When does your official "Boat Season" start?

[Jay Woods]

I know that everyone lives in different parts of the country, but I was just curious to know where you live and when you take your boat out for the first time? what conditions do you wait for? etc.

I live in central VA, and I usually wait until an 80 degree day (water temp is unimportant) in usually March/April. I've taken my ski boat out as early as the first week of March (thanks, global warming).

Typically, if you're obsessed with boat season, you start checking weather the first week of March for that 1st 80+ degree day on a weekend.

Just curious guys, this would be a fun topic since I'm bored at work and it's a new year!

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

We typically launch mid to late April depending if all the ice is gone by then. I remember last year was a little later as we still had ice in parts of Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching on April 16th which was the start of the local Perch festival/derby. Although, if I remember, our marina was free of ice. If I waited for an 80+ day we wouldn't get very much boating in. My big concern is wind. Anything over ~10 MPH then we stay at the marina. You just get beat up to much with the waves.

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

that's chilly! I guess based on your location, you probably don't get in the water very much. Boating must be hard in Ontario.. I'm lucky, not Miami lucky, but I get at least 6 months of boating time every year.. not always 'get in water' boating time, that's limited to about 3-4 months.

 

[John3]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

What's a "Boating Season"? High of 80, low of 60 today.
Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years did get in the way for the past month & a half. Now that you mention it, think I'll haul it over to Oxnard Marina tomorrow or Friday & do a little fishing

 

[nlain]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

SE Ga, I can boat all year long so I guess Jan 1. There are a few days, maybe a couple weeks that is not real good boating weather but the rest of the time we can go. 70's this past weekend, 50's for a couple days then upper 60's by the weekend.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Sometimes we luck out and get an extended season. In 2010, the spring launch was mid April and the temps were in the mid 60's. Our season always ends at Canadian Thanksgiving. From launch date till then we spend every weekend up at the marina. We have a covered slip so rain or shine we are there. Sometimes we have to turn on the heater, other times it's the A/C. Regardless, it's all about chillax'in on the water.

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

What's a "Boating Season"? High of 80, low of 60 today.
Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years did get in the way for the past month & a half. Now that you mention it, think I'll haul it over to Oxnard Marina tomorrow or Friday & do a little fishing

Well, I guess if you live far out west (CA) or down in Miami FL, boating season is year round, but for us northerners.. we only get a few months where we can enjoy our money pits. I guess you guys don't have to go through the whole weatherization process in warmer parts of the country

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

SE Ga, I can boat all year long so I guess Jan 1. There are a few days, maybe a couple weeks that is not real good boating weather but the rest of the time we can go. 70's this past weekend, 50's for a couple days then upper 60's by the weekend.

So I guess you could say that you're near Myrtle? yeah that is pretty warm weather year round. What's the water temp like?

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Sometimes we luck out and get an extended season. In 2010, the spring launch was mid April and the temps were in the mid 60's. Our season always ends at Canadian Thanksgiving. From launch date till then we spend every weekend up at the marina. We have a covered slip so rain or shine we are there. Sometimes we have to turn on the heater, other times it's the A/C. Regardless, it's all about chillax'in on the water.

wow, that's nice! I'm getting a slip this year, but they're dredging it now, and probably won't be available until March time. Is it a floating slip or fixed? have you been in both?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Starts about Memorial Day

Ends around Columbus Day

 

[erwinner]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Hopefully we'll have some sunny days in the upper 60s to 70s in the next couple of weeks and I'll be able to get back out! I could have gone out New Year's Eve when it was 72, but I would have been too exhausted for the evening's activities.

 

[r.j.dawg]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

wow, that's nice! I'm getting a slip this year, but they're dredging it now, and probably won't be available until March time. Is it a floating slip or fixed? have you been in both?

Our slip is fixed. Being on a fresh water lake we don't have tides to contend with plus being a covered slip, they need a firm footing for the roof supports. I suppose they could make the fingers floating but it's probably easier to attach them to the support posts.

 

[pole position]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

We usually start boating around the end of march/early april and finish around thanksgiving.

 

[Old Fish]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Leave my boat in year round its 19 degrees today. Actually been in the water in march, but rare warm year.

 

[southkogs]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

I've got mine torn apart right now, but we can usually boat all year. Typically I don't go out much Nov - Feb ... but that's more 'cause the Admiral doesn't do "under 70?"

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Leave my boat in year round its 19 degrees today. Actually been in the water in march, but rare warm year.

does the water ever freeze? does it do any damage to the boat in that kind of cold?

 

[Jay Woods]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

I've got mine torn apart right now, but we can usually boat all year. Typically I don't go out much Nov - Feb ... but that's more 'cause the Admiral doesn't do "under 70?"

what kind of work are you getting done?

 

[southkogs]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

what kind of work are you getting done?

Trailer (hubs and such), and gonna' make the 'selectrim' work this year (we goin' high class, y'all! ). But work and my car are keeping me otherwise occupied, so going is a little slow.

 

[Old Fish]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

does the water ever freeze? does it do any damage to the boat in that kind of cold?

To be on the safe side it has a heater in cabin and a bilge heater. And when I take it out ( not at these temps) I drain water out on my return. And if its going to stay this cold which usually only lasts a few days. I circulate a little marine antifreeze. By the weekend it will back in the 60s.

 

[third times the charm]

Re: When does your official "Boat Season" start?

Well in this part of the country( kentucky that is, north central part) memorial day is the offical start of the season, then labor day is usally the last weekend for the pleasure cuirsers. Now my season has started in july and ended in july the past couple years to do unforseen mechincal issues, to projects still not complete.:facepalm: This year i will have the starcraft ready to go by memorial, or sooner