5 Ways to Build Excitement for Boating Season
As the sun lingers just a little longer each day, anticipation begins to build. The New Year is long gone, its resolutions faded into the background. Now it’s time to actualize our plans for 2026. It’s time to shift our visions of boating this year into solid intentions. The season is just around the corner. Let’s lean into the excitement. It is the fuel that turns our aspirations into reality. Here are some ways to elevate your enthusiasm for the upcoming boating season. We want you and your boat to be ready.
Get to the Water
When boating starts to feel complicated, we need a visceral reminder of why we keep returning. Go where there’s water. I like to go to a lake 20 minutes from my house, which happens to be the place where I learned how to sail. Sometimes I get bogged down by the amount of effort boating requires and its cost. I try not to think about the times we dragged anchor, the engines failed, or we crashed into the dock.
The minute I walk out to the lake’s edge, the fog starts to rise. I watch the breeze cast ripples over the lake. The water’s surface becomes a momentary footprint left by the wind. As it moves over the water, it builds a distinct texture and scent. By the time it makes its way to me, I feel like I’ve reacquainted with an old friend.
Look at Some Charts Before Boating Season
Whether you are returning to old destinations or exploring new ones, chart books are a window into your adventures every boating season. They will reacquaint you with the language of navigation, boating, and underwater topography. When I am actively planning a route, I often have three or more books spread out on the table. That alone widens my perspective and activates the anticipation. I like to ponder large charts for a big picture. I prefer local guidebooks for navigational hazards and hidden gems. And I never forget about the anchoring guides on Active Captain.
Read Some Literature
You are reading this article, which is a solid first step. From there, choose what draws you in and excites you. Do you like to ponder new boating destinations? Or do you prefer immersive maritime history where the sea dictated a harsh rhythm of life and survival? There’s something about the hardship woven through seafaring history that sharpens my appreciation for modern life on the water. Stories like The Wager and In the Kingdom of Ice paint a picture of uncharted landscapes both raw and severe. But the view came at a terrible price. Perilous passages and disastrous encounters left few survivors.
How lucky are we in this day and age? We have the water at our fingertips without the likelihood of death and destruction. Countless stories are waiting to deliver whatever inspiration may pull you back to the water.
Look Into Watersports (and Try Them)
Boating may just be the beginning of your adventure. For many boaters, the real fun starts after they’ve dropped the hook. Do you find yourself staring longingly at the water on the horizon when you get to your destination? Maybe boating doesn’t quite satiate your hunger for adventure. You can rest assured that an entire world of watersports accompanies boaters for that very reason. I find myself kayaking almost every time we drop the hook, no matter the destination. I can’t imagine staring at the mangroves in the distance without a way to explore them.
Standup paddleboarding is another popular way to explore your anchorage or nearby bodies of water. Inflatable paddleboards pack tightly and easily. They are a great way to practice balance and improve core strength. You don’t have to limit your paddleboarding to standing and paddling. You can practice yoga and pilates on the board as well. It’s difficult to imagine a tougher core workout than this.
Whatever your flavor of watersport may be, now is the time to explore it. Go to a nearby lake or river and try out some new water toys.
Boost Your Boating Skills
Adding a new boating skill can re-ignite one’s excitement for the water and the upcoming boating season. It can also relax some of the major stressors that left you hesitant to get back out there. Do you have a diesel engine on your boat? Maybe it requires some extra love and care. If that’s the case, consider taking a course on diesel engines. You won’t regret it.
Another skill to consider adding to your repertoire is celestial navigation. This navigational technique can reconnect you with the deeper craft of seamanship. The likelihood of ever needing this proficiency is little to none, but the confidence it offers is lasting.
Building Anticipation for Boating Season
The months leading up to this year’s boating season may seem like they can’t pass quickly enough. But they offer us the gift of time. This season we can embark feeling truly prepared and genuinely excited. Every time I gear up to get back on the water, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not as prepared as I’d like to be. This year, when launch day finally arrives, the excitement won’t feel rushed or fleeting. It will feel earned and familiar, and already underway.
Olivia de Soria