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Couldn’t have said it better.

On the one hand, I have to take the entire canvas down to clean it in the spring so if it was already off for winter to protect it from the cold, it would be two birds with one stone; while on the other hand, a lot of dust would accumulate in the cockpit during winter without the canvas, plus rodents with the easy access (birds, too) might do damage (there's racoon and squirrel tracks on the exterior of my boat while on blocks). It has to be fairly warm outside to easily snap a canvas back on: it's nearly impossible when it's cold (even on a cold summer day in my case so tight it becomes). My goal with the new canvas in 2025 will be to bring it home (or leave it flat in the cabin) for winter and have a second one, flat, crude, 1-piece canvas made that easily snaps front, sides and back as a simple protective cover (to make the new canvas last and less exposed to the elements!) Unless I go shrink wrap but I like the year-round access under the dome.

Hi neighbor and thanks! I remember seeing your Rinker on my way to the boat; nice to be under the dome for ease of access. First time I'm trying George & Sons Upholstery, Unit 111-250 Centrum Blvd., Orleans (same building as to the old theatre, door is facing city hall) and all they do is stitches and zippers for a canvas: I have yet to see the result of their work but I'm confident.

I appreciate you saying so! Your comment made me watch the video again, where I paid more attention to the sun and warm weather as you say… Yeah, it helps to shorten rainy and dreary days like it is here now as well and for a few days.

Mike, thanks for the feedback! Many months to go until launch day as you wrote, yet thankfully everyday is filled with that good feel of anticipation. As for next summer, my wife and I already started planning, such as when and which areas we’d like to pay attention too along the way. Our Rideau Canal adventures prepared us well and we’re happy to share the ride :)

Hey! Yes, I’m in the planning stages of doing the Trent Severn in 2025 along with the Georgian Bay… Part of the travel with my wife when she’s on vacation. How about you? You single handedly drive a Sea Ray 340 too? How do you find that’s like for docking and in the locks? Do you have thrusters?

@ Hi Frank, first of all, thank you for the wonderful videos you are making. I think I have now seen most of them. It is not only the videography, but also the format you are using to present the storyline, I find to be excellent learning and entertaining at the same time. I can’t wait for your 2025 videos. I was single handing a 30 foot Bayliner with twin I/O engines, on and off, for 8 years without trusters. Because you can direct the propeller angles, together with utilizing prop-walk and prop-wash, it was fairly easy. Now I just bought a 2000 Sea Ray 340 Sundancer, and I am outfitting it with brand-new, Sideshift bow & stern trusters, Axiom+ chart plotter, EV-150 auto pilot, Quantum radar, and a new VHF radio. This in preparation for next summer. I am highly interested in doing the Trent Severn single handed, so I can’t wait to see your videos next summer. Take care, see you on the water.

Great feedback, I read your comment attentively. Similarly to you, I had a Bayliner 22 feet for 12 years but a single prop. Congrats on your new amazing purchase of that 340 Dancer :)) That made me smile. Amazing upgrades too and of course i noticed that it included bow and stern thrusters… if it’s your first time using thrusters, I predict you’ll have a similar impression about them as I did: A game changer no less. And yes, Trent-Severn adventures and videos are just around the corner… I’d like that, see you on the water and take care!!

@ Hi Frank, yes, the trusters are my ‘ just in case ‘, but I will mainly use the shifters, and hope to achieve the same perfection level as you have achieved. Please let me know when you have some new videos out, and when you have some news about your Trent Severn adventure? When you do the Trent Severn I guess you have to come down the Rideau to Kingston first. Would you have a concern with the new fixed LaSalle Causeway bridge, to get out to Lake Ontario? Take care…

Hahaha! Sounds like there’s unity in part from an inclination towards perfectionism: I used to be called Mr.P (for perfect), I’ve scaled that down in recent years but it is still detectable as Anchor Girl has noticed :) I have one more video on this last series including docking backwards alone with one hand, ohhh yesss, right!? I’ll be watching your Trent Severn Waterway and Georgian Bay series for the 2nd time soon, with a pencil and paper in hand this time around: I remember it being epic and insightful, and it’s for our 25th (quarter of a century) wedding anniversary. We spent our honeymoon on our 1994, 2255 Sierra Sunbridge Bayliner on the Rideau back then… only fitting that we’ll travel a bit further this time around, oh, and on a Sea Ray Sundancer :)) Thanks in advance for the videos, and for the comments!!

@@TheRetiredBoater 25 years?? These days, that is quite an achievement so here's an early congratulations to both of you! Next Spring, Anchor Girl and I will be celebrating our 43rd (!!!) wedding anniversary & 47 years since we first started dating! Can you believe she's stuck with me and my foolishness for nearly half a century? 😁

Thank you, I appreciate that and you’re leading the way again, marriage longevity wise this time… I suppose that’s my next challenge? :)) My jaw dropped (so did my wife’s) to “47 years together”, you’ll have to tell us your secret some day. 4 years together then got married? We were 4 months together before we got married, just saying, LOLOL. I’m calculated yet leaps of faith follow me and so far so good. I laughed out loud at “…stuck with me and my foolishness” as I can imagine the scenes, maybe like your carving of the white plastic davits to accommodate the underside of the dinghy, which was so cool if you ask me (that scene made me repair my boat’s BBQ), and I relate as just today my wife said: “and I married that guy!” I’m eccentric at times. We have the marriage longevity key my friend but I don’t know what it is! That could be part of the charm. I’m sure it’s not because of the Sea Ray. DOH!!!

I hear you, we’re “in the same boat!” as the expression goes. 181 days to go but the day will come and it will be a good day.

Yep, listening to wise and experienced people has only brought me good things in life and, sure enough, I wasn’t disappointed. Paul also inspired me into the boating world… I’m eternally grateful for it as I needed it, and I’m giving back when I have the opportunity and for others’ benefit. Great observation!

My pleasure Dave! And you’re so right about karma… there’s this fragile balance between expressing bravado and tempting faith: maybe it’s in the delivery :) To your point… it can be fun either way! Cheers to that philosophy.

Hey thanks! Murphy’s law weather wise. Very much looking forward to your canvas video: as you know I’m considering a new one too so I’ll watch it with scrutiny. Can’t wait to see it.

Touché! There’s indeed a sentiment of sort. When my wife and I sold our first boat (the one before this one, some 17 years ago), we shed tears to put it mildly. Just finished editing a video now… will be publishing it mid-November to prolong the fun. Great comment, thanks!

That would have been the best… I was right there with them when they were about to wash it; unfortunately, the washer broke down and they couldn’t repair it on time. They said they’ll pressure wash it in the spring.

Yes exactly, spring is right around the corner, it’ll be here shortly right!? :)) There’s nothing like prepping for spring launch, oh man. Thanks for sharing the plan, helps me with the waiting.

@@TheRetiredBoater Are you aware that Sea Ray wired the electrical system so that the engine hatch can be operated if your battery goes dead? You should have a 12 volt plug under the helm wheel that can be used to power the hatch when your battery charger is OFF. You simply plug in a 12 volt power source and the hatch will operate.

Spring will be here before we know it. I stop by and visit my Chaparral every couple weeks and go by the marina just to get my boating fix during the winter. Also working on my spring todo list

Omg what! That’s so awesome, I did not know that. Yes I noticed the 12 v plug in below the helm…. That’s so good to know. I actually feel better knowing that. Thanks!

Yes exactly, spring isn’t far away so it’s a good idea to start the todo list soon. I totally get it about getting the boating fix… and whenever I go see it I always want to stay “one more minute”, ha. I’m sure your Chaparral looks mighty fine, makes it even more fun for the todo list :))

Glad you found it entertaining! You got a week more of boating than me, and in a heated space… that must work well for you? I thought about building my own heated boat garage in my yard. I’ll definitely check your new canvas video as I’m putting money aside for ours eventually, any recommendations you have would be helpful. Will be surreal when Spring comes along my friend, we’re in the same boat, almost :))

Good observation. It’s rotational to be fair to all, I have no say. Fortunately it only takes 10 minutes per boat for haul-ins and there’s actually more boats behind mine. It’s also less exposed to the elements this way and to people walking in with ladders. Best anywhere in the tent with year round access than shrink-wrapped outside I find. But to your point, ideally I’m the last one in and the first one out :)) My turn will come. I’m just happy to have a boat!

Yes!! We’re considering boating south via the great loop once my wife retires and spend part of winter(s) aboard starting in or around the Bahamas… Fly home for a bit and then back to resume the boating adventures. Great question. I know my way with maps as a retired forester, I’m a handyman, have 12 years of previous boating experience, I scuba dive and windsurf so, yeah :)) Started watching insightful looper videos. Life happens… let’s see. I’m content with little yet sometimes the adventurer in me says: “Let’s go!”

Hey Mike, glad you’re enjoying the videos :) Yeah, just looking at this latest video and I miss her big time. To that effect, I have more footage to take us through the winter months and, indeed my friend, stay safe and healthy as well, thank you and cheers to boating!!

We’re enjoying the same in Ottawa…if my boat was still in the water I’d sneak out and likely make another video! Hope you get to enjoy and yeah, I feel for you: let me know how the pulling goes on the US East Coast! Good emoji choice.

I share your sentiment big time: sad yet so ever grateful at the same time for the fun boating season. So yeah, thank you and cheers!

Thanks! It adds fun to boating and it’s pleasantly tempting to try turning docking and locking into an “art”. It can be so beautiful to look at. Like Bob Ross would say: “There are no mistakes, just happy accidents.” (To learn from.) Fortunately, bumpers are into place to help avoid the potentially costly mistakes.

Oh I don’t take myself very seriously, it’s more about having fun but yeah, when the wind picks up it’s another level of difficulty.

Thanks! Pretty darn sure you’d enjoy it :) Would love to have you over and, by the same token, check those gadgets you got installed.

OOOOH yes! Retiring in a few short years!? Sea Ray!? Thrusters!? I’d say I envy you but “we’re in the same boat!” :)) A 380 Dancer, two thumbs up, enjoy the separate shower :) Congrats my friend, must be exciting to kind of start looking at longer boating destination possibilities? Exactly… slow speed while stick shifting is key, and thrusters are a game changer… I’d say they make me enjoy boating 3x more due to peace of mind (and they might pay for themselves if they avoid a couple of incidents) but that depends on everyone’s situation. Thanks for the feedback!

Ha, yes! The duck’s timing was so perfect that it felt like it was someone waiting for me to stop talking before starting heckling. Right place at the right time :)

I hear you about learning techniques… comes from experience… and, like yourself, I had a single motor before but yeah, I learned stick shifting with twin motors from Boogaboo! I usually only use the shifters when I’m moving at the slowest speed, except occasionally in harsher conditions when using the steering in addition helps to accentuate a turn towards the desired position. I enjoy watching boaters dock, learn from it… then applying it. All good fun!!

Thanks!! Ideally it rains at night and it's sunny during the day :) Very true... that plant has travelled and seen a lot more than if it was rooted in the ground; it's also going to be part of a nice voyage in the Georgian Bay next summer: I named it Oasis🌴 (by definition: a fertile spot where water is found). Very well, I shall refer to it by its name in future videos :)), while I named the engines Sea Runner and Seagma. Great comment, I love it.

Hey thanks! I continue that experience in the upcoming videos… Feels great and feels right doesn’t it!? Cheers to us practicing. There’s something to be said about a “seasoned Boaters” and we’re getting there :)) I hear you… trying new techniques here as well.

Totally with you… and to that point I’ve been practicing without the use of thrusters on the last couple of videos. In fact, the next video I again don’t use thrusters to perfect the docking skill, with improvements, just in case. Love the friendly advice, I’m putting it in practice and it makes me a better Boater thanks to you guys and girls.

What a great comment, Dave! I also appreciate the details about what you cherish on the boating adventures, along with the reasoning… we see this with the same lenses. Btw, my wife stayed in England for a year and came back with one nice British accent. Thanks my friend from England, you made my day.

Thank you! Totally relate, sure is nice to have that something to look forward to, it’s healthy and it was a great summer :)

Hey my American friend. I also used to have a trailerable cruiser for 12 years that I pulled around with my Dodge Ram… visiting waterways that I can’t with the now bigger boat: sounds like great fun conversations to share. I hear you, gas is pricey and we have to put money aside all winter long for that. Thanks for your comment and cheers to Boogaboo for making the world a better place :))

Very nice description, you managed to bring to light what could be perceived as a simple world. Just a few days ago I also noticed how strategic spiders are… weaving a net right next to lights at the marina and plentiful bounties they have. I used to lie face down in the grass with my kids, observing the fabulous and tiny world of insects with them: today, other kids are amazed at how they are comfortable and smiley when insects are in their presence, even letting spiders climb on their arms saying it’s ticklish. We’re all interlinked in an amazingly diversified world and the more we’re aware of that, the more we can appreciate. I’m privileged to take a few spiders for a boat ride and so are our children! I’ll start giving them names as well :)

Thanks!! I’m about 700 kms (535 miles) away from Georgian Bay by boat: the good thing is that it makes for a lot of areas to go visit along the way, more that I can see in one boating trip. I envy your location! You live in prime boating country according to many boaters. My wife and I look forward to visiting your surroundings. Perhaps down the road when we’re both retired we’ll find a new marina to have our boat at, year round, in your area, to enjoy the Georgian Bay at its fullest for a few years.

Ha yes, I feel privileged! Paul encouraged me to make videos especially given that I’m on the Rideau Canal, which he hasn’t completed yet, along with a shout out if the videos “hold water”. Great team work. I admire your long boating season and heated storage big time: you can get to your boat without it being so cold like here, ha.

What, the boat season has an end? 😂

That’s so right! It’s a sadness that’s nice to feel… filled with great memories. Same thing… my very first boat ride was on my grandpa’s wooden boat with the old white and brown Johnson 35 hp motor that was shaking left and right once started and, somehow, the stronger than today exhaust smell of it was a nice part of that experience. Oh those good days, right? All I have left are great memories and a few black and white, crispy pictures… which I deem most valuable. Cheers to you for sharing that powerful story!!

Hey, cheers to the lucky as heck privileged by clement boating weather year round you!! On the bright side, living in the cold regions is a chance to experience a new beginning once a year :))) Perhaps you could post a few videos during our off-season to help your less fortunate Boater friends navigate another long winter run!

Bon matin à toi! Je suis né à Montréal près de Lacordaire. Your boating enthusiasm is nicely contagious :)) I’m reading your comment while anchored in a bay near Ottawa… making a video on this sunny October 01st. I hope you get your dream boat and tell us about that experience! My first was a 22 foot Bayliner… I did the Georgian Bay, Rideau canal, St-Laurent, lac St-Francois etc with it… best time of my life and so will you :) Thanks a bunch for the nice comment, keeps me going with that much more enthusiasm, in fact, like right now, ha. All smiles here, you are me when I started so you have my attention, thanks again.

@@TheRetiredBoater Definitely looking forward to your future videos, I have a feeling that your channel will grow crazy in the boating community. I always liked to have a big boat so that you can just eat the waves, the feeling of cruising the water rather than going full throttle is what I like a lot. Hopefully soon so that I can also visit the Rideau Canal! The only lock I’ve been pass is the Sainte Anne de Bellevue lock, but I want to get that experience of handling a boat going through locks. Do you have to pay for each lock? Or do they simply open them for you. Sorry for the long comments;)

Yeah, Paul, I owe him for enticing me to buy a Sea Ray and starting to do boating videos! I appreciate you taking the time for your nice comment… it’s amazing how they add energy and therefore more content. Cheers to you and looking forward to staying in touch by way of boating fun :))

My gratitude to Boogaboo and it’s about boating fun! I hope you’ll enjoy squeezing in some of my videos with Paul’s. I hope that your “some day” is just around the corner but so you know, that’s how it started for me: watching boating videos, it kick started something… you might just be on the right track and we’ll be watching your videos soon :))

@@TheRetiredBoater I live in Los Angeles now (pastor of a large Lutheran church/school out here), but when I had a smaller church in central Nebraska, I owned a smaller I/O and used to cruise around the lakes and reservoirs there. I occasionally rent also a boat when I'm travelling in WI. I don't know if I'd feel comfortable in a boat on the ocean, so I'm not sure what the future holds in that regard. But who knows? thanks again for your channel - I've watched most of your videos now - looks like you're having a good time!

A pastor! Such a privilege. I’ve had an out of body experience at 12 years of age. Changed everything for me… Now the simplest things such as the warmth of sun rays on my cheeks have been amplified to a high joy. With boating, there’s a lot of that, ha, so it makes me feel “closer to home”. It seems like you get that joy as well from boating and I relate. The ocean, I hear you, I might do the great loop once my wife retires and I’ll make sure to get experienced sailors advice, and watch the forecast.

Wow, ok I’m impressed and this was very well, detailed written in a way I can understand. So now I know… about something that I didn’t know. I’m game to practice it. I’m thinking about doing a video about it as a newbie, practice, feedbacks, and another video as “mastery”, ha. Would be really cool to be able to do that. Thanks man, I read it attentively, that’s epic, all smiles here! Will check the link in a few.

Just saw the video, I got this! Though I’d do in last resort as mentioned but definitely a nice tool to have in the arsenal. I’ll give it a “controlled” try at some point. Thank you!!

@@TheRetiredBoater Good plan! Controlled environment is best to practice. The 340 at 15000+ pounds is just heavy enough for you to see how wind can be an issue, and just light enough that your big blocks will have a lot of authrority in idle to make these technique work without needing to apply much if any power. I've used these techniques for a sailboat which has no where near the power and it was not a problem. It's all abour leverage!

Always nice to hear from a fellow Boater, you have a nice boat with no doubt adventures of your own, so it’s awesome to see and relate with other boaters, right? Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it. And yeah, Boogaboo is the source of it all, cheers to you and Paul :))

Do tell once you’ve installed and used the thrusters… they’re a game changer in my experience and the lanyard is a practical tool for once docked but not tide up yet. Bought the boat with the bow thruster on and its lanyard, then I installed the stern thruster with its own remote lanyard (which I paired both thrusters with). One day I put the wrong remote lanyard around my neck and was caught off guard as it didn’t work! Thought it was the battery or a defect… then I put it back in the drawer and I noticed the other lanyard… I thought “no, could it be?” I tried it and sure enough, the boat started moving sideways… best feeling ever :))

Hey to Philadelphia! Just reading about that part of your boat purchase story awoke an adventurous side of me: people only see a nice boat glide on the surface of the water but between you and me, there’s “elbow grease” involved where it comes from, right!? Oh man, engines out too? For the right price it can be a nice project, sounds like you’re handy. I’m sure you could write a book about it. And yeah, I lucked out big time!

Super nice to have you here and that you’re from Boogaboo country in beautiful Orillia! Paul inspired me to get into boating and to start a TH-cam channel, I appreciate your presence.

Nice to get aquatinted, and so nice of Paul who basically created me with his inspirational boating videos. My friend, yes I have a bow thruster and now a stern thruster that I installed, indeed from SideShift. Nothing short than a Game Changer! No more concerns about docking, it’s even fun :)) I kid you not. And it saved me boat repairs.

You bet, thanks for watching and commenting, glad you liked it!

Magical and therapeutical, didn’t want it to end and I prolonged it by about a week. Hope you’re having a good time too!

@@TheRetiredBoater Trying to get new charts into my Garmin gps. I switched to Navionics charts and can't get them to load.

You could make a boating video out of it, ha. But yeah, I can see that endeavour as being frustrating. Do tell how it turns out, I know nothing about how that works!

Hahaha, yessss, cheers!

Thank you :) Glad you like it! Gaining experience as I go and in a really fun context, like wow.

I agree. There is something about this video that is "next level".

Thanks for taking the time to say so!

Touché! I looked back at the docking and I see myself turning the engines off after handing the line to the lock master, but a few times I did that before the boat was tight against the lock with the rope in my hands (and same on the wood dock)… it’s the last time I do that, thanks for pointing out the error of my way… same about the stanchion: message received and thank you here too. Sorry you had a hard time with the stanchion (would be a great story to hear about)! I’ll post the last video of this boating vacation once I receive your Boogaboo t-shirts as they’ll appear in it :))