Poll: What day of the year do you first hit the water?

[kaneboats]

Haven't had a poll in a while. Guys up north are feeling a bit discouraged about the cold snap. Thought I'd post a poll-- tell us the first day, on average, you hit the water in the new year.

[guinsha54]

By hitting the water I guess you mean actually getting in a strapping a board on not just getting the boat out and ready to go. For me I've had a few new years day runs but I wont count those. My first ride is usually around mid April to mid may depending on whats going on that year, friends weddings which is the case this year, school, work. So average for me is May 1st.

[byronkoz]

Yeah speaking of weddings, im getting married on a houseboat May 15th and i'll be boarding soon as the ceramony is over. Guess that will be my first time in the water this year.

[zabooda]

None of the above. Anymore, I get out about Memorial Day at the earliest sometimes mid-June.

[NCSUmoomba]

We shoot for the beginning of April or around Easter... this year it was April 2nd. Temp was about 85 or so. We are lucky though that we have a power plant cooling lake less than an hour from where I live. The water there is in the mid 70's, where the lake I normally ride on in the summer is still in the lower 60's I think.

[New Guy]

April 1st this year but that was not normal.

[mcdye]

tomorrow...WAHOOO..mainly to check things..

[Hoopskier]

April 1st this year but that was not normal.

Same here, gotta love WI

[jester]

Will abstain from voting because it truly depends on the whim of the weather gods.

Normally, we are out all year long. No start or stop to boating season

This year was so fricken cold , we stopped in November and didn't get out until late March

I am with Ed on this one. The weather gods can be nice or evil to us. The end of Feb for me.

[kaneboats]

For all the talk from the cold weather guys, I only see 9 guys that claim any date before April 1 (and I'm one of them but in FL).

[stretch55]

Any day after Jan 31st that I am not working and it is not raining out.

[04OUTBACK]

Sad to answer may 1.. last year it was early Feb.. In Mississippi.
Ice was a foot deep here in feb... maybe late april..but i got other problems to worry about right now.. like selling a house in Mississippi, finding a place in NY BY APRIL 30!!

[Sled491]

I'n not sure of the intention here, but I'm on the water the second the ice breaks. I get in the water as soon as I can after that. I agree the weather God's have the final say. We would have been skiing in mid to late march as we had a 1 1/2 week spell of high 70's mid 80's. Being able to react to an early freak warm spell is not always that easy.

[kaneboats]

When I was in IL, we used to always get in trouble on Mother's Day. That was when we'd get the boat out and start going through stuff to get ready for the season. Can't remember ever putting in that day though.

[Sled491]

You would be surprised the temp difference from SE WI to south of Chicago, sometimes its as much as 15 degrees. I can't get into trouble on Mothers day, because I'm not allowed in the garage that day :D

[zegm]

None of the above. Anymore, I get out about Memorial Day at the earliest sometimes mid-June.

I agree with Zabooda, Memorial day weekend for me! I like my water nice and warm.
Ok the kids and the wife will go out much earlier.

What I seem to notice on this board is that it doesn't matter where you live, I see people are getting in the water from all over the country. I mean the ice hasn't even thawed!

[SEARK]

I voted April 15, but that's about the time I get into the water. I've already had the boat out a couple of times this year just to cruise around.

[skiyaker]

got in the water April 2 this year- next year my goal is to ski on my birthday March 11. I told my wife there is a limited number of weekends left this year in the boating season until the lake freezes! ;)