Looking for clever ways to store gear

[Schindawg]

Now that we're on a lake and don't have to store everything in the 'bu, I'd like to store our gear in a detached one-car garage on the property. Built in 2003 or so, so has modern stud walls on the interior. How can I make best use of space storing my lifejackets (lots of 'em), skiis, tubes, etc. Anyone come up with something available at Home Depot, etc. that fits the bill nicely? Looking for some ideas from the smartest boat owners in the world!

[DONTW8]

I use lots of wall hangers. Various kinds from homer depoe.

I bought several Gorilla Racks at Costco.

I built a closet shelf under my largest garage window, the standard kind that has a closet rod underneath.

Works great for hanging up wetsuits and ski vests and wet swim trunks (after I wash them).

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

I adjust the shelf height so that an 18 gallon rubbermaid just fits underneath.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

[davemac]

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

Please don't post a picture of this. I don't think I will be able to bear the jealousy.

[Schindawg]

I like the closet rod idea. Thanks!

I use lots of wall hangers. Various kinds from homer depoe.

I bought several Gorilla Racks at Costco.

I built a closet shelf under my largest garage window, the standard kind that has a closet rod underneath.

Works great for hanging up wetsuits and ski vests and wet swim trunks (after I wash them).

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

I adjust the shelf height so that an 18 gallon rubbermaid just fits underneath.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

[luvtheBU]

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

Please don't post a picture of this. I don't think I will be able to bear the jealousy.

I have a 4 car garage with an RV stall and a stall at one end and a mechanics pit on the other. But it isn't on a lake and it definetly isn't picture worthy yet. The boys, Dad and I will be working on that Sunday if the weather isn't nice.

[chadwick02]

closet rod works great. I got a heavy duty wooden one from a home store (not sure if it might actually be wooden stair railing?) and made a 6' jacket rack in the shed - and built a shelf right above the rack too. We can hang 10 or 15 life jackets plus a few wet suits, ropes, and still have room to spare!

[Pistol Pete]

Check out this, and this

edit, and this really long discussion.

Edited August 29, 2009 by Pistol Pete

[NorCaliBu]

Looking for some ideas from the smartest boat owners in the world!

So why did you post the question here?

[VinRLX]

Looking for some ideas from the smartest boat owners in the world!

So why did you post the question here?

Certainly not to get any insight from YOU!

[CoMtnBu]

We store our life jackets at work (I'm a raft guide) through the arm holes. The cleanest looking rack we have it a threaded rod screwed into a female base mounted to the studs. We can fit about 10 PFD's on a 2 foot rod.

[-BS-]

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

Please don't post a picture of this. I don't think I will be able to bear the jealousy.

If I had a garage like that I'm not sure I'd even go boating! I would probably spend the bulk of my time washing cars inside........just cause I can! That is pretty cool.

As far as storage: I use the Rubbermaid fold down bike holders for all my boards. They work nicely because you can use them for any type of board and still hang PFD's or towels on the ends of the hooks.

[Baddog]

We store our life jackets at work (I'm a raft guide) through the arm holes. The cleanest looking rack we have it a threaded rod screwed into a female base mounted to the studs. We can fit about 10 PFD's on a 2 foot rod.

Does that allow them to dry?

[Schindawg]

Check out this, and this

edit, and this really long discussion.

Very, very helpful post. Thanks!

[Pistol Pete]

You bet.

[gmoneycrf450]

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

Please don't post a picture of this. I don't think I will be able to bear the jealousy.

No kidding...I'm in a jealous rage right now...lol...me...2 car garage, weight bench, 4 motorcylces, a tanning bed and washer and dryer....packed to the gills!!!

[Baddog]

I have a 4 car garage with 3 floor drains.

One stall is 14 x 50 and the boat sits in back. The gorilla racks are along the boat on one side.

In the main garage there is nothing on the floor so that I can wash my cars inside during the winter.

Please don't post a picture of this. I don't think I will be able to bear the jealousy.

No kidding...I'm in a jealous rage right now...lol...me...2 car garage, weight bench, 4 motorcylces, a tanning bed and washer and dryer....packed to the gills!!!

Garages are for cars you know.

[Soon2BV]

I attached a regular 1" piece of PVC to the ceiling joists (unfinished ceiling) and hang the life jackets on oversized plastic hangers on it.

It keeps them up and totally out of the way, but also visible so i dont head to the lake without them.

[Tory1340]

In addition to the closet pole and plastic hangers, I cut lengths of dowel and dilled holes at a slight angle in the studs for skis, folding chairs etc in the boathouse. Finished pegs drilled into the rafters (low ceiling) for extra ski , dock, mooring lines, etc. Random pegs and dowels here and there for canoe & kayak paddles. The latest addition the other day was a Harken Hoister for the Zuma sailboat for winter storage. No pics, sorry. Maybe at the end of the season when the boathouse is stuffed to the gills.

[CoMtnBu]

If you cram the rod full of PFD's they won't dry overnight. But they do dry quite well. It's nice because you don't have to mess with hangers or buckling them up. and when you want to grab them all, just stick your arm through and lift up.

I looked today and we have half inch steel nipple threaded into a female bracket. We also use the rubbermaid/elfa easy track but the brackets tend to fall off the tracks.

[JDubya]

2 Shelf hangers from Lowe's ~$16.

2 10' 2x8 $20

Total cost $30 and it stores all my gear. We use a bungee strung accross the two brackets to hold the life vests (through the arms) for a day then we trow them on top.

Out of the way and store a lot. Floor space is way to hard to come by to mount to the wall in our garage.

[Planefreak]

I did what tony did. Took some dowels and drilled some holes and now everything hangs at the back of my storage area behind the boat. We have 4 tubes 10 or so life jackets 3 ski ropes, a wakeboard, 2 kneeboards, 2 slalom skis well you get the idea all in a small area. If you have the height this is the way I would go. I have skis and stuff stacked all the way up to the ceiling (about 16 feet). If you have the standard low ceiling garage I would go with the hangers and some padding over those boards to keep things from getting beat up.