Make A Careful Start

The 3 commissioning mistakes that cost Great Lakes boaters thousands every spring.

Published: Friday, March 13, 2026

Spring on the Great Lakes is unpredictable by nature. Cold water, shifting winds, and tight marina spaces mean the first days back on the water are often the most damaging of the season. Time and again, costly repairs trace back to the same early-season mistakes.

1. Underestimating Spring Winds at the Dock
   Many boaters focus on open-water conditions and forget that spring winds are most dangerous at idle speed. Gusts funnel through marinas, push bows off centerlines, and turn routine docking into contact events. Scrapes, cracked gelcoat, and bent rub rails often happen before the engine is ever out of neutral.
2. Reusing Winter-Worn or Undersized Protection
   Fenders that spent months compressed under shrink wrap or sitting in storage may look fine, but often aren’t. Lost air, weakened seams, or fenders sized for last season’s conditions can fail when boats surge against concrete seawalls or pilings common throughout Great Lakes harbors. Spring docking demands more coverage, not less.
3. Rushing the First Launch of the Season
   After months off the water, it’s easy to rush. Lines aren’t fully staged. Protection is added after the boat is already moving. Crew communication hasn’t been reset. Launch-day excitement creates shortcuts, and shortcuts lead to preventable damage when wind, current, or crowded slips enter the picture.

Veteran Great Lakes boaters approach spring differently. They assume conditions will change quickly. They expect docks to be unforgiving. And they treat impact protection as part of commissioning, not something to “deal with later.”

A careful spring start doesn’t just protect your boat. It sets the tone for the entire season.

tags: Boating Safety, Cold, damage, early season, Great Lakes, Marina, season, spring, unpredictable, wind

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