Ideas for Over Winter Workshop Space?

[DaveInRI]

I have some large, temperature sensitive projects I’ll be doing on my 22 Cruiser after this season. I live in RI, and have only backyard outdoor space.

Indoor boat storage is at quite a premium up this way, so I’m looking for out of the box ideas. Perhaps an RV facility, a private barn (insurance if fire?), high door storage unit (do those exist?), etc..

My concern is that I won’t have any financially reasonable options, and that I might end up paying more to do the projects myself after parts, labor, and storage, than if I just paid a shop to do it.

I’m not shying away from the work, but my garden comes to mind: bought the wood, built the beds, bought the dirt etc., the plants, the time, and it’s all of a sudden $50 each tomato lol

Thank you for your suggestions.

PS- My town does not “allow” carport style storage tents/sheds.

 

[DaveInRI]

Edit: My mistake. This town allows carports. It was my last one that did not. I would, however, need a setback variance with town zoning board and neighbor approval. Too late to edit the original post. That said, I’d still prefer a properly climate controlled option, and one that i can guarantee vs relying on approvals. Open to options.

 

[ssobol]

I live in MI. Some storage places around me have units with large doors. These are relatively expensive. In addition, they are not climate controlled. While they would provide shelter from the elements, they would not be heated in the winter. Usually there is only on source of electricity in each unit (mostly for lighting). I'm not sure that such a circuit would support a heater large enough to warm the unit and power tools.
There are a couple of places that lease large garage with office type units. These would probably require at least a year's lease. In addition to the rent, the utility costs are probably pretty high (large space to heat/cool). But this sort of space would be better for doing work on a boat.

 

[DaveInRI]

I live in MI. Some storage places around me have units with large doors. These are relatively expensive. In addition, they are not climate controlled. While they would provide shelter from the elements, they would not be heated in the winter. Usually there is only on source of electricity in each unit (mostly for lighting). I'm not sure that such a circuit would support a heater large enough to warm the unit and power tools.
There are a couple of places that lease large garage with office type units. These would probably require at least a year's lease. In addition to the rent, the utility costs are probably pretty high (large space to heat/cool). But this sort of space would be better for doing work on a boat.

Thank you. I had searched around briefly before posting, and seemed to find the same conclusions, thus my "it might be cheaper and easier to just pay for the repairs", even if I wanted the experience to help "become a real boat guy". Especially around here in RI on the MA border, there are just SO MANY boats and so little places to store them. Any indoor storage seems to be sardine style forklift packed, and you're typically not allowed in there over winter, especially for dirty work. (You may recall the pricing estimate saga of trying to get a cockpit bimini / enclosure made which was several thousands to over eleven thousand dollars; it's not an affordable place for boating.) I recall reading that someone here used moving blankets and made a cocoon with heaters, but even then I'd have to put all the time into creating such a structure and heating it etc.. I'll look into the RV storage options a bit more. I'd be nervous about a private barn rental in case I burn the place down (only partially joking).