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Author Topic:   Garaging Small Whaler in Shipping Container

freebored posted 07-22-2008 09:48 AM ET (US)
[Seeks] thoughts and experience garaging a small [Boston Whaler boat] in a used shipping container. It seems that these are pretty cheap, can be set right on the ground, can be bought with double doors on both ends so one may drive a trailered boat right through and come in 20- and 40-foot sizes. A 20-footer is about 7'6" wide and about 19'6" long inside. I'd like to use one as a drive-through garage for a trailered 15-foot classic with a swing away trailer hitch. Any thoughts? Thanks.
-tony
ConB posted 07-22-2008 10:29 AM ET (US)
My neighbor bought a 40' container for storage. I could not see it from my house but the neighbor on his other side had a good look at it and cited deed restrictions against the "storage shed". It was quite a challenge to get it back up hill to the road for removal.
The container was named "the Big Ugly" and is still referred to as such.
Con
Plotman posted 07-22-2008 10:34 AM ET (US)
Other than that they are ugly, and likely a bit of overkill, I'm sure it would work just fine. Most I've seen don't have doors at both ends, but I can't see why this wouldn't work.
deepwater posted 07-22-2008 11:02 AM ET (US)
clean it up and maybe add a peaked roof some shrubs and it might be OK ask your neighbors first and see what they say
freebored posted 07-22-2008 12:08 PM ET (US)
make a few calls and it seems that the option of having doors at both ends is new in the business. thus, used containers with this options not readily available. new ones (one trip from china to the us) are. they run about 3300, plus shipping (about 700 for me) ...
freebored posted 07-22-2008 12:09 PM ET (US)
made a few calls and it seems that the option of having doors at both ends is new in the business. thus, used containers with this options not readily available. new ones (one trip from china to the us) are. they run about 3300, plus shipping (about 700 for me) ...
No Respect posted 07-22-2008 02:45 PM ET (US)
I have used them for storage but never a boat.
One problem I had was moisture build up inside in the winter and this was in sunny So Cal. Dripping condensation and rust stains. Something to consider.
DaveS posted 07-22-2008 03:06 PM ET (US)
Sounds like an interesting solution to a problem, as long as it's not going to cause a big stink with the neighbors! One other alternative would be one of those awning type structures. There's a couple of places near my house selling them for about $800. Looks like they have 4-8 supports with a fiberglass roof (I'm guessing on this one). People use them for their cars and boats. They might even have side walls you could buy or just use the blue tarps during the winter. Might look a little nicer.
Good luck.
Dave
pglein posted 07-22-2008 03:19 PM ET (US)
I used to work at a shop that used containers for most of our storage and in some cases, work space. It would work, and they are pretty darn watertight. They do get hot in the summer, but we never had much of a problem with condensation.
They're 8' wide on the outside, which translates to about 7'6" on the inside. I remember how frustrating this was because you couldn't put two 4'x4' pallets side by side in them. That should be big enough for a 15'.
But why not just buy one of those canvas shelters at Costco for $200?
freebored posted 07-25-2008 02:51 PM ET (US)
thank you for the advice gentlemen ... the canvas shelters strike me as too flimsy and i live in the woods where all kinds of "critters" like to make nests in my toys ... the prefab carports are very attractive, but, again, they let mice etc. move into the boat (chewing on wires etc?) ...
a prefab garage is a similar option ...
i believe that the shipping containers will seal well enough to keep the "critters" out ... also, i believe they don't require a building permit and/or additional taxes ... the neighbors are far away so that's not a concern here ...
i have the option to buy a used/cheap 22 foot box from a box truck but this only has one rolling door ... thus, i couldn't just drive straight through in/out ....
jmarlo posted 08-01-2008 08:40 PM ET (US)
My dad stores an old car in a used shipping container. It works very well for him. They are very water tight. He installed a ceiling fan (the kind you put in an attic for ventilation).
contender posted 08-02-2008 09:29 PM ET (US)
The containers are great I don't care what anyone says, if you have no building restrictions get one. You can lock up everything and it will be safe and water tight. Depending were you live is the problem, these containers are mostly use for ship cargo thus you need to be by a port. Look around by the port they sell used ones and if you want to pay extra you can get an alum. one. Ten years ago I payed $900.( use it for storage while building my home, payed for itself traded it for landscaping) for a good used one and it was $75 to have it delivered to my home. I guess they are now about $1500-2000. You can cut a hole in the roof and put a vent for the heat, and paint it any color you like, even put a side door or window on it. I would say it is an over kill, put you will be happy with it and never have to worry about a storm blowing it away...good luck
JOHN W MAYO posted 08-02-2008 10:27 PM ET (US)
A friend has several, he has no problem renting them out. The double end doors model he likes the best. Price will vary, but and so far seems like a good investment for him. Check on codes before buying and having it moved to your location.

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Author	Topic: Garaging Small Whaler in Shipping Container
freebored	posted 07-22-2008 09:48 AM ET (US) [Seeks] thoughts and experience garaging a small [Boston Whaler boat] in a used shipping container. It seems that these are pretty cheap, can be set right on the ground, can be bought with double doors on both ends so one may drive a trailered boat right through and come in 20- and 40-foot sizes. A 20-footer is about 7'6" wide and about 19'6" long inside. I'd like to use one as a drive-through garage for a trailered 15-foot classic with a swing away trailer hitch. Any thoughts? Thanks. -tony
ConB	posted 07-22-2008 10:29 AM ET (US) My neighbor bought a 40' container for storage. I could not see it from my house but the neighbor on his other side had a good look at it and cited deed restrictions against the "storage shed". It was quite a challenge to get it back up hill to the road for removal. The container was named "the Big Ugly" and is still referred to as such. Con
Plotman	posted 07-22-2008 10:34 AM ET (US) Other than that they are ugly, and likely a bit of overkill, I'm sure it would work just fine. Most I've seen don't have doors at both ends, but I can't see why this wouldn't work.
deepwater	posted 07-22-2008 11:02 AM ET (US) clean it up and maybe add a peaked roof some shrubs and it might be OK ask your neighbors first and see what they say
freebored	posted 07-22-2008 12:08 PM ET (US) make a few calls and it seems that the option of having doors at both ends is new in the business. thus, used containers with this options not readily available. new ones (one trip from china to the us) are. they run about 3300, plus shipping (about 700 for me) ...
freebored	posted 07-22-2008 12:09 PM ET (US) made a few calls and it seems that the option of having doors at both ends is new in the business. thus, used containers with this options not readily available. new ones (one trip from china to the us) are. they run about 3300, plus shipping (about 700 for me) ...
No Respect	posted 07-22-2008 02:45 PM ET (US) I have used them for storage but never a boat. One problem I had was moisture build up inside in the winter and this was in sunny So Cal. Dripping condensation and rust stains. Something to consider.
DaveS	posted 07-22-2008 03:06 PM ET (US) Sounds like an interesting solution to a problem, as long as it's not going to cause a big stink with the neighbors! One other alternative would be one of those awning type structures. There's a couple of places near my house selling them for about $800. Looks like they have 4-8 supports with a fiberglass roof (I'm guessing on this one). People use them for their cars and boats. They might even have side walls you could buy or just use the blue tarps during the winter. Might look a little nicer. Good luck. Dave
pglein	posted 07-22-2008 03:19 PM ET (US) I used to work at a shop that used containers for most of our storage and in some cases, work space. It would work, and they are pretty darn watertight. They do get hot in the summer, but we never had much of a problem with condensation. They're 8' wide on the outside, which translates to about 7'6" on the inside. I remember how frustrating this was because you couldn't put two 4'x4' pallets side by side in them. That should be big enough for a 15'. But why not just buy one of those canvas shelters at Costco for $200?
freebored	posted 07-25-2008 02:51 PM ET (US) thank you for the advice gentlemen ... the canvas shelters strike me as too flimsy and i live in the woods where all kinds of "critters" like to make nests in my toys ... the prefab carports are very attractive, but, again, they let mice etc. move into the boat (chewing on wires etc?) ... a prefab garage is a similar option ... i believe that the shipping containers will seal well enough to keep the "critters" out ... also, i believe they don't require a building permit and/or additional taxes ... the neighbors are far away so that's not a concern here ... i have the option to buy a used/cheap 22 foot box from a box truck but this only has one rolling door ... thus, i couldn't just drive straight through in/out ....
jmarlo	posted 08-01-2008 08:40 PM ET (US) My dad stores an old car in a used shipping container. It works very well for him. They are very water tight. He installed a ceiling fan (the kind you put in an attic for ventilation).
contender	posted 08-02-2008 09:29 PM ET (US) The containers are great I don't care what anyone says, if you have no building restrictions get one. You can lock up everything and it will be safe and water tight. Depending were you live is the problem, these containers are mostly use for ship cargo thus you need to be by a port. Look around by the port they sell used ones and if you want to pay extra you can get an alum. one. Ten years ago I payed $900.( use it for storage while building my home, payed for itself traded it for landscaping) for a good used one and it was $75 to have it delivered to my home. I guess they are now about $1500-2000. You can cut a hole in the roof and put a vent for the heat, and paint it any color you like, even put a side door or window on it. I would say it is an over kill, put you will be happy with it and never have to worry about a storm blowing it away...good luck
JOHN W MAYO	posted 08-02-2008 10:27 PM ET (US) A friend has several, he has no problem renting them out. The double end doors model he likes the best. Price will vary, but and so far seems like a good investment for him. Check on codes before buying and having it moved to your location.