Can You Boat on Lake Martin in the Winter?
One of the most common questions we hear on the lake is, “Can you boat on Lake Martin in the winter?” The short answer is yes —you absolutely can. With a little planning and the right expectations, winter boating can still be a great way to enjoy the lake.
Here are a few important tips to help you boat safely and confidently during the colder months.
Where to Find 24/7 Gas Pumps at Marinas on Lake Martin
One thing to know is you’ve got to figure out where your marinas are that have 24/7 gas pumps. The Ridge Marina is one of them. It’s located near some of the biggest landmarks like Chimney Rock and Acapulco Rock and is really easy to find on the lake and on the map. Knowing your fuel locations ahead of time makes winter boating much easier.
Which Waterfront Restaurants Are Open on Lake Martin During Winter?
Another tip for boating in the winter is if you’re counting on going to waterfront restaurants, you’ve got to know that most of them are closed.
Right now, I’m at The Landing at Harbor Pointe over in StillWaters, and they’re closed for the season, which is pretty normal for most of the restaurants around Lake Martin. I wouldn’t want you to hop in the boat and drive a long time to get to a restaurant and realize too late that it’s closed.
So check ahead and make sure. Pretty much all of them, except for Kowaliga, are closed for the winter season. Remember that when planning your trip. Stay up to date on restaurant hours as well as marinas and shops by downloading my free Lake Martin Voice App.
The Winter Water Drawdown Explained at Lake Martin
Another winter boating tip is to remember we have the normal winter water drawdown, which goes down about seven feet most years. That exposes more land.
For example, a little island right that used to have a shallow water marker is now just a little island. Sometimes these spots can become harder to see because that buoy isn’t on top of it anymore. You’ve got more land to run into.
Safety Tips: Channels & Mapping Apps During Winter in Lake Martin
What I tell people is, get in the middle of the channel. Apps are good. Mapping apps are good. But also use your eyeballs too. Look and see where you’re going to make sure you’re not just staring at your phone or staring at a map app and then run aground.
As long as you stay in the middle, you’ll be fine. But please use common sense and please be aware. I’ve been boating here my entire life, and I’m still really careful when I boat in the winter because everything looks different.
But yes, you can boat in the winter at Lake Martin. You just need to plan ahead a little bit and have these tips in hand.
Real Estate on Lake Martin
If you have any questions about real estate at Lake Martin, that’s what I do for a living. My name is John Coley with Lake Martin Voice Realty. I would love to help you out. If you have questions about selling or buying a home on the lake, then please give me a call at the number on the top of this page. You can also reach me through email or my Contact Page.
For more information about Lake Martin, make sure to check out my YouTube channel, Lake Martin Voice. I post a lot of videos that could help you out with real estate or just learning about life on the lake.
Interested in more blogs about the winter season on Lake Martin? Then, visit the following blogs below:
