44°27′N 78°30′W · Trent-Severn Waterway, Pigeon Lake, Buckhorn Lake
Ontario · Launch May, haul-out October
Boat storage in Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway
Winter storage, haul-out and the work around it on Trent-Severn Waterway, Pigeon Lake, Buckhorn Lake. Send your boat details and we come back with spots that fit your LOA, budget and season.
Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway at a glance
- Waters
- Trent-Severn Waterway, Pigeon Lake, Buckhorn Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Balsam Lake and Lake Scugog
- Towns and harbours
- Peterborough, Lakefield, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls, Buckhorn, Lindsay, Bridgenorth and Coboconk
- Season
- Launch May · haul-out October
- Typical boats
- Houseboats, pontoon boats, cruisers, aluminum fishing boats and small sailboats within the draft limits of the waterway.
- Storage from
- from $30/ft per winter outdoor · compare prices
Region summary from public sources. Each yard sets its own dates and rates.
The boating year here
Navigation is open from roughly May to October; shore lands and bridges stay open year-round. Opening and closing times are not assured and can change with water management or maintenance.
- Launch
- Boating season
- Haul-out
- On the hard / in storage
What storage looks like here
Boats here are measured against a 1.8 to 2.4 m draft limit and a lock-by-lock schedule, so storage near a lock or lift lock can matter as much as the lake, and shoulder-season travel is limited by shortened fall lock hours.
The Kawarthas are a chain of shallow lakes with a lock-based cruising season, so storage is mostly outdoor yard storage on stands or cradles and indoor storage for cottage and cruising boats, with trailer storage for fishing boats and runabouts. Demand comes from a large cottage base and from cruisers using the waterway as a seasonal home port.
Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway storage prices
| Item | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Outdoor winter storage | from $30/ft per winter |
| Indoor winter storage (cold) | from $60/ft per winter |
| Shrink-wrap | from $20/ft |
| Haul-out or launch | from $12/ft each way |
| Seasonal slip | 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 Trent-Severn Waterway is 386 km long and has 44 locks, including two hydraulic lift locks (Peterborough and Kirkfield) and the Big Chute marine railway. source
- Maximum boat draft is 2.4 m for locks 1-19 and 1.8 m for locks 20-45. Maximum boat length is 25.6 m and maximum beam is 7.01 m. source
- The Peterborough Lift Lock is Lock 21, raises boats about 20 m and opened on 9 July 1904. source
- Balsam Lake, at 256.3 m, is the highest point a vessel can reach from sea level in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence basin. source
- Five locks in the City of Kawartha Lakes are operated by Parks Canada: Bobcaygeon (32), Lindsay (33), Fenelon Falls (34), Rosedale (35) and Kirkfield lift lock (36). source
- Coboconk is noted as Canada's fresh water summit, where waters flow in two directions. source
- Parks Canada operates the Peterborough Lift Lock, designated a National Historic Site in 1979. source
- Last lockage times are enforced: vessels must reach the blue zone by last lockage time, and the last bridge swing is 10 minutes after last lockage. source
Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway boat storage questions
What boat size fits through the Trent-Severn Waterway?
Maximum boat draft is 2.4 m for locks 1 to 19 and 1.8 m for locks 20 to 45. Maximum boat length is 25.6 m and maximum beam is 7.01 m. Check current water levels and Parks Canada notices, because conditions can change within the season.
When are the Trent-Severn locks open?
In 2026 the waterway opened in stages from May 15, and lock hours ran to October 12. Fall hours were shorter, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays from September 8. Times are not assured and can change, so check Parks Canada's current notices before you travel.
How high is the Peterborough Lift Lock?
The Peterborough Lift Lock, Lock 21, raises boats about 20 m (65 ft). It opened on 9 July 1904 and Parks Canada maintains it as a National Historic Site. Check lock hours and conditions before you plan a transit, as schedules vary through the season.
Elsewhere in Ontario
- Toronto Waterfront Lake Ontario, Toronto Harbour
- Mississauga and Oakville Waterfront Lake Ontario, Credit River
- Hamilton and Burlington Hamilton Harbour (Burlington Bay), Burlington Canal
- Niagara and Lake Erie Lake Ontario (Niagara shore), Niagara River
- Lake Simcoe and Couchiching Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay
- Muskoka Lakes Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau
- Georgian Bay Georgian Bay, Nottawasaga Bay
- Kingston and Thousand Islands Eastern Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River
- Ottawa River and Rideau Canal Ottawa River, Rideau Canal
- Bay of Quinte and Prince Edward County Bay of Quinte, Adolphus Reach
Tell us about your boat. We find the spot.
Storage type, LOA, region and season. We check what is open near you and reply by email with options and prices.