Bringing Boats Out of Hibernation: When is it “Safe” to Put it Back in the Water?

February 27, 2024
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As we begin our seasonal transition to warmer weather, several people have asked about when it’s safe to bring their boats out of winter hibernation. This is a tricky question as every boat and their cooling systems are different. Also, where the boat is kept (on/off water) can be another variable. I can’t answer those questions, but I can provide is the usual temperatures as we move from March into April for the region.

Before we get into that, we need to take a step back and look as the current pattern that is impacting the region. March can be a fickle month with big temperature swings. This is due to the fact that there is still plenty of cold air in Canada, while at the same time we are receiving much more sunshine due to longer days. Big storms, such as the one this Wednesday can bring unseasonably warm temperatures into the region, but as quickly as they rise, they can fall. Temperature swings of 40-50 degrees are not uncommon in March with temperatures falling from the 70s into the 20s with the stronger cold fronts. We are in this type of pattern currently.

The average high temperature in March is around 60 degrees, while the average low is around 33. Breaking this down a bit more shows the following average highs and lows:

  • March week 1 – 54/31
  • March week 2 – 56/33
  • March week 3 – 59/34
  • March week 4 – 63/36

By the time we reach April 1st, you would think our chances for below freezing temperatures are done, but the average last freeze for the LKA region is around April 24th. We still have a chance to experience below freezing temperatures after April 24th, but the probabilities really start to drop off. Back in 2002 we had an anomalous pattern that brought freezing temperatures to the region on May 23rd, so it can still get fairly cold well into Spring, if the pattern and conditions are right.

So, looking at just these temperatures, it might be wise to hold off on bringing your boat out of hibernation for several more weeks.


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As we begin our seasonal transition to warmer weather, several people have asked about when it’s safe to bring their boats out of winter hibernation. This is a tricky question as every boat and their cooling systems are different. Also, where the boat is kept (on/off water) can be another variable. I can’t answer those questions, but I can provide is the usual temperatures as we move from March into April for the region.

Before we get into that, we need to take a step back and look as the current pattern that is impacting the region. March can be a fickle month with big temperature swings. This is due to the fact that there is still plenty of cold air in Canada, while at the same time we are receiving much more sunshine due to longer days. Big storms, such as the one this Wednesday can bring unseasonably warm temperatures into the region, but as quickly as they rise, they can fall. Temperature swings of 40-50 degrees are not uncommon in March with temperatures falling from the 70s into the 20s with the stronger cold fronts. We are in this type of pattern currently.

The average high temperature in March is around 60 degrees, while the average low is around 33. Breaking this down a bit more shows the following average highs and lows:

  • March week 1 – 54/31
  • March week 2 – 56/33
  • March week 3 – 59/34
  • March week 4 – 63/36

By the time we reach April 1st, you would think our chances for below freezing temperatures are done, but the average last freeze for the LKA region is around April 24th. We still have a chance to experience below freezing temperatures after April 24th, but the probabilities really start to drop off. Back in 2002 we had an anomalous pattern that brought freezing temperatures to the region on May 23rd, so it can still get fairly cold well into Spring, if the pattern and conditions are right.

So, looking at just these temperatures, it might be wise to hold off on bringing your boat out of hibernation for several more weeks.


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