[Miles813]

I am in the process of looking to buy a home and then the wife has promised I can buy my skiff. I want to make sure I am looking at garages with enough space to store my skiff. I am thinking it will be between 16-18' and likely somewhere between 70-115 Yamaha (although my mind is not totally made up so I would welcome examples that have other engines). I know I will want a breakaway tongue. So with all that said if I want to store the boat straight in (let's assume 18' skiff and 115 Yamaha) how much room will I need? I would welcome any comparable real world overall length measurements of boats or engines in that range. Thank you!

 

[Michael T]

I would suggest looking for garages in the 22'+ range deep. You want room to get around the bow or stern to get to trashcans and stuff. Ideal would be 25'+ so you have plenty of room.

 

[HPXFLY]

When it comes to garages bigger is always better but like suggested shoot for the 22+

 

[SouthTexas]

If you cannot find a home with a big enough garage a good option is the BT Mosquito. With the breakaway tongue its only about 19'. It fits in my standard size 21' garage easily. The Mosquito takes 60-70hp. Mine has the 60 but the F70 is popular too.

 

[csnaspuck]

Find a house that has a tandem garage if you can. Its basically 2 car but one of the stalls goes back into an extra single car. My home has one and its one of my favorite parts of the house.

 

[Michael T]

Find a house that has a tandem garage if you can. Its basically 2 car but one of the stalls goes back into an extra single car. My home has one and its one of my favorite parts of the house.

Jealous.

 

[Sublime]

And if you get a skiff with sponsons and recessed tabs, that will save you up to two feet hanging off the back.

 

[Ckirk57]

Polling platform height can also be an issue.

 

[Miles813]

Find a house that has a tandem garage if you can. Its basically 2 car but one of the stalls goes back into an extra single car. My home has one and its one of my favorite parts of the house.

That would be the ideal situation.

 

[Miles813]

Polling platform height can also be an issue.

What is your total height? I had not thought of that issue.

 

[Michael T]

What is your total height? I had not thought of that issue.

Measure the opening, as well as any overhead garage storage systems. This was not something I considered and the first time I backed it in was nerve wracking.

 

[Michael T]

Finally, what size pole do you need and where can you store it?

 

[Miles813]

Measure the opening, as well as any overhead garage storage systems. This was not something I considered and the first time I backed it in was nerve wracking.

Finally, what size pole do you need and where can you store it?

Good points. I assumed diagonally hanging from the ceiling, but I am open to suggestions.

 

[MikeChamp12]

Call me if you need an addition and you’re in the State of Florida. 😉

 

[Flats Hunter]

Whatever you do make sure you take measurements of the boat and check BEFORE you buy it.

Lol, my neighbor didn't and he has to remove his CC windshield and CC grab bar every time. He also has to deflate the tires down to nothing to get it in the garage. Guess he measured the length and didn't think about the height!

 

[DBStoots]

Find a house that has a tandem garage if you can. Its basically 2 car but one of the stalls goes back into an extra single car. My home has one and its one of my favorite parts of the house.

My wife and I looked at a house in Richmond, VA one time--the house had a 3 car garage and one bay was almost triple deep, with a workbench area and bathroom entrance at one end. The ceiling was probably 16 feet tall, and there were pull downs for power and compressor. Looked like a professional repair shop, but nicer!

 

[Zika]

Like the old Ross Perot adage, measure twice and cut once. I extended my boat barn by eight feet to accommodate my Mosquito with standard trailer tongue. I have about 10 inches of clearance from the outboard to the back wall, but plenty of room to walk around the front. As someone else pointed out, more room is always preferred to not enough.

 

[Miles813]

Whatever you do make sure you take measurements of the boat and check BEFORE you buy it.

Lol, my neighbor didn't and he has to remove his CC windshield and CC grab bar every time. He also has to deflate the tires down to nothing to get it in the garage. Guess he measured the length and didn't think about the height!

you're the second person to bring up height, I did not even think that would be an issue but I will be careful now.

 

[Miles813]

I appreciate all the responses gentlemen!

 

[cmdr_boomer]

my experience with an 18ft action craft....I had a collapsible neck put on the trailer......that worked fine...measured the height of the garage door....good to pass through with the poling platform....what I didn't measure was the height of the door operator so I had to have the poling platform made to collapse and pivot forward on the front legs. Measure twice...cut once! LOL. Then I sold the boat 6 months later.