Counting the days down to back on the water!

[Expidia]

Ahhh it's March 1st in the great Northeast already . . . It's March 1st most everywhere else too, but here the forecast is for snow tomorrow. But I'm still counting down the days to watching my boat slide off my trailer into the water for that first launch of the season.

I just checked the dates of my photo's and the earliest I got on the water last year was a beautiful day on April 17th on the Hudson River.

I pulled up that day to Yannis III's docks (it's a local restaurant on the water with nice dockage space).

So I saddled up to the bar for a cold one and they said I was their first boater of the season as they had just put their docks back in that day!

I was in Fort Lauderdale Fl two weeks ago sitting at Shooter's bar in 80 degree weather watching the many gorgeous yaughts cruising along the intercoastal. Hats off to any of our boaters here who live in Fl year round . . . Now that's the life

I can squeeze about 8 months out of our Northeast season and it's really spectacular for maybe 3 months, but boating in Fl year round is the ulimate. I could very easily live on a boat in FL year round and someday I just might!

Some of us might be in the middle of a recession, but driving along Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale and seeing all those 100+ foot yaughts parked in front of the peoples houses along the canals was just an amazing sight to behold. There is no recession along Las Olas Blvd for sure!
Also saw them setting up for the opening of the Miami boat show as we drove South to Miami. Rows and rows of fabulous yaughts side by side all along the intercoastal. Quite a sight.

Oh well, either way, I'm counting the days down now to my first day on the water in my little 15 footer. Trout season opens April 1st in NY, but I've given up trout stream fishing cause it's still freezing cold around here early April standing in waders in the middle of a stream.

I can't wait to get the boat back on the water. I figure I'll be on the water in less than 45 days now (weather permitting). I could even be on in March, if it warms up quick enough

 

[capt sam]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'm on the water at least two days a week year round, I can't imagine how tough it is for you guys.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'm on the water at least two days a week year round, I can't imagine how tough it is for you guys.

Ahoy Cap'in, I've been following some of your past posts and everytime I see you post, I see the word "Naples" as your location and I get extremely jealous . . . since you are there and I am here!

I was getting down there twice a year for awhile.

Naples is truely a boaters Paradise.

I love Naples!

 

[Mpizzle]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Heck, here in the Pacific Northwest we fish for steelhead with a foot of snow on the ground. I didn't know there was a 'season' for boating

I just saw your guy's forecast over there and it looks like 8-16" of snow all over the northeastern states, sorry! Keep warm!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Ahoy Cap'in, I've been following some of your past posts and everytime I see you post, I see the word "Naples" as your location and I get extremely jealous . . . since you are there and I am here!

I was getting down there twice a year for awhile.

Naples is truely a boaters Paradise.

I love Naples!

well if it makes you feel any better, the weather's been great, the fishing terrible, can't wait for june.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'm in Indiana and I know exactly what you mean.

It is suppose to be in the 50s at the end of the week so it won't be long, I ride motorcycles too so winter really puts the hurt on me taking both my hobbies.

I have a camper top and heater for my boat so I can get out alittle earlier than normal, with the heat you can easily be out fishing in 35-40.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'm in Indiana and I know exactly what you mean.

It is suppose to be in the 50s at the end of the week so it won't be long, I ride motorcycles too so winter really puts the hurt on me taking both my hobbies.

I have a camper top and heater for my boat so I can get out alittle earlier than normal, with the heat you can easily be out fishing in 35-40.

Ya, the first thing I added was an enclosure to extend my seasons. I was on the water until the first week in Nov. last year.

I've read some of the heater threads a few months ago, but I'm still a little leery with using any type of flame around gas especailly in a small rig like mine.

If I had a built in tank I might use a heater. But I've all ready left the cap off my 6 gal tank twice already after filling up at the gas station. Both times I had a little gas slosh out into the bilge by the time I smelled gas later in the day.

Which heater do you use?

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Im ready as well. I was drilling holes over the weekend Ice fishing and I was seeing 28" of ice still.

 

[mphy98]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Heck, here in the Pacific Northwest we fish for steelhead with a foot of snow on the ground. I didn't know there was a 'season' for boating

Didn't a homeless guy just get put in jail out there for eating a steelhead? Here in the Midwest we have 2 seasons, winter and the 4th of July!!!! I cannot wait for that!! We can get our boats out in April usually, but it is cold yet.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Well, we still have our problems getting out. My 20' boat is no match for cold fronts and high seas. Also, it can be a little big to make the trips up inside rivers, streams, etc where the winter fishing is the best.
At least when the opportunities arise, a splashdown is less than an hour away...and like captsam, we try to get out often.
There's something about the taste of salt spray that becomes addictive....
I have lived most my life here and cannot imagine living elsewhere...

 

[Floatsum]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'm ready!!!!
Got my new-to-me boat registered Friday when it felt like 60 deg.
Today I woke up to 10 inches of new snow!!!
It'll not get above freezing they're saying until about Friday.
First decent day willbe a floating day to play with loading /unloading and checking out the systems and making / planning changes and additions.
I'm ready,,, weather's not.
I'm sure launching & hauling would be "entertaining" with 10+" of drifted snow on a ramp.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

It's too cold is an excuse. There is only one real reason why you can't get out and boat......the water is frozen over.

I installed the electronics and fired up the boat last weekend. I'm heading out on the 14th to drag a few lines to see if the "girls" have started to arrive in decent numbers yet.

 

[ebry710]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I have two more weeks. Boat is tuned up and I need to install my winter purchases.

 

[krakatoa]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Well guys Im in Puerto Rico and our weather always hit the 90 degrees so we have summer all year long, Sooorryyy.........

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

42 more days......................Does it look like it?

 

[pine island fred]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

Pretty much boat year round. This year has been unusually windy. Got chased off the beach SAT. when the wind would not lay down. Tough ride home in a 16 footer. Unfortunate for those 4 guys out of CLEARWATER, think there were small craft warnings issued. Suprised that one was found alive, water is below 70 F. FRED

 

[Expidia]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

42 more days......................Does it look like it?

Now "that's" a sad pic!

Cheer up, the Sun gets closer to the earth each day. Even when it snows in March and April it tends to disappear quickly.

We dodged that snow storm that went up the coast last night. Only got a dusting of 2-3 inches or so. My Brother in Law came back from FL today to 12 inches in the Boston area.

April snowstorms can be nasty sometimes around here, but they melt away pretty quick. The boating beginning season killer is freezing temps that sometimes linger on and thicken the ice on our lakes and rivers. It's usually gone by April 15th though.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

4 years ago I launched on a Friday evening. Got the dock all set up and the shore power plugged in. Got the heat going as it was still nippy out. We fished at the dock and caught a nice share. Woke up the next morning to find 3" of snow on the boat and dock. It was pretty much gone by 10am. That is the main reason I got a boat that I can enjoy even when the weather is bad. The season is too short to limit my time on the water. After all "Life is so much better on a boat"

 

[FlyinGuy1017]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

I'll pass on cold. Spent many many years living that drudge! AZ has a drizzle of sunshine everyday! No cold, no winterizing, 8 whole days of rain a year...paradise!

 

[ebry710]

Re: Counting the days down to back on the water!

42 more days......................Does it look like it?

That's horrible. I have never lived in a place where snows is that deep. Lake Tahoe gets like that, but I went there to ski not to live. You must have to prep your engine for the type of cold.