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The Garage-Friendly Tender: How to Store Your GALA Atlantis at Home (and Skip Marina Fees)
At a Glance: Garage Storage & Cost Savings
Skip Marina Fees: Storing a compact RIB at home saves thousands of pounds annually in commercial dry-stack, mooring, and winter yard fees.
UK Garage Fit: Models like the GALA Atlantis A270D, A300D, and A330D fit easily into a standard 5-metre UK garage on a compact road trailer.
Lightweight Aluminium: High-grade aluminium hulls weigh a fraction of GRP alternatives, making solo trailer manoeuvring hassle-free.
Simple Maintenance: Routine freshwater washing, battery trickle charging, and sheltered storage protect your investment all winter long.
Garage-friendly tenders are compact, lightweight inflatable craft designed with space-efficient hulls that can be safely trailered, launched, and stored within a standard domestic garage to eliminate ongoing marina costs. For British boaters navigating rising slipway and marina charges, storing a boat in a garage is the ultimate solution to cut boat storage costs. Engineered by GALA Marine, Atlantis Boats combine the buoyancy of heavy-duty inflatable tubes with ultra-light, rigid aluminium hulls to make domestic storage truly practical.
Can You Really Fit a RIB Tender into a Standard UK Domestic Garage?
The typical single UK garage measures approximately 5.0 to 5.2 metres in length and roughly 2.4 metres in width, with an entrance aperture near 2.1 metres. Conventional fibreglass boats and bulky sports craft rarely fit due to their high gunwales, wide beams, and heavy trailers.
In contrast, compact RIB tender storage in the UK is remarkably easy with the GALA Atlantis Double Deck series. Models such as the A270D (2.70 m length, 60 kg hull weight), the A300D (3.00 m length, 67 kg hull weight), and the A330D (3.30 m length, 62 kg hull weight) feature an overall beam of just 1.70 metres. When paired with a small unbraked road trailer—especially one fitted with a folding drawbar—the entire rig measures well under 4.5 metres in total length. From the nimble A270D tender through to the spacious A330D, Atlantis Boats boast an exceptionally lightweight footprint that makes single-handed garage parking smooth and stress-free.
How Does Home Storage Drastically Cut Boat Storage Costs?
Marina berths and commercial boatyard winter contracts in the UK can easily cost between £1,500 and £4,000 every single year. Opting to keep your tender at home with Atlantis Boats completely removes these recurring overheads, putting money back into your pocket.
Beyond raw financial savings, indoor domestic storage shields your craft from harsh British coastal winters, freeze-thaw cycles, UV degradation, and relentless rain. You avoid trailer compound fees, antifouling costs, and the risk of vandalism, all while enjoying immediate 24/7 access to your vessel right on your driveway.
What Is the Best Winter Washdown and Hull Care Routine?
Preparing your aluminium RIB for the winter months requires only a few straightforward steps:
Freshwater Washdown: Thoroughly rinse the marine-grade aluminium hull and PVC or Valmex tubes to remove salt deposits, mud, and road grime.
Inspect the ENVIROX Coating: GALA hulls feature factory-grade powder coatings and ENVIROX titanium protection; check the keel protector and zinc anodes to ensure the hull remains shielded against oxidisation.
Drain the Double Deck: Use the internal transom drain bung to clear standing water from the flat floor, ensuring the deck is bone dry before shutting the garage door.
How Should You Maintain Outboards and Batteries Indoors?
An indoor garage provides the ideal climate-controlled environment to protect mechanical components. Flush your outboard engine with clean fresh water using flushing muffs, run the carburettor dry (or stabilise fuel in the tank), and fog the cylinders if laying up for several months. For electrics, disconnect the 12V battery and connect an intelligent trickle charger to prevent deep discharge during colder spells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deflating the tubes save additional garage space?
Yes. While the Atlantis series fits comfortably fully inflated, partially dropping the tube pressure allows you to walk around the boat freely or tuck it tight against a workshop wall.
Are aluminium hulls vulnerable to garage dampness?
No. GALA’s marine-grade aluminium is protected with an ENVIROX chromate-free titanium conversion and tough powder coating, preventing damp-induced corrosion far better than timber or raw steel.
Can I store larger console models like the Atlantis Deluxe at home?
Mid-sized craft such as the Atlantis Deluxe A450L (4.50 m) or A500L (5.00 m) with patented GALA TABS can be kept in extended double garages or carports on standard road trailers.
Take control of your boating lifestyle and leave annual berthing fees behind. Discover the full capabilities, smart layouts, and specifications of the deluxe series by visiting the official GALA range.
For a closer look at the deck layout and design features of these lightweight aluminium tenders, watch this GALA Atlantis A450L Walkaround. This walkaround video highlights the deck ergonomics, build quality, and spatial layout that make the Atlantis range practical to manage both at home and on the water.
