Now that the fall haul-out season and the holidays are behind us, the winter season (and the cold weather) are still ahead. Most boatshops look forward to the slower indoor pace of the winter season, and many in our area anticipate a busy winter. Several are taking advantage of the winter lull to upgrade and improve their facilities.
For example, Jake Glover from Ferry Point Marina Talbot in Trappe, MD, reports online: “Structure and grounds renovations have already begun with the first set of bulkhead and dock repairs scheduled for this winter. We are excited and proud to be able to improve the marina, the yard, and their operations now and into the future. Keep checking in as we continually work at creating and improving a full-service boating facility.” Also, Bowleys Marina on Middle River reports that their fuel dock, usually open wuth winter hours, is closed until April 15 due to pier construction.
Susan Campbell sends us news of improvements from Campbell’s Boatyards in Oxford, MD, as well. “Campbells wrapped up 2025 with lots of changes that took place throughout the year. Santa was nice and delivered a brand-new Marine Travelift 35BFMII, upgrading our haul-out capacity from 25 to 35 tons. The lift was received on December 16. The crew from Marine Travelift worked with our crew to assemble and train, and the first boat with the new lift was hauled on December 22.
“In late fall, a new piece of property was purchased by the Campbells that will allow us to offer heated, dry storage to boats on trailers up to 26 feet in length. This will also allow us to have more indoor shop space for winter projects. Campbell’s Yacht Sales closed in 2025 with 11 boats sold and one more under contract at the close of the year. The highlight was the sale of a Campbell 42 that was purchased from a client who moved from Oxford to Maine, so the boat will be well used and loved. Winter projects include varnish work, a hull paint job, electronics replacement, soda blasting, and mechanical work. We have inventory of Yamaha motors ranging from 9.9-hp to 300-hp and are offering competitive pricing on repowers. Call (410) 226-5105 to get pricing on a full range of services!”
For those of us who enjoy doing it ourselves, winter is the perfect time to acquire and perfect new skills. Chesapeake Light Craft in Annapolis, MD, has opened registration for the new year. As their website explains, “Enjoy the positive energy, and the extra hands, of a group setting with a professional boatbuilder at your side every minute. Our Build-Your-Own-Boat classes are great family or parent-child experiences in beautiful maritime settings, with lavishly equipped shops at your disposal during the class. The 2026 WoodenBoat School course registration goes live January 2. All other locations will be available as they come together, so be sure to check back often.” CLC offers classes year-round in seven locations nationwide. Many other organizations also offer winter classes and programs, and it beats shoveling snow!
Tim Kraus of Annapolis Gelcoat and Restoration in Annapolis and Osprey Marine Restorations in Tracys Landing, MD, sent us a neat set of before and after photos of repairs to a Parker hardtop where water had rotted the balsa core. Tim said, “Recore of a Parker hardtop at Bert Jabin Yacht Yard. Balsa out and Divinyl cell in! Cool before and after.”
Rob Hardy of Composite Yacht in Trappe, MD, sends us this mid-winter project update. “We’re cruising along on the CY46 research vessel for the St. Mary’s College Marine Sciences Program, located here in the Chesapeake. SeaKeeper equipped and powered by a pair of Cummins QSL engines, she will have an open transom and a large hydraulically actuated gantry system for launch and retrieval of study equipment.”
Kathryn France of BOE Marine in Stevensville, MD, shares this end of year update with us. “Right now in the shop we have a lot of boats coming in for custom work and winter upgrades. We are making a lot of custom dash panels as well as switch panels. Custom panels are unique to each boat, and as the owner upgrades electronics, we want the panel to reflect the upgrades and bring their experience to light and give the owner the best information available. We do the custom work here in our shop and can ship directly to the owner via our website.
“This time of year is the ideal time to update an obsolete transducer and swap out a new transducer while the boat is out of the water. And with that, people typically upgrade their screens as well and move up to a better multifunction display, for example AIS. People are adding that function, especially if they are planning any international travel. Also, night vision camera systems are becoming popular as well as replacing obsolete cameras with digital camera systems.”
“Right now,” she continued, “We are booked out till the end of January. I have been busy the last couple of weeks closing out some 2025 sale pricing. As far as the outlook for the future, I feel that you always have to be a little bit cautious in business. I am feeling optimistic for 2026. I think things are finally leveling out after the Covid era problems, and we are finally seeing some turnarounds in numbers up from pre-Covid levels. I feel good about 2026. Hopefully growth will be steady, and we will have a good year.”
In the old days of printed newspapers, busy writers would save stories they did not have room to run on a spike to hold them for future editions. I have my own version of a spike and I’m retrieving the following story from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), even though it is a bit late:
“The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has certified Hartge Yacht Harbor of Galesville, Anne Arundel County; Tradewinds Marina of Middle River, Baltimore County; and Lighthouse Point Marina of Baltimore City as the newest Maryland Clean Marinas. The department awards this designation to marinas that comply with all applicable regulatory requirements and voluntarily adopt a significant portion of recommended best practice in the Maryland Clean Marina Handbook. There are now 147 Clean Marinas in Maryland, representing about 30 percent of the marinas in the state.” A belated congratulations to these newest Clean Marinas.
So, enjoy the winter months and if you do get out on the water, remember that cold water is dangerous, so be careful out there.
By Capt. Rick Franke