Jet Ski Winterization and Winter Storage in Minnesota

A personal watercraft in Minnesota is off the water for about 8 months a year at Duluth, and the median first 32°F night arrives October 1 at Duluth (NOAA 1991-2020). 41 jet ski & PWC storage facilities are listed in Minnesota, 17 with indoor or climate-controlled space.

October 1median first freeze, Duluth
8 mooff the water at Duluth
2.4°FDuluth January low
41Minnesota jet ski & PWC storage listings
Junefirst month on the water, Minneapolis

The personal watercraft year in Minnesota, month by month

MonthMinneapolis high / lowpersonal watercraftDuluth snowDuluth high / lowpersonal watercraft
Jan24° / 9°off the water16.8 in20° / 2°off the water
Feb29° / 13°off the water15.1 in25° / 6°off the water
Mar42° / 25°off the water12.8 in36° / 18°off the water
Apr57° / 38°off the water9.1 in49° / 30°off the water
May69° / 50°wetsuit weather0.8 in63° / 41°off the water
Jun79° / 60°on the water0.0 in72° / 50°wetsuit weather
Jul83° / 65°on the water0.0 in78° / 56°on the water
Aug81° / 63°on the water0.0 in76° / 55°wetsuit weather
Sep73° / 54°wetsuit weather0.1 in67° / 47°wetsuit weather
Oct58° / 41°off the water2.7 in53° / 36°off the water
Nov42° / 28°off the water14.1 in37° / 23°off the water
Dec29° / 15°off the water18.7 in25° / 10°off the water

Jet Ski column rule: on the water from a 76°F high; wetsuit weather from 66°F; off the water below.

By that rule a personal watercraft at Minneapolis has 3 months on the water (June to August), 2 of wetsuit weather and 7 off the water. By that rule a personal watercraft at Duluth has 1 month on the water (July to July), 3 of wetsuit weather and 8 off the water.

Minnesota freeze risk for personal watercraft

Minnesota is severe-freeze country for a personal watercraft: Duluth averages 2.4°F on January nights and about 37.7 nights a year at or below 0°F, so full winterization is mandatory and heated space is worth pricing.

Winterizing a personal watercraft before the Minnesota freeze

  1. Flush the cooling system, then run antifreeze through the flush port.
  2. Blow trapped water out of the exhaust.
  3. Stabilize a nearly full tank and run the engine.
  4. Fog the engine if the manual calls for it; grease the pump.
  5. Pull the battery to a maintainer and prop the seat open.
  6. Book move-in before September 24.

Minnesota jet ski & PWC storage for the winter (41 listed)

41 live listings in 12 cities; by listed type: 17 indoor, 7 covered and 17 outdoor (types overlap). No Minnesota jet ski & PWC storage listing publishes a rate on StowHelp.

FacilityCityListed storageListed amenitiesAlso listed for
Watergate MarinaSaint Paulindoor, outdoorBoat
North Star Mini Storage - MinneapolisMinneapolisindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
Terry GardinerMinneapolisindoor, outdoorBoat
Niccum DocksBuffaloindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
North Shore MarinaExcelsiorindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
Bass Pro ShopsEast Grand Forks
Bob's Boat StorageEast Grand Forks
Indoor Boat Storage Inc.Minnetonkaindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
Tonka Bay MarinaTonka Bayindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
North Star Mini Storage - MinnetonkaMinnetonkaindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
Rockvam Boat YardsSpring Parkindoor, outdoor, coveredBoat
Twin City MarinaInver Grove Heightsindoor, outdoorBoat
Perfecta By Marina StejarEden Prairieindoor, outdoorBoat
Newport Marine TerminalNewportindoor, outdoorBoat
St Paul Yacht ClubSt. Paulindoor, outdoorBoat
River Grove Harbor IncInver Grove Heightsindoor, outdoorBoat
St Paul Yacht ClubMinneapolisindoor, outdoorBoat
S & T Boat Transfer & StorageMinneapolis
Gateway StorageEast Grand Forks
Leisureland RVEast Grand Forks

Listed storage types by Minnesota city

CityJet Ski & PWC Storage listingsIndoorClimate-controlledOutdoor
East Grand Forks18000
Minneapolis11505
Inver Grove Heights2202
Minnetonka2202
Buffalo1101
Eden Prairie1101
Excelsior1101
Newport1101
Saint Paul1101
Spring Park1101

Minnesota cities by listed jet ski & PWC storage (with indoor count)

East Grand Forks (18 listed, 0 indoor)Minneapolis (11 listed, 5 indoor)Inver Grove Heights (2 listed, 2 indoor)Minnetonka (2 listed, 2 indoor)Buffalo (1 listed, 1 indoor)Eden Prairie (1 listed, 1 indoor)Excelsior (1 listed, 1 indoor)Newport (1 listed, 1 indoor)Saint Paul (1 listed, 1 indoor)Spring Park (1 listed, 1 indoor)St. Paul (1 listed, 1 indoor)Tonka Bay (1 listed, 1 indoor)

Minnesota personal watercraft winterization questions

When should I winterize a personal watercraft in Minnesota?

NOAA's 1991-2020 median first 32°F night is October 18 at Minneapolis and October 1 at Duluth; winterize by September 17, two weeks ahead of the earlier date. By our personal watercraft rule Minneapolis stays on the water through August and Duluth through July, then 2 months of wetsuit weather follow at Minneapolis. 17 Minnesota listings offer indoor or climate-controlled space.

How many months is a personal watercraft off the water in Minnesota?

7 at Minneapolis (September to May) and 8 at Duluth (August to June), plus 2 and 3 months of wetsuit weather. Those off the water months hold 90.1 of the 90.2 inches of snow Duluth averages a year (100%), which is the load on a cover or carport roof. At Minneapolis a personal watercraft is on the water from June to August (3 months), against 1 at Duluth.

Where are indoor jet ski & PWC storage options in Minnesota?

Of 41 live Minnesota listings, 17 list indoor space and 0 climate-controlled units, against 17 outdoor and 7 covered. By city: East Grand Forks (18 listed, 0 indoor), Minneapolis (11 listed, 5 indoor), Inver Grove Heights (2 listed, 2 indoor) and Minnetonka (2 listed, 2 indoor). Most indoor listings: Minneapolis (5), Inver Grove Heights (2) and Minnetonka (2). Ask whether indoor means heated; listings span 12 cities in all.

How much freezing weather does a stored personal watercraft face in Minnesota?

At Duluth, 6 months average a low at or below 32°F, all of them off the water months by our personal watercraft rule. Duluth logs 176.6 nights at or below 32°F and 37.7 at or below 0°F a year; January, the coldest month, averages 2.4°F and is off the water for a personal watercraft.

When can a personal watercraft come out of storage in Minnesota?

After the last frost. The median last 32°F night is April 23 at Minneapolis and May 13 at Duluth; the last 28°F hard freeze comes around April 13 and April 30. Our rule makes June the first month on the water at Minneapolis and July at Duluth. That month Minneapolis averages a 60.4°F low and a 79.0°F high. Reverse each winterization step first.

Which Minnesota cities have the most jet ski & PWC storage for the winter?

Minnesota jet ski & PWC storage listings span 12 cities, led by East Grand Forks (18 listed), Minneapolis (11 listed), Inver Grove Heights (2 listed), Minnetonka (2 listed) and Buffalo (1 listed). For outdoor winter parking, Minneapolis (5 outdoor) and Inver Grove Heights (2 outdoor) lead. Statewide, 17 list outdoor, 7 covered and 17 indoor or climate-controlled spaces. Compare the cities nearest you before October 1.

More Minnesota and personal watercraft storage pages

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Sources

NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991-2020 (USW00014922, USW00014913); NOAA AOML hurricane impacts 1851-2025; StowHelp listings 2026-10-07 (methodology).

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