This is a tough time of year for boating enthusiasts, because the summer in Maine is far too short. Most of the boats that spent the warm months plying coastal waters have been stripped of canvas and sails, and hauled out for the winter. The same is happening on lakes and ponds, and many people have the additional chore of hauling out their docks and buttoning up their summer camps. Sure, there are a few hardy boaters who will spend the winter living aboard and some lucky retirees who will head south. But the collective mood among many boaters here is a bit melancholy right now, and many are wondering how they’ll survive the winter.

Fear not. There are plenty of ways for boaters to keep occupied.

The most obvious activity for boaters is to tackle the project list. Whether it’s an engine overhaul, interior refit, installation of gadgetry, head rebuild or brightwork refinishing, there never seems to be a shortage of boat needs. And just when you think you’re at the end of the list, something else starts begging for attention — and money.

It’s hard to imagine running out of projects, but in the unlikely event that actually happens, there are ways to find new ones. Boaters can peruse equipment catalogs and web sites of retailers like Maine’s own Hamilton Marine (www.hamiltonmarine.com) for some new accessory or gadget that they just cannot live without. The New England Boat Show happens Feb. 16-24 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Those wanting to see something closer to home and with a more local flair can check out the Maine Boatbuilders Show in Portland next March.

People who can’t get through the winter without a recreational boating fix can head south and charter a boat for a week or two in the Caribbean. All those funky beach bars, palm trees and colorful tropical fish shown in travel-oriented magazines and websites really do exist. The friendly crew at Maine-based yacht charter agent Ed Hamilton & Co. (www.ed-hamilton.com) can find a boat that fits most any need.

Those who can’t swing a trip south can put some extra thought into their boating plans for next summer. It is always nice to curl up next to the fireplace with a good book, and if that book is a cruising guide, it is productive, too. Of course, perusing www.mainecoastguide.com and www.me.usharbors.com/ might work just as well, but the phrase “curl up with a good laptop” just doesn’t have the same quaint ring to it. But regardless of media choice, winter is a good time to learn about new places to explore.

Projects, trips and armchair cruising notwithstanding, one of the best ways for boaters to get through winter is to find a complementary pastime. For my husband and me, and more than a few of our boating friends, that pastime is skiing. We were skiers before we became boaters. It is not unusual for boaters to meet on the slopes or at apres ski bars, provided they can recognize one another in their ski gear. And more often than not, the conversation will turn to boating.

But very few boaters relish the idea of clearing snow from their driveways and roofs. That kind of project is best done with earbuds under the wool hat and reggae on the iPod. It might not look or feel like summer, but at least it can sound like it.

Gail Rice of Freeport and her husband, Randy, race and cruise their Pearson 30 sloop on Casco Bay. Contact her at:

gnrice@yahoo.com

 

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