Beginning Of Season Near

[bud37]

Well the middle of May now seems to be a growing reality for the marina opening. So far they ( marina ) have not come up with a complete plan with how the day to day will be handled ( washrooms, common areas, out of town crowds etc )....just the launch so far. We are in a holding pattern to see how this will be done before committing to launch.

I wonder how things will be handled if we have a second wave early in the fall like they are predicting as a possibility.

One thing is for sure, we are going to have to get on the boat sooner than later to at least deal with the batteries.....expensive battery banks need some maintenance after 8 months.. ..

Stay healthy and safe people...

[RGrew176]

We here in Michigan got some good news on Friday. Our Governor relaxed some of the restrictions that had been in place since March. Motorboating is now allowed. I stopped by my marina Friday afternoon. They said they will start launching boats this coming week.

If the weather cooperates I am aiming for an May 8 launch. Fingers crossed that my boating season can start. Better late than not at all.

[Midnightsun]

On the contrary I got bad news. Ontario just announced all parks/recreation facilities are shut down until May 30th. The boat is stored at a Parks Ontario facility so I assume for now we are included in this extension. Hopefully they will see the boat storage facility a little differently.

[bud37]

On the contrary I got bad news. Ontario just announced all parks/recreation facilities are shut down until May 30th. The boat is stored at a Parks Ontario facility so I assume for now we are included in this extension. Hopefully they will see the boat storage facility a little differently.

I was thinking that would happen, probably to avoid all the crowding of the May24 weekend.....maybe/ hopefully we will have the numbers low enough to ease it open before the next long weekend event after that.

Hans , do you have any locks to go thru to get to your summer dock ?

[Midnightsun]

Hans , do you have any locks to go thru to get to your summer dock ?

Unfortunately yes however this is on the Seaway so they are commercial locks open 24/7. Bad news is in Canada they are closed to pleasure boats for the time being. I must assume all parks Canada locks (Rideau, Trent) are closed until the end of May though.

https://greatlakes-seaway.com/wp-conten ... 326_en.pdf

[Tireless]

I have been advised that Boating Ontario has sent a letter to Premier Doug Ford last week on behalf of marina industry. It is requesting that marinas in Ontario be allowed to open up to get boats in their slips. The letter includes the rules of engagement to ensure that boaters maintain social distancing to minimize increased transmission of the virus. It also includes regulations for marinas as well.

We were supposed to splash on May 9th, but that will not happen and we can't attend the boat for spring prep.

The Province is going to re-evaluate in mid May and the Province will dictate what will happen. The optimist in me would like to see the boat go in the water at the beginning of June.

The locks normally open in Ontario a couple of days leading into the May 24 weekend, but I doubt that will happen. The locks in Ontario have been delayed by a week or two for the last two years due to water levels in any event, so now it's the virus.

I, like everyone else, is itching to get the boat ready and into the water, have things to do and places to go.

Fingers crossed.

Greg

[pepmyster]

Lets hope. Went to our marina, Pecks, ghost town. Stood at our slip. Dream, hope. Drove a bit again and saw another marina, Ed Hucks, has about 30% of their boats in. Saw the RCMP on their Zodiac and also saw some people on boats fishing. Why would one marina in about 10 be putting boats in and not the others. Weird.

[Tireless]

Pepmyster, hard to say. I have been advised that there could be heavy fines for marinas up our way to use their ramps. Now, I have not been up there, but I have been told no boats till Province settles down a bit.

[Viper]

Their website says they're closed so I wonder if they were launched before the forced shutdown if the ice in that area was clear then. They're a pretty reputable place, can't see them risking it all at a time when there's little coming in and a hefty fine could put their business over the edge.

[pepmyster]

They say they will launch the boat upon the request of the owner. They have a lot of boats in the water already. No other marina is doing so as it is not allowed at this time.