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With boating delays affecting many, it looks like the long weekend will be spent watching the water rather than on top of it.

Boaters eager for warmer weather


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    Rachel Schoutsen
    Presenter, The Weather Network

    Friday, May 16, 2014, 12:17 PM - In Canada, the boating season is a short one. Throw in cold water temperatures, ice damage and extra debris and the season seems shorter than ever.

    This is the case for many boaters in the Greater Toronto Area.

    Hector Martinez, with the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, is waiting to dock his boat in the Port Credit Harbour Marina. But with the flipped, tilted and submerged docks, the splash into the water may be a long time coming.

    “This year has been an unusual year because of the cold weather and we have also experienced a lot of ice damage because of the ice storm,” says Martinez.

    Many boats still remain in storage waiting for steady warm temperatures and awaiting the repairs of their slips in the water.


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    “We had a lot of damage, some of the docks are lifted or sunken. It will take some time to repair the damage and right now we are not sure when that will be," says Martinez.

    However, it is not doom and gloom for all boaters. The Mimico Marina stuck to a regular schedule launching about 300 boats into the water in late April.

    “It’s unfortunate that the season is delayed for the boaters in Mississauga. In Mimico, boats are in the water and the racing will begin soon. But we are still agreeing that this is a very slow start to the season, the weather has been cold and water temperatures are lower than they should be,” explains Keith Nettleton, Canadian Power and Sail Squadron.

    Along with cold temperatures and dock damage, boaters are also facing some extra debris in the water.

    “The debris is very obvious in some areas. The ice storm knocked down a lot of branches which made their ways into rivers and eventually drained into Lake Ontario. The debris is low lying in the water which is hazardous for boaters,” Martinez explains.

    With boating delays affecting many, it looks like the long weekend will be spent watching the water rather than on top of it.


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