Cold weather makes getting boats out on the water a challenge

It’s been eerily quiet on Minnesota waters as cold temperatures keep boaters at bay.

“Can’t control the weather; can’t control Mother Nature,” said Kristina Cummings, manager at the St. Paul Yacht Club.

She said getting boats on the water is a challenge right now, especially when it comes to the big boats.

“We started launching boats, and then we kind of put a pause on launching boats because we can’t turn on our water,” she said.

Frozen pipes have been an issue, along with chilly water, which could pose a threat to some boats.

“The water gets in there, and then if it freezes, it cracks the block of the engine, and engines are very expensive, Cummings told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, adding, “and [then] you have to replace the block,” Cummings said.

She said this is causing a one to two-week backup at most marinas.

The problem is this: unlike this Minnesota Nice marine that allows boats to stay on its land until summertime, most storage facilities need boats out by May 1.

“They’re going to pay, yeah,” Cummings said. “Most storage facilities would be like a storage unit you would rent for your junk. Depending on their contracts, you could potentially have a share sale for your boat.”

Looking at Mille Lacs Lake, the General Manager of Northern Skys RV Resorts, Paul Waldowski showed 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that it’s still topped with ice, only a few weeks away from this year’s fishing opener on May 14.

“The ice sheets not moving, so we’ll just have to see what happens for opener,” Waldowski said.

This could be tricky since it’s their first year open as a resort, but he’s optimistic since they’re already 75% booked.

“I mean, the folks are going to come up whether they fish or not, you know, other resorts and stuff,” he said. “I don’t think you’re going to see a bunch of cancellations.”