--- title: "Hamilton and Burlington Boat Storage: Winter Storage and Slips" description: "Boat storage in Hamilton and Burlington: winter storage on the hard, indoor and trailer storage on Hamilton Harbour (Burlington Bay). Season dates and local prices." url: https://boatparking.ca/locations/hamilton-burlington/ last_updated: 2026-10-23 --- # Boat storage in Hamilton and Burlington Winter storage, haul-out and the work around it on Hamilton Harbour (Burlington Bay), Burlington Canal, Western Lake Ontario. Send your boat details and we come back with spots that fit your LOA, budget and season. ## Hamilton and Burlington at a glance - Waters: Hamilton Harbour (Burlington Bay), Burlington Canal, Western Lake Ontario and Grimsby shoreline - Towns and harbours: Hamilton, Burlington, Stoney Creek, Fifty Point, Grimsby, Winona, Confederation Park and Bronte - Season: Launch April–May · haul-out October - Typical boats: Sailboats and cruisers using the sheltered harbour, plus trailerable powerboats and fishing boats on the lake side. - Storage from: from $45/ft per winter outdoor · [compare prices](https://boatparking.ca/pricing/?tier=lake-ontario) Region summary from public sources. Each yard sets its own dates and rates. ## The boating year here Per Wikipedia the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge does not lift in January to late March, which effectively closes the canal to boats in that period. Dates vary by marina and weather. - Launch April to May; haul-out October. ## What storage looks like here A single lift bridge decides whether a tall boat can reach the open lake, and the harbour is shared with Canada's busiest Great Lakes port, so boat height and a sheltered berth matter more here than in open-lake harbours. A sheltered harbour with an industrial south shore and recreational north shore suggests most boaters use seasonal slips in harbour marinas with outdoor yard storage on stands or cradles for the winter; owners on the lake side may rely more on trailer storage. ## Hamilton and Burlington storage prices - [Outdoor winter storage](https://boatparking.ca/storage/outdoor-boat-storage/): from $45/ft per winter - [Indoor winter storage (cold)](https://boatparking.ca/storage/indoor-boat-storage/): from $75/ft per winter - [Shrink-wrap](https://boatparking.ca/services/boat-shrink-wrapping/): from $18/ft - [Haul-out or launch](https://boatparking.ca/services/haul-out-and-launch/): from $14/ft each way - [Seasonal slip](https://boatparking.ca/storage/boat-slips/): from $85/ft per season Starting prices in CAD before tax, from published marina and port rates and market estimates, October 2026. Your boat, the yard and the dates set the final price. ## Local knowledge - The channel linking Hamilton Harbour to Lake Ontario is the Burlington Shipping Canal, opened in 1826 and spanned by the Burlington Canal Lift Bridge. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Harbour) - The lift bridge gives 5 m of clearance when lowered and 36.5 m when raised to its maximum height. It does not lift during the winter months (January to late March). (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington_Canal_Lift_Bridge) - The Burlington Bay James N. Allan Skyway (part of the QEW) crosses the line between the harbour and the lake. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Harbour) - Hamilton Harbour has an average depth of 13 m and a maximum depth of 25 m. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Harbour) - The Port of Hamilton is described as the busiest Canadian Great Lakes port, handling more than 10 million tonnes of cargo a year, so recreational boats share the harbour with ships. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Harbour) - Hamilton Harbour is listed as a Great Lakes Area of Concern, and the Randle Reef sediment clean-up in its southeast corner is a central part of the remedial plan. (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Harbour) - Lake Ontario outflows are overseen by the International Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Board. (source: https://ijc.org/en/loslrb) - Ontario asks boaters to clean, drain and dry boats, motors and trailers before moving between water bodies. (source: https://www.ontario.ca/page/invasive-species-ontario) ## Hamilton and Burlington boat storage questions **Does the Burlington lift bridge affect which boats can leave Hamilton Harbour?** Yes. The bridge has 5 m of clearance when lowered and 36.5 m when fully raised. Tall sailboat masts or flybridges may need the bridge to lift. The bridge does not lift in the winter months, from January to late March, so plan around that. **Is Hamilton Harbour deep enough for larger boats?** Wikipedia gives an average depth of 13 m and a maximum of 25 m. That is plenty for most pleasure craft, but the harbour also carries commercial ships, so shipping lanes and port areas matter. Check a current chart and local notices before you plan a mooring. **Do I need to clean my boat when moving it to Lake Ontario from inland lakes?** Ontario asks all boaters to clean aquatic plants and mud off the boat, motor and trailer, drain standing water, and dry the boat for five sunny days or wash it with hot water over 50 C or pressurized water over 250 PSI. It is illegal to introduce a plant or animal to water where it is not native. ## Elsewhere in Ontario - [Toronto Waterfront](https://boatparking.ca/locations/toronto-waterfront/): Lake Ontario, Toronto Harbour - [Mississauga and Oakville Waterfront](https://boatparking.ca/locations/mississauga-oakville/): Lake Ontario, Credit River - [Niagara and Lake Erie](https://boatparking.ca/locations/niagara-lake-erie/): Lake Ontario (Niagara shore), Niagara River - [Lake Simcoe and Couchiching](https://boatparking.ca/locations/lake-simcoe/): Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay - [Muskoka Lakes](https://boatparking.ca/locations/muskoka/): Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau - [Georgian Bay](https://boatparking.ca/locations/georgian-bay/): Georgian Bay, Nottawasaga Bay - [Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway](https://boatparking.ca/locations/kawarthas-trent-severn/): Trent-Severn Waterway, Pigeon Lake - [Kingston and Thousand Islands](https://boatparking.ca/locations/kingston-thousand-islands/): Eastern Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River - [Ottawa River and Rideau Canal](https://boatparking.ca/locations/ottawa-rideau/): Ottawa River, Rideau Canal - [Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County](https://boatparking.ca/locations/bay-of-quinte-prince-edward-county/): Bay of Quinte, Adolphus Reach ## Related - [Boat storage in Ontario](https://boatparking.ca/locations/ontario/) - [Winter boat storage](https://boatparking.ca/storage/winter-boat-storage/) - [Haul-out and launch calendar](https://boatparking.ca/guides/haul-out-and-launch-calendar/) --- Find a spot: https://boatparking.ca/request-a-spot/ · Email: info@boatparking.ca