Haulout Time

W

Woody

Well-Known Member
Nov 20, 2007
9,395
N. Wisconsin/Lk Superior
Boat Info
2005 420DA
Engines
Cummins 6CTA8.3
Fall has arrived up north, cool temps, grey sky, west winds. I'm scheduled for Sept 28th haulout. I'm watching the weather and will run over to Bayfield early this year, maybe spend the last week or two over there before haulout.

It's been a great summer, warm, even warm water but the boat got little use. A couple of our boat friends sold their boats, one moved south to Lake Michigan, one died, and of course the covid crap. In all not much fun this summer.
 
Woody, I'm sorry for you. Heat advisory is up for another day here and I rarely go out on holiday weekends. So far I've burned about 200gal of fuel. Far less than any other year since I've owned this boat.
 
I am dreading the cool nights that are coming more and more frequently. And the fall winds seems to be starting earlier this year. I am coming out early this year too, but that is for other reasons. I have used the boat a lot this year because I have been working from the cottage for a lot of the summer. That has opened up more opportunities and I have taken advantage of the one silver lining of COVID for me at least. Interestingly I have not taken any long trips with it, despite being up here more than ever in the past.
 
This is my last summer working I am going to retire in December (Actually going on vacation starting Dec. 5th and only coming back to work to turn in my car and computers on 12/31). I am really looking forward to next year when the weather is good in the middle of the week we can go boating. We are going to hang on to fall as long as we can. Usually haul out in November.
 
Wow, down on Lake Michigan our harbor is staying open through Nov 15th because of the spring closures, so I'm looking at 10 more weekends in the water.
 
Oiy. Hoping for a warm, extended fall myself. But man the forecast isn't the best right now. High's in the mid-60's next week. Yikes.
 
Stee6043 said:
Oiy. Hoping for a warm, extended fall myself. But man the forecast isn't the best right now. High's in the mid-60's next week. Yikes.
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I don't mind the temperature changes. It's the lake forecasts that end my boating. Windows for a cruise get short after Sept 1 and forecasts can't be counted on to be even close. Two years ago a sunny easy run to haulout turned into the worst conditions I've ever been in. I wish I had a gopro on the dash, the video would be epic.

I don't want any part of that kind of stuff again. I plan for haulout early, if I miss a couple good days I don't care.
 
We have gotten much more than average use of the boat this summer. During the initial covid lockdown I was on the boat almost every week day and out on the lake on the weekends. Weather wise this was a great summer. Hot and humid with a lot rain but the rain was mainly during the week. This weekend looks spectacular with bright sun and mid 80s. I've burned around 400 gallons this year.
 
My Sea Ray never touched the water this year. Between COVID concerns, closed or limited facilities at marinas, selling and buying a house and moving, boating never rose to the top of the priority list. On the plus side, the new residence includes a dock at my door. Like they say...just wait 'til next year.
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We’ve been out a lot. Did 16 nights in July, at least every other weekend since April, and 4 nights out this weekend. Most of the time if overnighting we go at least 40NM from home base (the cruising grounds across the strait from us are just so gorgeous and idyllic). It also just feels better to get far away from it all. This weekend we’re off to Jedediah Island which is about 45NM due west, out in the middle of the Salish Sea. I don’t know about fuel burn, but it’s been a lot. Easily over 1000 gallons. We’ll burn another 150 or so this weekend no doubt. So far as fall, we’re going to get a camper enclosure put on later this month and I’m considering adding diesel heat. That should extend our season far into the fall and even winter. We’d be planning our Christmas trip to Mexico right about now and since that ain’t happening, need something to keep us occupied. Of course boat never comes out, but we don’t like cruising in the rain ..which we get a lot of come late fall/winter.
 
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yobub said:
Wow, down on Lake Michigan our harbor is staying open through Nov 15th because of the spring closures, so I'm looking at 10 more weekends in the water.
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I dont’ know what it is like down on Lake Michigan, but up on Georgian Bay, by the time you get to the middle of October the fall winds start up and the calm days get scarcer. By the time November comes, well, as Gordon Lightfoot sung ... Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early
 
We are feeling your cool weather down South - Even here in Chattanooga we are getting nights in the mid 60's the next few days. We are not going to take the two week boat trip to FL this fall, just too much going on at work, so Reward will enjoy her second winter in fresh water, under cover. She will go back to FL for winters when I really do (finally) retire in a year or two and we don't have any time pressure on getting the 1200 mile trip completed.
 
Creekwood said:
I dont’ know what it is like down on Lake Michigan, but up on Georgian Bay, by the time you get to the middle of October the fall winds start up and the calm days get scarcer. By the time November comes, well, as Gordon Lightfoot sung ... Superior, they said, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early
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Ya the gales...we were pushing 20 footers early this week. At the start of this season I was hoping to spend a couple weeks down your way in the North Channel but it didn't happen, maybe next year.
 
carterchapman said:
We are feeling your cool weather down South - Even here in Chattanooga we are getting nights in the mid 60's the next few days. We are not going to take the two week boat trip to FL this fall, just too much going on at work, so Reward will enjoy her second winter in fresh water, under cover. She will go back to FL for winters when I really do (finally) retire in a year or two and we don't have any time pressure on getting the 1200 mile trip completed.
Click to expand...
When you 'finally retire';) My wife retired in 2005. The day after she retired she started a new job. Right now she's trying to continue that one, it requires a 6yr commitment, she'll be 76 when it's over, maybe then she'll 'finally retire'. I hope I can get through the transom door with my walker so we can do some boating.:D
 
Looks like a windy September forecast. Gale force winds last night and early today but not really forecast to be settling down this coming week either. Sitting at our cottage watching the surf pounding in instead of being out on the boat.
 
We always picked a nice warm day in October to pull the boat. Much better experience than cold blustery wind blowing the rain sideways.
sbw haul out 2005 01.JPG
 
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