Where’s the Skiff?
There’s a common fantasy among many hardcore boaters in this neck of the woods, namely, boating in the serious off-season months of December thru March. Today, it’s 26 degrees and cloudy with a gusty wind, so the “real feel” temperature is close to a frigid 10 degrees. But, there have been many sunny, windless days up to this mid-January mark and there are certain to be more to come before the winter ends. And, it’s against this backdrop that I often hear, “Boy, I wish I had a fiberglass or alum skiff with a 40 hp on the back which I could drop in the water for an afternoon of boating today.”
If you’re a hardcore boater, you know exactly what I’m talking about here. It’s not even a fair contest, comparing the charge you get out of being on-board, exploring new coastal nooks and crannies and watching ocean life go about their daily business, with the emotional payoff of shopping sales at the mall, regardless of the extra layers required. Rest assured you don’t have to worry if you entertain this fantasy too. The best thing is that, in contrast to some other fantasies, if you get the chance to fulfill this one, you won’t regret it the next day…
