Rate your 2024 boating season

[WiskyDan]

For those of you that are in a climate where you only get to boat 4-5'ish months per year how would you rate your 2024 season?

I would give mine a C+ as the weather was pretty decent but we had some things pop up during the summer that kept us off the boat more than we wanted. We only had a few weekends where we were on the boat Saturday and Sunday (I don't use the boat much during the work week as it's an hour from home) even when the weather was good both days. At the end of most seasons I'm ready for the boat to go into hibernation but this year I'm a bit bummed for some reason.

Had a chance to meet @FSH 210 Sport at our local Sand Bar Bash on Lake Poygan in August which was great and the outings with @drewkaree (the Mayor of Sandbarville) and his crew are always entertaining.

We're cleaning up the boat tomorrow morning and dropping it at the dealer to be winterized at lunch time. I do heated storage in Fond du Lac and I’ll be dropping it off there next Saturday.

 

[@JC!]

Up here in SD, the highs are still in the 70s/80s and lows in the mid-50s here so the boat & ski are still on the lifts. It didn't get super hot this summer, probably only a handful of days in the 90s but it was sunny, mild and ,other than a few weeks of rain in June, pleasant since April so we got out a lot and will still be out on the water this weekend.

 

[zipper]

A-...We brought a new to us catamaran to Vermont, Lake Champlain. We purchased a 1991 PDQ 36 last September in Dighton, Massachusetts. Did some refit/repairs over the Fall and Spring. Splashed her in May and sailed across Long Island sound to the mouth of the Hudson, up the river to the Champlain canal and a day later to the Lake. Was a good 9 day trip. Delivery of Grimalkin aka FisherCat
We did have a couple of setbacks, breaking a valve spring in one of our motors and having to side tie the dinghy so we could use its motor for maneuvering the cat. We did buy a new motor in June. We sailed alot and motored around alot, practicing docking in tight spots and picking up a mooring. We did a couple of overnight trips to the NY side of the Lake. We used the boat in one way or another, except for maybe 10 total days between May and September. Love the layout and just hanging out watching the sunsets over NY.
We have a couple weeks left to our season and haulout is scheduled for October 21. She is a nice ride with more work to do for next season. It is a B.O.A.T.

 

[Coult45]

Into the water on May 6th, out of the water on September 24th (still boating weather, but it's time to do some camping trips). A little over 60 hours and 500 miles on the boat. Got a little better at wakeboarding. Didn't lose any passengers or do any significant damage to the boat. Spouse dramatically improved her boat-handling skills. Got a bunch of great wildlife pictures. Sound dampening efforts were mildly successful and will be expanded upon next spring. AirPods sound cancelling performed better than expected, but more testing is required to leverage the right settings for the right situations. Overall, can't ask for much more.

I give it a solid A.

 

[D3nN1s]

Just glad to be boating again in 2024, cheers fellas

 

[WiskyDan]

Love me some Seaquench Ale - it’s been in the regular boat booze rotation the past two summers.

 

[Babin Farms]

Ummm…… no comment

 

[Coult45]

View attachment 227236
Just glad to be boating again in 2024, cheers fellas

Everything about this picture says it was a successful season. Well done.

 

[steveinmd]

Hard to put a grade on our boating season. The times we were able to get out were some great days on the water. The weather just wasn't as cooperative for us this year. Too many Sundays with a chance of severe weather that eventually fizzled out. I don't mind getting rained on but lightning.....nope.

We have made the trip to deep creek (MD) for the last two years but didn't go this year. Instead we went to Raystown Lake in PA and camped with my wife's brother and his wife. Based on a forecast of 4 days of rain during our stay, we opted to not bring the boat. Only rained one day. Oh well. We were so busy running around I don't even know when we have had boat time. Still an A++ vacation.

Bummed we didn't get out as much but each day out on the water was excellent. We had some really hot days in July and August was quite mild for our area. Had a three week stretch where no boating happened. We had remnants of a hurricane that muddied the waters and debris for weeks.

We are trying to get out one more time this weekend.

 

[CanTex]

Any summer with a boat is an A+, measured against hours probably a C-. This year fewer hours then past, spent 3 weeks in May on work travel, 3 weeks in July work travel, then 2 weeks in August work travel and now 2 weeks October planned. With Covid in the rearview mirror, work travel has significantly ratcheted up year over year.

We're at the lake now planning for a solid 2 days of hydrotherapy.

 

[Be O Be]

I use the boat all the the until nov. cruising the Hudson and going to the lakes just obviously to cold to go in water. NYC is a spot you need to see at night from the water

 

[Acard7]

Since the boat has been winterized for over a month I’d say a C. Weather was weird this year. Even when we went to the ozarks, which is 4-5 hours SE of us, it was cool a couple days each time we went. Not sure I’ve ever worn a sweatshirt while we were down there but did this year. Even our home lake never seemed to get above 84 degrees, which 80 is good enough for me, but the wife likes it 88 or above! Still happy to make memories with the kids though!

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

For those of you that are in a climate where you only get to boat 4-5'ish months per year how would you rate your 2024 season?

I would give mine a C+ as the weather was pretty decent but we had some things pop up during the summer that kept us off the boat more than we wanted. We only had a few weekends where we were on the boat Saturday and Sunday (I don't use the boat much during the work week as it's an hour from home) even when the weather was good both days. At the end of most seasons I'm ready for the boat to go into hibernation but this year I'm a bit bummed for some reason.

Had a chance to meet @FSH 210 Sport at our local Sand Bar Bash on Lake Poygan in August which was great and the outings with @drewkaree (the Mayor of Sandbarville) and his crew are always entertaining.

We're cleaning up the boat tomorrow morning and dropping it at the dealer to be winterized at lunch time. I do heated storage in Fond du Lac and I’ll be dropping it off there next Saturday.

On the water sometime in March down at Lake Mohave, still boating now with another month or so to go unless old man winter slams the door. About 150 hours on the boat engines so far this year, I’ll probably be at my third oil change of the season here pretty quick. I was hoping for 60 boating days this season but that doesn’t look like its going to happen, currently at 36 boating days so far.

Loved meeting up with @drewkaree and @WiskyDan this summer over in the big W I… that trip report is still in the works, had a good portion of it done but lost it due to my error. That trip was 3600 road miles towing the boat and included Tulsa OK to see one of my friends.

So far I give the season an A+.

Glad to see that others have had good seasons as well!

 

[mrdubean1]

Here in NYC, boating season was an A for us. The 252 S is on point, did not disappoint at all. Well, besides the usual screen turning off and back on again, due to a system software mandatory upgrade, which it took the Yamaha dealership 10 minutes to update.
Used the boat in the Long Island south shore, Jones Beach, Fire Island and on the Long Island sound. Went to NJ, Statue of Liberty and the bridges, so a good season.
Also, when I was at the Statue of Liberty one day with friends this summer, the Coast Guard approached and requested permission to board. What am I gonna say, no? They boarded and asked to see all the safety items, in which I had. After passing my inspection with flying colors, both Petty Officers proceeded to leave my boat. As the second one is leaving, he slips and falls, right in front of the Statue of Liberty! Bullet Proof vest, gun belt, Glock and all! I held on to that dude and to the stern of my boat for dear life! We managed to get him back aboard his vessel. He thanked me the next day, when I called the Coast Guard Station. He said his ego was hurt, but he was alright. True story! Petty Officer Gower I think! Gonna have to clean that Glock for a long time and get a new bullet proof vest! Those waters by the Statue of Liberty are not for swimming!

 

[drewkaree]

Also, when I was at the Statue of Liberty one day with friends this summer, the Coast Guard approached and requested permission to board. What am I gonna say, no? They boarded and asked to see all the safety items, in which I had. After passing my inspection with flying colors, both Petty Officers proceeded to leave my boat. As the second one is leaving, he slips and falls, right in front of the Statue of Liberty! Bullet Proof vest, gun belt, Glock and all! I held on to that dude and to the stern of my boat for dear life! We managed to get him back aboard his vessel. He thanked me the next day, when I called the Coast Guard Station. He said his ego was hurt, but he was alright. True story! Petty Officer Gower I think! Gonna have to clean that Glock for a long time and get a new bullet proof vest! Those waters by the Statue of Liberty are not for swimming!

Shake that Glock off, disassemble it and let it dry, maybe hit it with the hose, and it'll be right as rain.

Terrible missed opportunity to lose it in an actual boating incident

Good on you, and that's gonna be a great story to share for quite a long time~

 

[Divouneh]

First season with my 165 Scarab, it was the time to discover the are (Lewes/ Rehoboth) ant the jet boat. We do few slalom water ski sessions, a new tow point will be install this winter. 10 minutes from my drive way to the water ready to leave: small boat but a huge program... I will say a good first season, don't know the scale used ( A : perfect ?). Too many technical issues and some deception about the low quality from the service department where I bought the boat.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Every time on the water was excellent. This year we barely hit 50 hrs as the weather was weird at the end of summer and it felt like we got pulled in other directions for a few weekends (helping buddies build, weddings, etc...). After three seasons with the boat we are still hooked and find ourselves looking for property close to our favorite lake. I will say B+.

 

[David Martin]

Two thumbs up...............I boat all year around down hear in FL. Have to take off a half of thumb off just because of the hurricanes they put a damper on boating for sure.

 

[steelhorse454]

On the water sometime in March down at Lake Mohave, still boating now with another month or so to go unless old man winter slams the door. About 150 hours on the boat engines so far this year, I’ll probably be at my third oil change of the season here pretty quick. I was hoping for 60 boating days this season but that doesn’t look like its going to happen, currently at 36 boating days so far.

Loved meeting up with @drewkaree and @WiskyDan this summer over in the big W I… that trip report is still in the works, had a good portion of it done but lost it due to my error. That trip was 3600 road miles towing the boat and included Tulsa OK to see one of my friends.

So far I give the season an A+.

Glad to see that others have had good seasons as well!

Good for you. That's a lot of boating. Hopefully I can get some decent hours when I retire in 2 years or so....

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Good for you. That's a lot of boating. Hopefully I can get some decent hours when I retire in 2 years or so....

You are going to love it! Do not stay working for one second longer than necessary. Make your plan and when the time comes execute it with alacrity! I was talking with a lady once who had retired from Nestle after 25 years, she said it is important that you retire TO something and not FROM something. Sage advice.

Just got back from Lake Oahe, added another 4 boating days and probably 30 more engine hours.