Let's Examine This...

[coastalrichard]

Although boaters in the northern climes have a "shorter" boating "season" than those of us in the southern areas, do they necessarily have "less" real boating "opportunities" than southern boaters?

For consideration, I live on the coast and have not only temps to restrain my activities, but also have to deal with tides, winds, rain, currents, shoaling, hurricanes and tornadoes. In other words, many things must occur to provide an opportunity to go boating. When you really drill down to the boating "opportunities" question, I probably have fewer than many might think!

What about this from a northern perspective? Do you have (as many/more/fewer) considerations to provide your "opportunities" for boating?op2:

 

[angus63]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Jobs, wives, kids, funds, etc....
They're my obstacles, but often defeated. Most of my fishing has a monetary reward as a second job, and usually on the water two or three days a week from March to November. My main job puts me on the water year round but from a toasty enclosed pilot house or engine room most days.
Most rec fisherman on Long Island fish from late April through September. A few hearty souls weather the winds in the fall and winter months, but not many.

 

[JB]

Re: Let's Examine This...

I have summered in the north. MN Summers are short, but spectacular, TX summers are long and hot.

I don't live here for the Summer, I live here for the winters.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Let's Examine This...

the only thing stopping hardcore saltwater boaters up here in the winter is weather. and there still are some good days when the water is as smooth as a mirror. fresh water boating is a different story....the water gets kinda hard from mid december to mid/late march.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Some how I managed to clock 164 hours last year and got 5 on it all ready this year.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Let's Examine This...

If it makes a difference I did'nt even get in the water at all last year due to severe drought my frequent(and only lake) was bone dry by July. But most of the time it all depends on the Admiral and the rest of the families schedule.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Let's Examine This...

So many hobbies, so little time.

We have a cabin in the mountains that doesn't get used much in the Summer. We do go once a month but I feel like I'm neglecting the boat when I do.

Our Summers (Western NY) are fabulous. Hot enough to swim but not so hot that you sweat too much. We get out on average 3 times a week.

OTOH, I've spent many a week in Tampa on business. One of my coworkers down there has a boat and we often go fishing after work. Or, should I say seldom!!!!. If it isn't a massive thunderstorm, its waterspouts and the like. Don't even talk about red tide....LOL. And forget Winter alltogether....its cold and windy and too uncomfortable for me in the boat!

The inlaws had a condo in FL and we went to visit often in Winter. Too cold for me with all that humidity, and the summers were unbareable.

Now, don't even talk about salt water. My buddy bought a brand new boat the same year I did and then moved south. His was trashed years ago and mine is strill humming along with original manifolds.

OK we get snow. Just live with it. Spring, Fall and Winter we go to the cabin. Come April I'm all ready to go boating again. I do think if I had the boat in the water all year I might get bored with it. This way, always something to look forward to with the season ahead.

Just my lifestyle I guess. You couldn't get me to move south for a million dollars.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Can't beat west Central New York for boating opportunities from late March thru October. Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario with all it's embayments. There's probably a total of 10-12 days when a small boat can't get out on Big-O. Fingers are protected from the prevailing westerly wind. Boats can get up & go.

Yes, some parts freeze over but we don't get the hurricanes, tornados etc except every 3-5 yrs when a freek storm comes up from down south. The problem with Big-O is that the weather can change very quickly and the waves get very steep. I've seen it go from glass to 6 Ft white caps in 1/2 hr. Summer thunderstorms generally last about an hour & that's it.

I try to get out real early to fish Lake Ontario and it's generally glass out there. Generally can't even feel the wind till 9:30or so. Only thing that keeps me off during the week is work. :joyous:

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Let's Examine This...

My limiting factors are droughts too. But usually we have enough water to float the boat . When we have water, boating stops--December, January and February. Starts back up middle to late March. Fuel prices have made me cut back some. The wife is picky about boating weather--high winds 15 mph+--no go or no go too far. 60% chance of thunderstorms--no go or no go too far. 96+ degree heat--no go. All day rains are rare in SC during the Summer. I think we have one of the best states for boating in the country. Mainly, sunny and hot during the summer with 80 + degree water. I don't think I missed an entire weekend last Summer. The water levels got way too low in the fall for boating

 

[sasto]

Re: Let's Examine This...

I walked over to take a look at the ocean. I could hear her from the marina. She was bringing in 10'+ seas this morning. Forecast calls for it all week.


I have friends down from Michigan this week. They were looking for some sailfish and sunshine. We have the sunshine, but I don't see any sailfish this week on their schedule. I guess just because we desire to be offshore.....dosen't mean we will be able to do so.

Good Day to All!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Richard....very good question.
I can try to give some perspective from my north (western) neck of the woods on this.
We are sort of a 3 season area....we get fall, spring and summer up here, not much winter- if any. Our climate is near identical to Seattle's...to add some U.S perspective.
We don't have any freeze up and usually no snow....or very little. This year for instance....zero.
Many up here are year round boaters and fisherman although if you are 'open' boating out on the lakes or ocean you best be bundled up a little bit in winter time and stay out of the water without a survival suit.
For myself, I am a fairweather boater so I look to launch in late April and keep at it usually until late September.
We are very fortunate in that we have Georgia strait nearby which is a long (300+ mile) stretch of protected ocean between Vancouver Island and the mainland. It is full of thousands of islands, bays, etc and no port is usually more than 1/2 to 1 hr away which makes it pretty safe. If you google georgia strait British Columbia and maybe some places like 'desolation sounds' etc you will get a good idea as to what it looks like.
This geographic set up makes this one of the most useable, safest, boatable and arguably most beautiful galapagos in the world and many of our U.S neighbours head up from the Washington state area to head up this passage. You can pretty much bet that 30-50% of the boats heading up through the summer are U.S boaters. I'd love to have a little bigger boat and a place to keep it to take better advantage of this.
Interesting thread guys.....keep the perspectives comin'.
All Good
BP

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Let's Examine This...

I walked over to take a look at the ocean. I could hear her from the marina. She was bringing in 10'+ seas this morning. Forecast calls for it all week.


I have friends down from Michigan this week. They were looking for some sailfish and sunshine. We have the sunshine, but I don't see any sailfish this week on their schedule. I guess just because we desire to be offshore.....dosen't mean we will be able to do so.

Good Day to All!

That is one of my beefs, sasto. There are so many conditions that must all come together to make a boating "opportunity". Maybe I'm spoiled or just lazy, but I feel that, despite there is a river, bay and gulf right at my feet, I can't enjoy them as much as i would like to.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Let's Examine This...

One theme seems to be coming through: no matter your location, boaters adapt to their conditions to make the most of their respective "opportunities":juggle:

Alas, since I can't get on it, I'm gonna go fry some flounder (that's a very small halibut to my northern friends) and look at it:violin:

 

[sasto]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Here is my take. As a captain for the Bossman, I had taken his boat around the " Loop" on many occasions. Spring/Summer trips only. In the Winter....trips to destinations much farther south than the States. Here is my take, true or not, imaginary or real.

My observations are.... The further north I go, I find more knowledgeable technicions. The "hardcore" boaters (boating is a priority in their life) that live in areas where they can't boat year around, appear to spend more time in gaining knowledge. alot is evident here on iboats. Many will tear their boat, motor, steering, whatever system, apart and put her back together. Many are here on iboats giving and gaing knowledge. They seem to be talking alot about boats, and coming up with solutions in the most important (to me) area of a boat....everything belowdeck!

I will leave out other southern states and speak only about South Florida. As an ex-boatbuilder, we build a boat to an engineers specks, put in their motor, plumb and wire them according to drawings and blueprints. All new stuff and already decided about ahead of time by someone else. Now as an operator that in "on, or out" in his boat practically day, I really don't spend enough time gaining more knowledge or spending enough time on my systems. I check the fluids before and after each outing. I make sure enerything is in working order, but thats about it. Many of us just don't have the time for cosmetics.

Let's go further south, The Bahamas, the Carib and, further. Motor doesn't run? They will find a way. Stringers or deck rotten? More glasss. They have to go out the next day, and they will!

This is an observation by me only, not only about boating.....but life in general.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Interesting take on this Sasto....now here is a slightly different angle as well.
Given the shorter boating season up north...does it then stand to reason that northern boats from these areas might be a better bet on the used boat and motor market given their (probable) lower operating hours, reduced usage and reduced 'sunburn'.
Just thinkin' out loud here
BP

 

[tazrig]

Re: Let's Examine This...

My limitations are work, rain and storms. Other than that I take every opportunity I can day or night from mid May to late October into early November. Personally I think September is the nicest month. Less traffic, more dock space.

 

[sasto]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Interesting take on this Sasto....now here is a slightly different angle as well.
Given the shorter boating season up north...does it then stand to reason that northern boats from these areas might be a better bet on the used boat and motor market given their (probable) lower operating hours, reduced usage and reduced 'sunburn'.
Just thinkin' out loud here
BP

It is a good pont to mome degree. I have admired many boats for sale, especially in Michigan, that are a steal compaired to our boats being used year around. If I had it my way, I would have brought many of them back south. The big problem is the type of boat it is. Not many met my needs, but I sure would like to pull up to a waterside cafe in one.

I own what is typically a "northern" boat. A New York built 1973 Penn Yan FB with a tunnel hull. Don't find many down here. The northern transplants know exactly what she is. Most are from the Great Lakes and Canada. The southerners just love it...something different to them. I've had the pridvlidge to observe many pristine antique boats in Charlovoix and St. Ignes during shows.

I just needed a fix on Sunday. Too rough for offshore and too windy to fish inshore. So, what do I do? Rebuild the starter and go a few hundred yards to watch sailboat races. I have no idea what is going on, but I'm there.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: Let's Examine This...

Well too much of anything is usually not a good thing anyway. That is just the way most of us are made. Nothing like your first boat ride of the Season and nothing sadder than your last boat ride of the season

 

[NewfieDan]

Re: Let's Examine This...

How about a real northern perspective. From northern Alberta. The water is way too hard to boat until May. but after that the days are really long. Up there the day send around 11:00 at night and start at about 4:00. So we can't boat in winter but make up for it during the summer.

Now I live in Newfoundland. We get lots of wind, fog and rain so a good boat will have a way to block the rain and weather. It can also handle some rough water, since the weather can change VERY quickly here.