Who's NOT boating this season due to COVID?

[Frtbroker]

Oh hell no. We’re moving back to Florida and if you wanna find me I’ll be at a sandbar or island on the intercostal.
Look for the hairy white guy smoking a cigar.

That's is bizarre, I went to high school with Harry Whiteguy. He was our Varsity quarterback. Enjoy FLA.

 

[alnav]

What?!?

I might be missing something, but what would that really accomplish?

Here's Maryland's logic:
"Under the executive order, no Marylander should leave their home except for an essential reason. Therefore, recreational boating is not allowed."

As it stands now. DE has closed the border to hot of staters unless you quarantine for 14 days and MD has banned all recreational boating, including kayaks, until further notice. So that pretty much rules out much of anything for the next 6-8 weeks at least.

But, I did find buried in the Maryland DNR's FAQ on Stay at Home implementation:

"Does kayaking or paddle boarding count as recreational boating?
Since kayaking and paddle boarding are a form of exercise, they are permitted under the executive order. Guidance on social distancing and the prohibition on social gatherings must be strictly followed."
"Can charter boats work next month since they technically fall under the recreational quota from a fisheries standpoint?
As part of the food supply chain, charter boats can continue operating but must abide by social distancing guidelines and the prohibition on gatherings of more than 10 people. Charter boats and head boats should NOT have more than 10 individuals on the vessel at any time."

Go figure. Governments are struggling with how to do these unprecedented actions.

I live in Virginia but boat from Maryland and am not sure I want to chance even trying to visit my boat. We can get in the gate of our club and, even though the office is closed, our dining facility is doing take-out on weekends. Maryland has been very aggressive on mitigation initiatives (which I admire compared to Virginia) and I can see myself getting stopped while transiting to or from the somewhat remote club location. I stayed in the water and was just about to un-winterize and start at least staying aboard but I think I will give it a week or two. I imagine the measures in Maryland may moderate as the large boating population weighs in. If not, I will wait this out like everything else.

 

[midexp]

State of Michigan marinas are closed until at least May 15th. I'm in a municipal facility which will likely follow the state schedule whatever that turns out to be. Our season doesn't really begin until June anyway so it's way too early for any decisions at this point. If/when the marina opens, I'll be there. If facilities remain closed, I'll remain in storage and finish my list of improvements.[/QUOTE

Where did you here May 15? That's past the governor's lock down.

 

[Dave - M]

I boat on an Army Corp lake. It looks like Corp campgrounds are closed but launches are open. Marina websites dont say anything about closures.

Unfortunately, Pennsylvania's governor has closed non essential businesses so my boat is behind locked gates, maybe for the whole month of April. And I need a wash and wax so who knows when it will be ready.

I'm playing everything by ear. I stopped being young a good while back, so with age and previous health issues in mind, I'm going to be cautious.

 

[hipo]

Mears Point Kent Island Closed Today--no body allowed in--I was lucky enough to start getting the boat going last week and was able to go out twice in last five days for shakedown cruises! This really stinks

 

[Blueone]

Mears Point Kent Island Closed Today--no body allowed in--I was lucky enough to start getting the boat going last week and was able to go out twice in last five days for shakedown cruises! This really stinks

That’s surprising... no access to your property in the water.

 

[atrick]

I really feel bad for all of you with the marinas but thankfully I don't have that problem as all launch ramps are open here and I keep my boat at my place and have my own docks and river frontage so I'll be starting my maintenance here shorty and be in the water near end of april. Good luck to the rest of you thru all this!!

 

[Golfman25]

That’s surprising... no access to your property in the water.

That's the thing. How can they keep us from our property? My boat is on blocks in the parking lot. 3/4 a mile away there are barricades closing off access to the state park. Social distancing at this place is easy. Even on a good day, there is hardly anyone there. They have gone too far with this.

 

[Woody]

I'm thinking our boating is over for the season although there's still time yet for things to change. The governor wants us to stay in except for essential activity. I'm going to give it my best shot. If I run out of TP I'm going to scoot my ass along on the lawn like my Uncle's chihuahua used to do on his carpet.

 

[play dough]

From Michigan.gov/dnr. It's in the list of closures...

Boating/Harbors

State harbors are closed through at least May 15. There are no services available, including bathroom buildings, electrical, fuel, pumpouts, etc. and no slip reservations can be made.

Boat launches and parking lots at boating access sites remain open; vault toilets are closed.

 

[jssearay]

I have to chuckle (sorta) how selfish we are as a society. Back during WWII, your family left to go fight for our country and there was a state of unknown for not weeks, or months, but rather YEARS! You had no idea whether your son or daughter would come back alive. Many times you might receive a letter from them, and during that lapse in time for delivery, they had already passed. Now we're in this COVID-19 pandemic for a whopping 2 weeks and people act like it's the end of the world because they can't get their boat in the water. Folks - hate to break it to you, but there are more important things in the world right now than getting on the water.

EXCELLENT response, and spot on................hearing the same BS over on the RV forums..............this is an emergency folks, do what you are told..........stay home................

 

[JVM225]

The boatyard I store the boat in over the winter is open and launching boats.
I unwrapped last Friday but it rained every day after until today. Now it’s 37 degrees this morning, but going up to near 50 by noon so I hope to get a few hours in with the Makita this afternoon.
Hopefully I’ll be polished, waxed, bottom painted and launched by Easter if we get enough dry days with temps near 50.
Once the boatyard launches me I’ll be golden.
I own the private property my boat is on so I’ll be able to Social distance on my boat at my dock. Will be nice to get a change of scenery.

 

[ENstig8or]

That's the thing. How can they keep us from our property? My boat is on blocks in the parking lot. 3/4 a mile away there are barricades closing off access to the state park. Social distancing at this place is easy. Even on a good day, there is hardly anyone there. They have gone too far with this.

It's a difficult time and I think local and state governments are testing or stretching many laws. I can see how they may be able to prohibit use of boat ramps and stop launching of boats by marinas storing them. Yes, you own the boat, but you don't own all of the mechanisms necessary to launch the boat, including any ramps. Now, if your boat is in the water at a marina, you have rented the slip for your exclusive use, and you own the boat. To me, it's similar to renting a house. I don't know how they could prohibit you from boarding your property in that instance.

 

[Spark600]

Just get the bad news my marina has closed the yard as per the DEC, The owner said the DEC is checking all marinas that no work is being done.
He does not even know when it will be open again.
I missed getting the boat in the water by one week.

 

[mnm99]

My marina docks are going in as we speak. Town of Brookhaven. I made a reservation for May 16th to splash. The marina is supposed to open on the 9th, but may not. As of now that's just best case. I'll play it day by day...On another note. WARNING BAD LANGUAGE, but funny as hell. Who's grandpa is this??

 

[KevinC]

My marina docks are going in as we speak. Town of Brookhaven. I made a reservation for May 16th to splash. The marina is supposed to open on the 9th, but may not. As of now that's just best case. I'll play it day by day...On another note. WARNING BAD LANGUAGE, but funny as hell. Who's grandpa is this??

Santa ?? Global warming must be hitt'n the northpole hard.

-Kevin

 

[boatman37]

Just picked ours up from storage this morning. Sitting out in the driveway now waiting for me to get busy working on it. Swim platform is in my garage. Had a soft spot so had to work on it over winter

 

[Fly'n Family]

After not going to the marina/boat for a little over two weeks, I said F it - and went this afternoon. Glad I did as we've had a lot of weather with heavy winds and I needed to re-do my dock lines to keep her safe.

It was really weird. While the boat is my "happy" place, it just isn't remotely the same. I enjoyed doing the lines, washing her as there was a ton of pollen on her - and I sat up top and had a couple of beers just looking around the marina......but it's just not remotely the same - the joy is what's missing and I don't think it will come back until we comeback as a country.

We need to get on this, past this, and move on for a lot of reasons.

 

[330DA]

We are not launching. Our marina, in SW Michigan, will not pump out, turn water on, or open the building which has bathrooms and showers. The height of the lake is a concern also in our marina.

 

[Ike]

State of Washington governor is threatening to prohibit boating.

I have been watching all of Inslees press briefings and not heard this at all. However, marina's and marine businesses are not on the essential list for recreation boats. They are for marine transportation activities. Outdoor activities are permitted if social distancing guidelines are followed.

Here's from the list of essential workers.
Maritime transportation workers - port workers, pilots, longshoremen, mariners, equipment operators, ship and vessel operators, crane operators, and shipyard foremen/women, marina workers.

Employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass the movement of cargo and passengers.

Neither recreational fishing nor recreational shellfish harvesting are deemed essential.

But I haven't seen anywhere that you can't go out on your boat in small groups. But most boat ramps and marinas are closed so how you would do this is a question.