End of my first season
 

It seems like winterizing rhymes with euthanizing in my mind.

At least that's what it felt like. After having the boat for a little over a month, I put nearly 100 hours on it. I've cleaned it a few times, replaced the stereo head unit and speakers, added a new finder/GPS, bashed up and replaced a prop, been lashed by a line (stupid me), and really have had an awesome time on the water. I've met nice folks, enjoyed gorgeous views many don't get to see, have a new respect for barges, and feel slightly guilty about my carbon footprint. But I've really had an awesome time on the water. There's been sun, wind, glare, rain, hot, cold, and even been graced with the elusive "just right" once in a while.

But for the last week and a half, it's felt less and less likely that I'd want to risk an overnight freeze on this 18 foot instrument of pleasure and excitement. Yesterday I felt like I did the unthinkable and put my boat to rest for a few months. I gathered my fishing gear, did one last wipe down, covered it, and handed it off to the guys at the marina with instructions to winterize and store. A hard decision that you just can't take back. And that was it. No more water enjoyment even if there is that fluke of a Chicago day with 55 degree weather in the middle of winter. I'll just have to make do with watching the boys with outboards enjoy the free use of off-season boat ramps and sigh.

I've really had an awesome time on the water, and a lot of it came from the confidence that this community gave me. I would have avoided a boat from a proprietary manufacturer that went out of business several years ago if it wasn't for the reviews, stories, photos, collaborative assistance and more. Thanks folks, really.

A long winter this will be.

Glad we could make this season great for you! We're all feeling the pain of winterizing now, but winter will be gone and we'll be back on the water again before you know it!

The site stays active during the winter, that's project planning time! So be sure and keep visiting during the cold months.

silly 'mericans.....dont you realise that winter never really goes away up here north of the border? ;)

glad to hear you had a good season on the water this year 'Tilted'. What you said is exactly what Mariah boating is all about.

Amen to that!! I'm going to drain the block this afternoon since we're expecting 28° to 30° the next couple of nights. I refuse to remove it from it's lift since it's supposed to be in the 60's this weekend.

I usually say this about 15 times this time of year... ONE MORE DAY!!! ONE MORE DAY!!! ONE MORE DAY!!!