Covid + Boating + Dating...

[Wave34]

Bad timing for me. We left each other after 26 years. It was in February.
I was already foreseeing the summer inviting people, change my mind etc.
But the new canadian law says, all people in the same boat must reside at the same address. So other than invite my daughter once in a while, other options are limited. (we always go 2-3 days and sleep at anchor).

I'm in Canada, is it the same in the US? Here the fine is $1500.
I doubt they will check couples, but more gangs, but still.
You know, you're supposed to touch and kiss the new admiral, but is that taking a chance? May be.

That will be an interesting summer, for me at least.

Any other captn in the same boat ;-)

 

[roscoe]

It depends where you are in the US.
Here in Wisconsin, we have been fishing since mid March.
They would like us to be 6' apart, but I have seen many 16' to 18' boats with 4 people in them.
Probably mostly family members that live together anyways.
Have not heard of any additional restrictions on boating here.

Today, ( 5-13-20 ) the Wisconsin Supreme court struck down our Governors restrictions, for the most part, but some city and county rules are still in force.

Bait shops were curbside pickup only, but with the new court ruling, almost all retail stores should be able to open tomorrow if the want to.

Restaurants and bars still have some restrictions and it looks like our state parks will remain closed, so some boat launches will still be closed.

The strange thing about this state, the northern half is mostly involved in agriculture, forestry, food production, construction, and all the related support industries that all keep the businesses open.
We have been mostly open for business, working overtime to keep the grocery stores full, only about 5% of the people I see are wearing masks. We have very few cases in a 200,000 sq mile area.

The southern 2/3 of Wisconsin is completely different. People are locked down, covered up, not going anywhere, scared, and almost everything is closed.

Anyone needing work can head here and get hired, no experience or education needed, $19 - $22 per hour to start. My employer is looking for 45 people right now.

Got maintenance skills or welding skills, ag equipment, window manufacturing, and food processing plants are hiring starting at $20-$35 per hour.

That may not sound like much to people on the east or west coast, but you can buy a decent house
here for 80 - 125k, $200k gets you a lot of house, or a regular house with 30 acres of land.


Anyways, I've had too much coffee and can't stop babbling here, but the waters are open and
the boating is unrestricted in Wisconsin.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Sorry you split up but at least she did not get the boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Here in Texas the Governor TOLD us to go fishing!!!! The audacity of that guy......can you imagine?????

 

[briangcc]

Things are changing but here in NY I *think* the restrictions are that you have to be same family and can only use private launches as the state ones are closed. It has been changing since most of the state is now able to enter Phase 1 of reopening...I'm lumped in with the exceptions in WNY so we're still shuttered.

My boat is still in hibernation and I'm considering leaving it that way for the year as I personally don't think this is over yet. Just a gut feeling based on what I see in my area.

Sorry to hear you split with your wife.

 

[Alumarine]

You don't say where you are in Canada but those aren't the rules in the whole country.
I'm guessing when you say Canada you mean Ontario

 

[JimS123]

Bad timing for me. We left each other after 26 years. It was in February.
I was already foreseeing the summer inviting people, change my mind etc.
But the new canadian law says, all people in the same boat must reside at the same address. So other than invite my daughter once in a while, other options are limited. (we always go 2-3 days and sleep at anchor).

I'm in Canada, is it the same in the US? Here the fine is $1500.
I doubt they will check couples, but more gangs, but still.
You know, you're supposed to touch and kiss the new admiral, but is that taking a chance? May be.

That will be an interesting summer, for me at least.

Any other captn in the same boat ;-)

We have to stay safe. To do that we must use common sense. To put life on hold makes no sense at all.

If the police stop a couple in a boat, they must be insane officers. Have her leave her purse home so no address ID. Say she left her rings at home. Go on with your life. If she (and you both) follow the safe practices, I wouldn't worry.

 

[JimS123]

Things are changing but here in NY I *think* the restrictions are that you have to be same family and can only use private launches as the state ones are closed. It has been changing since most of the state is now able to enter Phase 1 of reopening...I'm lumped in with the exceptions in WNY so we're still shuttered.

My boat is still in hibernation and I'm considering leaving it that way for the year as I personally don't think this is over yet. Just a gut feeling based on what I see in my area.

Sorry to hear you split with your wife.

Boating in NY was re-classified as essential.

The city, town and county launch ramps are open in Niagara County. All private marinas are open as well. Erie County has some ramps still closed but the Erie Basin Marina is open.

Gateway Harbor is "officially" closed. Power and water is turned off and the bathrooms are closed. Yet I still see boats tieing up with people not socializing with other boats

The policy is social distancing, limited people on boats, family only, no rafting, no parties on the docks.

If you use your head what's the problem. If you tie up and walk down to Wally's or Submasters for a takeout order, what's the harm?

Boating this year will be different for us - THERE WILL BE MORE OF IT. My wife is a teacher furloughed indefinitely, so her available boat time is the most there ever was.

No, its not over and it'll probably get worse. My way of thinking is that if I give up boating it will be "giving up" and letting them win.

All my boats are ready - just waiting for sunshine (I don't remember what that looked like in WNY...LOL)

 

[cptbill]

Here in FL the rules are pretty relaxed for most of us, they still get a little cranky if there's to many people on any one sand bar or beach but it gets a little better every week. The Admiral and I are actually starting to plan some 2-3 day trips

 

[Wave34]

Sorry you split up but at least she did not get the boat.

Thanks, but it was due.
She didn't get the boat, but she got the BMW (Z3). It's ok, since I don't use it a lot since I have the boat.

You don't say where you are in Canada but those aren't the rules in the whole country.
I'm guessing when you say Canada you mean Ontario

Marc, I'm in Quebec. I heard today on the radio that in Ontario they will open navigation next week. So, I suppose Quebec will follow the week after. Right now we have the right to navigate, but from a private dock, no marina or public ramps opened.
Some marinas are working at installing docks this week, so it may be a good sign.
At the worst, my boat is on a trailer, so I will drive to Ontario. It's one hour drive, not bad.

I think they will change some rules about the 6 ft distancing. Right now, public workers that have to be in the same truck, even if they live in different cities, are allowed if they wear a mask. So may be it will be ok to be many on the boat with a mask! :-o
Since they never specified a type of mask to wear, they just say to not use the N95 to leave them for the medicals, that means we could wear an Halloween mask? Just kidding.

We have to stay safe. To do that we must use common sense. To put life on hold makes no sense at all.

If the police stop a couple in a boat, they must be insane officers. Have her leave her purse home so no address ID. Say she left her rings at home. Go on with your life. If she (and you both) follow the safe practices, I wouldn't worry.

I also think that the police or coast guard won't stop a couple alone, but more gangs partying.
It's a good suggestion. Keep the purse at home or in the truck. They will give us the benefit of the doubt.

Yes I want to (need to) go on with my life. Especially now, lost my job 2 months ago, and good news, I will restart next week, divorce, not a funny one, so, yes, I want to be on the water and relax, relax... relaxxxx.

 

[roscoe]

No dating on my boat.
Anyone abroad either fishes, or sits there quietly.

 

[JimS123]

No dating on my boat.
Anyone abroad either fishes, or sits there quietly.

Ours are multi-use crafts. With retirement we now have the time to go out 3 times a week. Once for fishing and sitting quietly, once for just bombing around and getting splashed and once for nice family time and having lunch out on the sand bar.

I'm hoping that the number of boaters is less this year. Who knows, if our quiet little cove is unoccupied, maybe we can skip the family time once in awhile and have a "date" like we did in the olden days...