As winter arrives, most people mount their boats using a pulley system or store them in a shed. Leaving the boat in cold water is not a good decision as the ice can damage the hull and other parts.

The best time to go boating in Canada is in April. The season ends in November when the first cold wave arrives. In Southern Ontario, most boaters have 6 to 7 months to enjoy a leisure sail. If you are planning to sail on Lake Ontario, you will be glad to know that the water is ice-free throughout the year. St. Lawrence Seaway, for commercial vessels only, is shut down in the winter months.

The boating season runs from April till November because the temperature dips low, the weather is consistent, and water rises to an acceptable level.

Seasonal Boating

Watersports and swimming might lose their luster when the water temperature cools. However, the sight of the shoreline colors in fall from your boat is breathtaking.

It’s better to take out your boat at the earliest because the anchorages are clogged with a fleet of boats in July and August. May and June are the months for anglers. That’s when fish are the most active and swim to the surface. If you love fishing, this is the time to polish your rod and fill up your bait box.

One of the reasons boating in these months is safe is that there are other boats in the vicinity, making asking for help easily if you encounter a problem. Still, before heading out, check out the weather forecast. A mix of cold and warm air can quickly turn into high waves and winds, making the sail difficult for small boats.

As October arrives, the daytime temperature becomes balmy. However, this doesn’t mean you can sail in a T-shirt and shorts. It’s important to dress according to the water temperature, or you might risk getting hypothermia.

At this time of the season, the water is a little cold. If you accidentally fall into the water, slow down your breathing and gently swim towards the boat. The more you will struggle, the faster you will lose muscle control. Hence, you need to wear a life jacket at all times.

If you are a boating enthusiast and have been sailing for a long time, here are some of the destinations you will love:

• Shuswap Lake (B.C.)
• The Muskoka Lakes and Trent Severn Waterway Region, Ontario
• Good Spirit Lake (Saskatchewan)
• The Rideau Canal and Waterway (Ontario)
• The Northumberland Strait (Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick)
• Harrison Lake (B.C.)
• Lake Newell (AB)
• The St. Lawrence River (Ontario and Quebec)
• Kenora (Ontario)
• New Brunswick’s Riverways (New Brunswick)
• Kluane Lake, National Park and Reserve (YT)

Indulge in the peaceful solitude and splendor that summer and fall boating offers. Keep in mind the few tips mentioned above, and you won’t have any trouble when you are on the water.

If you want quality plastic docks in Ontario, visit the Nor Col website. The company offers different docks and docking accessories such as gangways, anchors, railing, etc. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.