA boater wintering with us:
Mid-September. Decide whether HBW's outdoor-shrinkwrap model fits. Submit the service request at hbw.wiki/service and confirm the approved scope, price, and drop-off date.
October 1-31. Drive boat to HBW. Drop off, sign service work order, hand keys, drive home. One trip.
Early November. We complete the exact engine's fuel, internal-protection, gearcase, battery, drainage, and storage-position steps. Documentation stays in your file.
Early November. Boat shrinkwrapped with proper frame, 2-4 vents installed, strapping for snow load.
December 1-April 1. The marina is closed. No inspection, service, repower, install work, or customer access happens during this period. The documented battery arrangement remains in place; batteries left in the boat are disconnected to prevent parasitic drain.
Over winter: Discuss and approve any spring work by phone or email so it can be scheduled after reopening.
Early April onward. Physical spring commissioning and any separately authorized work begin after the marina reopens.
Mid-late May. You drive up. Boat is ready, run, sea-trialed, launching at our slip. Pick up keys, take boat. Second trip of the year.
Customer transport: one fall drop-off and one spring pickup. HBW does not provide or arrange either trip.
How to Get the Current HBW Price
HBW does not offer indoor or heated storage. The current outdoor-storage quote depends on the boat, trailer, length, shrinkwrap requirements, engine configuration, and authorized fall work.
Use hbw.wiki/service for the current written scope and price. Do not budget from an old per-foot rate or a generic Ontario range.
As of July 2026, spring commissioning is included for HBW winter-storage customers and is $99 for non-storage customers. Confirm that this remains current when booking.
Reviewed by
Reviewed by the Harris Boat Works service team. HBW handles Mercury and Mercruiser service from Gores Landing on Rice Lake. For engine repairs, we only service Mercury and Mercruiser. About Harris Boat Works.
Sources and Review Notes
- HBW service intake and current work-order scope: hbw.wiki/service
- HBW operating rule verified July 24, 2026: outdoor shrinkwrap storage only; customer-arranged drop-off and pickup; marina closed December 1 through April 1
- Spring commissioning price verified July 2026: included for HBW winter-storage customers; $99 for non-storage customers
- Mercury winterization procedures vary by engine. Follow the exact owner's manual and authorized service literature.
Booking: hbw.wiki/service
Phone: 905-342-2153
Address: 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON
Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.
