by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor)

Fall has started, and we’re heading into the long dark of winter in the colder climes. Boats are getting pulled, winter covers are coming out of storage, and we’re stockpiling pink antifreeze. We’re facing the prospect of months without boating, and all we can do is read glossy sailing magazines and think about spring.

There’s got to be a better way!

Winter need not be the end of boating for you if you’re willing to put in the resources and time. So we’ve got a few ideas about how to get through the cold and dark without losing all your marbles and getting that boating fix!

Visit Someplace Warm

The easiest way to have a pleasant boating experience during the cold months is to go to a place where they don’t have to stop boating for the winter. There are many ways to make this happen.

If it’s in your budget, there’s no better winter boating fix than a charter vacation far from the cold. It’s an obvious answer, but also the most expensive since you’ll need to fly somewhere and charter the boat. While it’s 100% guaranteed to scratch that boating itch, you will spend a good amount of money.

But if you’re headed towards the equator for other reasons, you can still work some boating into your trip. Consider a day rental or short charter for a night or three. Other lower-cost options to get on the water include booking various trips and tours while you’re in town. If your goal is to get on the water and breathe some sea air, there are a lot of options, from dolphin and whale watches to snorkel trips and other tours to get you out, so long as you don’t have to be the captain.

The most budget-friendly approach is to work your network – travel to a place where you know someone with a boat. You’ll have to finagle an invitation onto a boat, but most of my friends and family with boats in warm places will give out that invite the moment I tell them I’m coming for a visit.

“You’re coming to Florida in February! We’ll have to get you out fishing!”

Oh yeah, count me in.

Enthusiastic boat owners will jump at the flimsiest excuses to get out, and showing off their boat and home waters is far from flimsy!

Remote Control Boating

Many waterfront towns have groups of remote control (RC) boating diehards willing to race small sailboats all winter. As long as the harbor is free of ice and it’s not too miserable out there, you’ll find them on the docks and waterfronts with remote control boats and vacuum flasks full of hot beverages every week.

Getting your own little boat is a good way to get some feel for the sport when you can’t get out there for real, and it’s a fun way to meet new people and keep playing near the water. RC sail racing is pretty popular, as is racing speedboats. Model boat enthusiasts also like to just get out and use them, but a scheduled competition is a good way to get people out regularly.

In the coldest areas, lakes will freeze, so it becomes difficult to do RC boating in fresh water. But many saltwater harbors and marinas stay clear all winter, even when the air is freezing.

Frostbite Sailing

Frostbite sailing appeals to those hardy souls who are happy to put their boating passion over their physical comfort. And it is just as touched as it sounds. But if you are up for it, it will be a great time and it will meet your sailing needs. “Frostbite” sailing is just racing smaller boats in the cold weather through the off season.

You’ll need some special equipment, because done wrong it can be dangerous. Cold can kill, and cold water drains body heat much faster than cold air. But with the right gear and a safe approach, you can have lots of fun and never lose your racing edge.

Years ago I sailed a Laser, and as the weather got cool we switched to wearing wetsuits. And as it got truly cold, the dry suits came out. Then we added base layers below them, all-season sailing gloves, and so on. The cove with our boat ramp got unpredictably iced in after January, so we ended our frostbiting season with a New Year’s Day regatta. But you can frostbite as long as you can get your boat to the water.

Winter sailing in a small dinghy alone isn’t the best idea, because the water is cold and you can get hypothermia quickly if you end up in the water and injured. But sailing in a group – in this case, a racing fleet – means there are always others around to help in case you get into trouble.

It’s important to be mindful of the weather, and dress appropriately with good safety gear. We had a rough “don’t sail when the wind speed exceeds the temperature” guideline, but we’d watch the weather and wouldn’t go out if it felt at all dangerous.

With the committee boats all winterized and put away, your fleet can self-start. Or a hardy volunteer on a dock can run starts and track finishes unless someone has a little boat they keep running all winter.

Go Boating Anyway (weather permitting!)

If you’re willing to do the work and stay on top of the weather to keep your boat safe, you can get on the water for a bit if you get a good weather window where it warms up enough.

This mostly works in areas that are colder, but without a big freezing risk, like the Pacific Northwest. Or with smaller boats on trailers, which you can launch easily and pull out of the water quickly. Smaller boats are simpler, so they’re easy to de-winterize and re-winterize in a short time. Just don’t forget to do it before the next freeze.

As always, it’s about watching the weather. Even the deepest, darkest February may have a warm stretch where the temperature rises to comfortable temperatures enough to hit the water.

Dress warmly in layers – ski gear is a great bit of crossover equipment. And bring lots of hot drinks.

Remember, there is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing!