This week on Lake Hopatcong, the snow has of course starting melting, but power is still out in some areas. Hey, snow melts and makes water.. And water is good for one thing.. Woody Boating! Ok and drinking, and life, and a mess of other things
Seventeen inches of snow, and no power for days.. As fellow Woody Boater Bob Kays from Lake Hopatcong New Jersey puts it.. There was only one thing left to do.. Go boating! More power to them.. Te Woody Boater force is strong there.. I am sure there are some cases up in Michigan, where the troupes refuse to surrender… NY? Lake George always has some real late gaspers.. IT AIN’T OVER til a freeze plug pops!
As Bob puts it.. No Power at the marina +No hoist= Lets go boating!
So the cutwater is really used to break the ice until you’re in open water? Now I understand why it’s made of metal, silly me. Would it work better if I had serrations on mine?
YES! It only makes sense.
“When the going gets tough, the tough go boating!”
The cutwater may break the ice up but the broken pieces are like a saw blade if they slide down the sides. I learned that the hard way. Fortunate for me it was below the chine near the bow and only sawed through the outer plank (double planked bottom).
I like the story: When the light go out, go Woody Boating!
So I really need to extend the metal further aft and onto the bottom. Maybe make the whole boat out of metal. I guess those Roamer people were on to something.
It is cheaper and wiser to let someone else break the ice.
Ok, I’ll follow behind Al.
I keep my boat in an enclosed boat house, out of the water, in Northwestern Wisconsin. A woody boater friend of mine suggested I get a (safe) space heater and just keep using the boat well into November, since I get it winterized in the boathouse anyway. I chickened out and had it winterized a few weeks ago. Then, of course, we’ve had three beautiful, warm weekends in a row, and we’ve got another one coming up. Season’s too short already. Next year, I’m listening to you, John.
Don’t do it! A heater will lower the already low winter humidity and dry out the wood. You can get a plug-in block heater that just keeps the engine (AND wet exhaust) warm with less risk to the wood. Another option is to learn how to winterize it yourself. Takes me less than 20 minutes, so if I really want to plop her in one more time it is not a big deal.