Warm Climate Boaters: Wet or Dry Now?

[RadioguyJ]

I am a Minnesota boater. Here, like many cold climate regions, our boating season starts mid April and ends in late October. I've done a lot of traveling to warmer, more tropical climates during the winter months and have noticed, obviously, that a lot of boats are in the water all winter. Then again, I see a lot of boats on "the hard" too.

Obviously at some point in the year, the boat may have to be removed from the water for maintenance and inspection, but how many of you choose to leave the boat on land for the winter? I see many dry-dock boat yards filled with blocked boats, some even shrink wrapped.

Is pulling and blocking boats for the winter somewhat common in warmer climates, or are all of those boats just undergoing maintenance or have owners that just aren't around to use their boats??

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but here in Minnesota there is no such thing as winter boating. The closest thing to it was an in-water boat show that Marinemax put on last weekend at a marina with bubblers in the harbor. They had these big propane heaters on the docks, and each boat was shrink wrapped with clear wrap. It was interesting to say the least!