44°25′N 79°21′W · Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay, Cook's Bay
Ontario · Launch May, haul-out October
Boat storage in Lake Simcoe and Couchiching
Winter storage, haul-out and the work around it on Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay, Cook's Bay. Send your boat details and we come back with spots that fit your LOA, budget and season.
Lake Simcoe and Couchiching at a glance
- Waters
- Lake Simcoe, Kempenfelt Bay, Cook's Bay, Lake Couchiching, Talbot River and Severn River
- Towns and harbours
- Barrie, Innisfil, Alcona, Keswick, Sutton, Jackson's Point, Georgina and Orillia
- Season
- Launch May · haul-out October
- Typical boats
- Sailboats and power cruisers on the open lake, ice-fishing and fishing boats, and trailerable runabouts; Trent-Severn cruisers pass through in summer.
- 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
Lake Simcoe freezes over completely in winter, so boats are normally lifted out or protected against ice.
- Launch
- Boating season
- Haul-out
- On the hard / in storage
What storage looks like here
Lake Simcoe is the closest big freezing lake to Toronto and the mid-point of the Trent-Severn route, so storage here serves both commuting weekend boaters and long-distance cruisers who leave a boat for the winter.
Lake Simcoe is a large inland lake that freezes over, so storage tends to be outdoor yard storage on stands or cradles, indoor cold storage for smaller boats, and trailer storage, with some in-water winter berths where ice protection is used. Demand is driven by the number of boaters within commuting distance of Toronto and by Trent-Severn travellers wanting a mid-route base.
Lake Simcoe and Couchiching 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 enters Lake Simcoe via the Talbot River and leaves Lake Couchiching through the Severn River into Georgian Bay. source
- Lake Simcoe discharges into Lake Couchiching through a narrow channel at Orillia. source
- In 2026 Parks Canada lock hours were 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Friday to Sunday from May 15 to June 18, with fall hours of 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays from September 8 to October 12. source
- Lake Simcoe covers about 722 km2 with a maximum depth of 41 m and an average depth of 15 m. source
- Kempenfelt Bay at Barrie is described by the City of Barrie as the deepest part of Lake Simcoe. The city has a marina, a transient marina and the Tiffin boat launch. source
- Lake Couchiching is about 33.75 km2, roughly 16 km long, and has a maximum depth of 12 m. source
- Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority publishes a low-water status and a shoreline status page for the lake. source
- The Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations limit power-driven vessels to 10 km/h within 30 m of shore in listed waters, which include the waters of Ontario, with exemptions for canals, buoyed channels and rivers under 100 m wide. source
Lake Simcoe and Couchiching boat storage questions
Does Lake Simcoe freeze completely?
Wikipedia says the lake freezes over completely in winter, though it gives no fixed dates and ice-out and freeze-up vary each year. Boats are normally hauled out or protected, so plan your haul-out and spring launch around the weather rather than a calendar date.
When does the Trent-Severn Waterway open for boats leaving Lake Simcoe?
In 2026 the waterway opened in stages from May 15, with the last locks near Port Severn opening by May 29. Lock hours then ran through October 12. Dates and hours change each year, so check the Parks Canada notices before you plan a trip.
Where is the deepest part of Lake Simcoe?
The City of Barrie describes Kempenfelt Bay, at Barrie, as the deepest part of Lake Simcoe. The lake as a whole has a maximum depth of 41 m and an average of 15 m. The city also lists a marina, a transient marina and the Tiffin boat launch on its waterfront.
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
- Muskoka Lakes Lake Muskoka, Lake Rosseau
- Georgian Bay Georgian Bay, Nottawasaga Bay
- Kawarthas and Trent-Severn Waterway Trent-Severn Waterway, Pigeon Lake
- 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.