NaCzarter Team
How does winter boat storage work in Masuria?
In Masuria boats usually spend the winter on land, roughly from October to April: in an open yard under a cover or in a shed. An example from an official rate card: at Ekomarina Giżycko, winter storage on your own cradle or trailer costs from PLN 850 (up to 5 m) to PLN 3,500 (over 12 m), excluding the gantry crane.
An October morning in the harbour. The gantry crane lifts a boat, a whole season's worth of green growth drips off the hull, and someone goes straight at it with a pressure washer. The owner stands next to it, counting the months until April. This article is for him, whether he owns a small motorboat or a yacht with a cabin.
When should you take your boat out of the water?
Before the first frosts, which in practice means October. Water left in the engine, the plumbing or the water heater freezes and can crack whatever it is sitting in.
The waterway is closed for the winter by Wody Polskie (Polish Waters) with a navigation notice. In 2025 this was Navigation Notice no. 38/2025 of 21 November: from 24 November the waterways of the Great Masurian Lakes System were closed "until further notice", because the navigation markings had already been reduced for the winter. In spring the waterway reopened on 24 April 2026 (notice no. 2/2026). That is the limit for sailing, not a deadline for hauling out.
Marinas keep their own calendars. At Ekomarina Giżycko the 2026 rate card counts the winter period from 10 October to 25 April. It is best to book your haul-out date and your spot in the yard early, especially if you need a specific day under the gantry crane.
Yard, shed or water: which should you choose?
Open yard under a cover
The cheapest option. The boat sits on stands, a cradle or a trailer, and the work is on you. The cover has to be strong, taut and ventilated, because an airtight bag means damp and mould inside. After a gale or heavy snowfall, drive over and check that everything is holding.
Shed
More expensive. In the rate card of one company in Mikołajki, a shed costs more than four times as much as the yard. In return there is less work in spring, because no snow sat on deck and no water stood in the cockpit. One company offering winter storage says plainly that in an unheated shed and in the yard a winter service is mandatory, while in a heated shed, where the temperature never drops below zero, it is not. Whether a shed can take a large boat depends on the place, so give your dimensions right away.
Water
Only if the marina allows it and the boat is prepared for it. The Ekomarina rate card has a separate item, "wintering a ship in the ice", for PLN 2,000, but this rate explicitly names a ship. Do not assume it applies to your sailboat or motorboat. Ask the harbour master.
Trailer
A small motorboat can spend the winter on its own trailer. At Ekomarina storage on a trailer is charged the same as on stands, by the boat's overall length.
How much does winter storage cost in Masuria?
Below are examples from publicly available rate cards. This is not a survey of the whole market: many ports and companies only give prices on request, with a quote for the specific boat. Also check whether a price is net or gross.
| Marina or port | Town | Winter storage (period, price) | Slipway or crane | Source and date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ekomarina Giżycko (municipal port) | Giżycko | 10.10–25.04; on your own stands or trailer, by overall length: PLN 850 (up to 5 m), PLN 1,400 (5–8 m), PLN 1,800 (8–10 m), PLN 2,800 (10–12 m), PLN 3,500 (over 12 m); excluding the gantry crane | slipway without gantry crane PLN 70; with gantry crane PLN 350–1,300 depending on weight | Order no. 531/2026 of the Mayor of Giżycko of 15.05.2026 |
| Grupa Amax, winter storage yard | Mikołajki | period not stated; gross: concrete-surfaced yard PLN 1,000–2,500, new steel shed PLN 4,400–10,500, insulated VIP shed PLN 5,200–12,000 (from boats up to 7 m to over 11 m) | in the service description: pick-up from the port in Mikołajki, lifting out on trailers, hull washing, launching in spring | company website, undated rate card |
| Yachting Polska | incl. Mikołajki, Ruciane-Nida, Piaski (towns where the company works with partners) | net, "suggested prices": yard PLN 900–2,000 (5–12 m), unheated shed PLN 1,600–6,000 (from 5–6 m to over 12 m) | slipping out PLN 150–300 net; transferring a boat without a trailer (autumn) PLN 300–800 net | company website, undated rate card |
| Port Sztynort | Sztynort | "winter package" for residents, gross: PLN 2,000 (up to 26 ft), PLN 2,200 (up to 29 ft), PLN 2,500 (over 29 ft); the rate card does not say whether this means storage in the water or ashore | crane PLN 400–700 (up to 4 t), slipway from PLN 50 | port website, undated rate card |
| Other ports on the route | incl. Węgorzewo, Wilkasy | we found no published winter storage rate card | to be agreed on site | rate card from the harbour master |
One caveat about Giżycko. The Ekomarina rate card changed several times in 2026, and the port itself is changing hands. In December 2025 the town council decided that instead of the municipal sports centre, the port will be run by an operator selected by tender, while the town is still to set the rates. Before you sign a contract, confirm the amounts at the harbour office. In Węgorzewo, Sztynort or Mikołajki the rule is the same: call and ask about your specific length, weight and type of spot.
What will you pay for on top of the winter storage price?
The winter storage price usually covers only the spot. The Ekomarina rate card says so directly: winter storage prices "do not include the cost of using the gantry crane". Under the port's earlier rate cards, transport to the assigned spot was at the owner's expense, so ask how it works now. You pay separately for:
- slipway without gantry crane: PLN 70,
- slipway with gantry crane: PLN 350 (up to 4 t), PLN 450 (4–5 t), PLN 600 (5–9.9 t), PLN 1,000 (10–15 t), PLN 1,300 (over 15 t),
- shore power at the boat in winter: PLN 50 per day,
- leaving a boat trailer: PLN 50 per day.
In the current rate card a boat cradle only has a summer season rate (PLN 50 per day from 15 April to 15 October), so ask separately about a cradle for the winter. Remember that the boat has to come out in autumn and go back in the water in spring. If the gantry crane is charged per operation, a boat up to 4 t will pay PLN 700 for both. That is almost as much as the entire winter storage of a boat up to 5 m. On top of that come hull washing, possibly unstepping the mast, transport to a shed outside the port and insurance. Check whether your policy covers the boat while it is on land, including theft of the engine.
How do you prepare a boat for winter?
- Wash the hull straight after lifting. Wet growth comes off easily; once it dries, it is still there in spring.
- Winterize the engine according to the manufacturer's instructions. Outboard manufacturers' winterizing guides cover, among other things, changing the oil and filter, running the engine on fuel with fogging oil, adding stabilizer to the fuel and changing the gear oil. Discoloured or foamy gear oil can mean water getting in through a damaged seal. Add lubrication and leave the engine lowered so water drains from the cooling system. If the water pump impeller has not been replaced in a long time, ask your service shop about it. Every model has its own procedure, so stick to the manual or take the engine to a service shop.
- Drain the water from the plumbing, water heater, tanks and pump. Leave the taps open so any remaining water can run out.
- Empty the toilet and holding tank in port, at a pump-out station, and rinse them. Do not leave this for spring.
- Charge and disconnect the batteries, and ideally take them somewhere dry and frost-free.
- Take the sails, cushions, mattresses and electronics home or to another dry place. Half a year of damp in a closed cabin takes its toll.
- Fit a ventilated cover and leave a path for rainwater so it does not collect in the cockpit or the bilge.
What should you check in your contract with the marina?
- Period. From when to when, and how much each day past the end date costs.
- Access in winter. Whether you can come by, look under the cover and work on the boat, and at what hours.
- Liability. Who is responsible for damage, theft and the boat toppling over in a gale. Whether the site is guarded.
- Power at the boat. At Ekomarina a winter connection costs PLN 50 per day. Ask whether you may leave a dehumidifier or heater plugged in. The port's earlier rate card explicitly banned electric heating of boats.
- Work on the boat. Whether you may sand and paint in the yard yourself.
- Launching in spring. How the order under the gantry crane is set and from when you can launch.
- Net or gross. The table above contains both, so compare carefully.
For a full list of ports with a description of what you will find where, see our overview of the best ports and marinas in Masuria.
When should you launch your boat in spring?
At Ekomarina the winter period in the rate card ends on 25 April, and in 2026 the waterway opened on 24 April. So it is wise to agree your launch date when you sign the contract, before a queue forms at the gantry crane. Winter is also when boat owners get their yachts and price lists ready for the next season. If you are thinking about listing your own boat for charter, you can do it on NaCzarter.
Frequently asked questions
How much does winter boat storage cost in Masuria? It depends on the boat's length and the type of spot. At Ekomarina Giżycko winter storage on your own stands or trailer costs from PLN 850 (up to 5 m) to PLN 3,500 (over 12 m) under order no. 531/2026. A shed is noticeably more expensive than the yard, and the crane or slipway comes on top.
When should I take my boat out for the winter? Before the frosts, usually in October. At Ekomarina Giżycko the winter period runs from 10 October to 25 April, and it is best to book your slot at the gantry crane early.
Can a boat spend the winter in the water? Only where the marina allows it and the boat is prepared. Ekomarina Giżycko has a rate for "wintering a ship in the ice", but that item is meant for a ship. A typical motorboat or sailboat spends the winter on land.
What should I do with the engine before winter? Follow the manufacturer's instructions or take the engine to a service shop. It usually involves an oil change, fogging oil, fuel stabilizer, a gear oil change and draining water from the cooling system.
Is the crane included in the winter storage price? Not always. At Ekomarina Giżycko the winter storage price does not include the gantry crane, and using the slipway with the gantry crane costs from PLN 350 (up to 4 t) to PLN 1,300 (over 15 t).
