boating question - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

jr76 · #1 02-11-2009, 12:57 PM

I am still fairly new to the boat ownership thing and would love some good advice. I have a boat i keep at a marina in point pleasant. My question is what is the earliest i can safely put my boat back in the water? Do i have to wait until there is no more chance of freezing temps? Is my only concern ice forming around the boat?? I am sure the major concern is the motor freezing, but is there any tricks so i can go in a little earlier???? Thanks

Reelron · #2 02-11-2009, 01:14 PM

First question might be, What is the earliest the Marina allows you to put your boat in?

CAPT RALPH · #3 02-11-2009, 02:16 PM

YOUR CONTRACT should state when you can put it in for ins reasons plus when are they turning the water on for you to use.

Capt. Debbie · #4 02-11-2009, 05:41 PM

Good point. Most insurance policies run May to October. And marinas require it be insured to be there.

I assume it's not trailerable?

Capt. Frank

Reel Class · #5 02-11-2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reelron

First question might be, What is the earliest the Marina allows you to put your boat in?

Do what Ron said. Typically they'll tell you April 15th or so, and by then, the chances of the river icing up are virtually nothing since the sun is so high in the sky and temps are warming.

billfish16 · #6 02-11-2009, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jr76

I am still fairly new to the boat ownership thing and would love some good advice. I have a boat i keep at a marina in point pleasant. My question is what is the earliest i can safely put my boat back in the water? Do i have to wait until there is no more chance of freezing temps? Is my only concern ice forming around the boat?? I am sure the major concern is the motor freezing, but is there any tricks so i can go in a little earlier???? Thanks

I sometimes keep my outboard powered boat in the water late into the Fall. If the air temp drops below freezing I drop the outboard in the water which at that time of the year is well above 40 degrees. This keeps the engine warmer than the air which makes the boat easier to start as well as drains the water out of the engine which could freeze if ithe motor is in the up position. The conditions in the Spring are usually the opposite with the water being colder than the air but if there is a severe Spring cold snap this might be useful.

billfish16