When Does the Sailing Season Begin?

hewebb

.
Oct 8, 2011
329
Catalina Catalina 25 Joe Pool Lake
Usually sail Wed evening/night, Saturday & Sunday. Missed last Wednesday night because of the cold-was about 40 degrees. The boat with the heater was not available. Normally we would go. Its guys night out.
 
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DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
The new prop gets delivered on Monday (didn’t need it, but wanted it).Additional electronic parts are ordered. So technically the season has begun.
When the shrink wrap comes off and its warm enough to get the bottom painted and the wax to buff out on the hull, things should be headed in the right direction.
Because of some unexpected storm damage, the boat never launched until the week before Memorial Day last year. Chronologically, my boat is 14 years old, of that time its only been in the water about 4 years and 4 months. Always a short season here. Last year the marina wanted the boats out by October 1.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,519
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
@DougM new prop. What did you select?
Will you put it in the water as is or will you paint it?
 

DougM

.
Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
@DougM new prop. What did you select?
Will you put it in the water as is or will you paint it?
I changed to a Gori 16.5 x 11 from the original I had gotten from another person on this site. It was 16.5 x14 (I think) and I knew that it was over pitched at the time. Ron had painted the original prop and the paint still hasn’t worn off. I won’t paint the new prop. I don’t think I ever saw a painted prop around home. Fresh water, no need, no barnacles.
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
24,519
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Chip. So if I could convince my wife to make Muskrat/Crawdad/Steerhoof Chili she might have a chance at a prize?
The Muskrat would of course be road kill.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Yea the first week of Feb is when I start planning and buying for the spring boat projects. I think I placed a half-dozen orders that week to Defender, HatchMasters, USspars, Beneteau, WM, and Amazon. The goodies started rolling in last week. Yea. Love that new-boat-part smell. Smells like - Victory.
 
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Sailm8

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Feb 21, 2008
1,751
Hunter 29.5 Punta Gorda
Technically, all year 'round but for us, the summer means marinas where we can hook up for A/C. We prefer anchoring out so not much sailing in the summer. Plus this summer we had hurricanes to prep for and after all the prep work you are reluctant to take it all down.
 
May 12, 2004
1,505
Hunter Cherubini 30 New Port Richey
Technically, all year 'round but for us, the summer means marinas where we can hook up for A/C. We prefer anchoring out so not much sailing in the summer. Plus this summer we had hurricanes to prep for and after all the prep work you are reluctant to take it all down.
Less than 4 months to hurricane season. Might as well just leave it all up.:biggrin:
 
Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
LOL ! Why did you pick the 17th ?
@Leeward Rail , well, it seemed better than the historical thought of snow in August. And since it was only -31 at the airport this morning (I waited a looong time to say that) we're not going anywhere fast. I guess the good news is that the latest storm isn't headed your way, they left it all in Calgary. :)
 
Nov 30, 2015
1,343
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
Typically our marina allows boats to enter their slips on May 1st every year. Last year the marina looked like this after a huge snowfall/melt and two weeks worth of steady rain. We didn't get our boat wet until June 3rd. Hoping for a May 1st launch this year.

Marina High Water 2.jpg
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
We like to get ours in the water as soon as we can. Too many grass fires on the surrounding farms. I sleep better when she's wet.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
As to being on the water, WYC encourages boats to get on the water as soon as the ice melts. No matter what the winter is like, how much snow, cold or warm, that always seems to be +/- 7 days from April 15. Sixty five days.
 

pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
Chip. So if I could convince my wife to make Muskrat/Crawdad/Steerhoof Chili she might have a chance at a prize?
The Muskrat would of course be road kill.
Sounds like a winner to me.

The admiral is making her famous vegan chili. Its a red chili with lots of beans, lots of vegetables, and hot as hell. Her secrets are scotch bonnet peppers, and a little coco powder.(Don't let her know i spilled the beans) LOL
 
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Jan 11, 2014
13,997
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Typically our marina allows boats to enter their slips on May 1st every year. Last year the marina looked like this after a huge snowfall/melt and two weeks worth of steady rain. We didn't get our boat wet until June 3rd. Hoping for a May 1st launch this year.

View attachment 146389
Speaking of wet springs. Last Spring Lake Ontario was at flood stage for most of the summer. Here's a shot of my dock in mid May and a photo of the boat in the travel lift. It only took an hour or so to get the travel lift to the boat using a tractor to push it through the mud. After we picked it up, it took over 30 minutes to move it about a boat length. It was late, so we stopped for a beer. Had to tow the travel lift out of the mud with a dump truck and about 100' of chain.

The lake is still about a foot above normal. :(
Let's hope for a dry spring!

IMG_0454.jpg IMG_0480.jpg
 
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pateco

.
Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
Speaking of wet springs. Last Spring Lake Ontario was at flood stage for most of the summer. Here's a shot of my dock in mid May and a photo of the boat in the travel lift. It only took an hour or so to get the travel lift to the boat using a tractor to push it through the mud. After we picked it up, it took over 30 minutes to move it about a boat length. It was late, so we stopped for a beer. Had to tow the travel lift out of the mud with a dump truck and about 100' of chain.

The lake is still about a foot above normal. :(
Let's hope for a dry spring!

View attachment 146392 View attachment 146393
From the picture, it looks like you have to drop your mast to use the travel lift?
 
Jul 7, 2004
8,534
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
That's another reason we try to get in early. After the dry winter and before the flooding, we want to get to our crane before its base is underwater. It doesn't happen often, but you never know what nature will bring.