1. Draft your boating bucket list. What adventures do you want to experience? Write down what you dream up and pin this work in-progress to the refrigerator so you can keep adding to it.

  2. Stay anchored in education. Earn your boating safety certificate or captain’s license. Take a hands-on boating class. Practice knot tying. Learn how to read a nautical chart.

  3. Make sure your boat will be ready to make the most of every moment on the water. Schedule winter work so repairs and maintenance are handled prior to the busy spring season. Check safety equipment. Replace expired or damaged gear.

  4. Find out what’s new. Go to the New York Boat Show January 22-26 for an infusion of inspiration as well as a welcome reminder that boating season is closer than you think. 

  5. Get serious about clearing the decks to go boating more often. Grab a calendar, mark your anticipated launch date and then start setting aside time to go boating. If you think it and ink it now,  you’ll be more likely to squeeze in more seahabilitation later. (In an upcoming Boating World article, we will share ways to have fun on the water whether you have an hour, a morning / afternoon, the entire day or a whole weekend.)

  6. Read boating books. Revisit or discover classics like Chapman Piloting: Seamanship & Small Boat Handling by Elbert S. Malone and First You Have to Row a Little Boat by Richard Bode.

  7. Pitch in to protect our waters. Find a winter beach cleanup and lend a hand. 

  8. Warm up cold winter days with memories. Revisit and organize your boating photos. Use favorites as cell phone and desktop backgrounds. Order a photo book to flip through. Share moments with friends and family via email or text.

by Port of Egypt Marine / ondeck@poemarine.com

Family-owned & inspiring boaters since 1946