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Lake Life Blog

Tools For Predicting Lake Ice Out On Minnesota Lakes

3/31/2023

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Snow covered lake, predicting the ice off date on MN lakes

Want Some Help Predicting Ice Out Dates on MN Lakes?

This is the time of year when waterfront property owners in Minnesota are scrambling to predict the ice out dates for their favorite lakes in Minnesota. After the brutal assault of biting wind, piling snow, slick ice, sub-arctic temperatures, and near constant shoveling have bestowed upon Minnesotans over the course of an average winter, many of us begin to turn our daydreams to the gifts of warmer temperatures and open water that spring and summer deliver.

Most Minnesotans go with their gut instinct or random guesses based mostly on today's weather forecast to predict that magical date when the ice will come off of their favorite lake. Still, there are others who prefer a more scientific method.  Below are a couple of tools that can help you more accurately predict the ice off date on Your favorite Minnesota lake.

​Minnesota Lake Ice-In and Ice-Out Widget

We recently came across an article by John A. Downing, Director at Minnesota Sea Grant, and Prof. Large Lakes Observatory that lists a tool that he created to help predict ice out on Minnesota lakes called the Minnesota Lake Ice-In and Ice-Out widget   .

Getting good at predicting the timing of Minnesota lake ice-out times has broad and far reaching implications. Obviously waterfront property owners are naturally curious, and sometimes downright anxious to know when the ice will come off of the lake so they can begin doing all of their fun summer lake activities as early as possible. For starters putting the dock or boat lift into the lake, and getting the boat or pontoon into the water is right near the top of most Minnesota lake cabin owners' priority lists, along with opening up the cabin, getting the water turned on (for those who aren't at the lake full time / year-round) etc. Being able to check many of these activities off of the to-do list usually requires the ice being off of the lake.  When you consider that you really have around 12 warm summer weeks to enjoy open water during a typical Minnesota summer, the hope is almost always that the ice will come off the lake early, thereby increasing the length of your time on the water.

According to the article, the average date range for Ice Off in Northern Minnesota is between March 25, and May 15th. That's a span of seven weeks!! Imagine if you had seven additional weeks to get ready for, and enjoy your time at the lake.  

There is a broader economic impact for businesses that rely on ice-off on Minnesota lakes as well. Resorts, cabins, boat and watersports rental locations, lake area towns that rely heavily on summer tourism, not to mention waterfront equipment providers like Lake Area Docks & Lifts are all dependent in some way or another of the timing of the ice-out on area lakes. 
This Webinar Recording features John A. Downing, creator of the Minnesota Lake Ice-In and Ice-Out Widget and describes why he created the widget, and some of the data and information that goes into creating the ice-out predictions.
You Can also download the MN Ice-Out Webinar Slide Deck by following the link.

Minnesota DNR Ice Out Dates Map

MN DNR Lake Ice Out Map
In addition to the Minnesota Ice-Out Widget created by John A. Downing, the Minnesota DNR has an excellent tool that provides historical data on lake ice out dates for select lakes in Minnesota including the Ice out date for a selected year, the median ice out date based on available data, the earliest ice out date, the latest ice out date, and the period of record. This information is all collected by the MN DNR and citizen volunteer lake ice observers.

​It's an incredibly handy tool to help you plan for and prepare for ice out on your favorite Minnesota lake. You can get a good idea of the ice out on your particular lake, even if the data does not exist for it, by analyzing the information available from a lake that is near yours.

You can check out the Minnesota Ice Out Dates Map and all of the related information by heading to the MN DNR website. 

What To Do With The MN Lake Ice Out Data?

Now that you are equipped with the tools and data to help you plan for lake ice-off on your favorite Minnesota lake, what can you do with this information? Well for starters you can make sure that you are ready for that golden moment when the ice comes off of your lake by making plans to be at the cabin to get your waterfront equipment ready for install, make sure the HVAC system is ready for the spring and summer months, perhaps turn on the water and make sure everything else is in order.

You can also take this data and possibly win some bets with your neighbors at the lake. Doesn't everybody love to guess the ice off date on their lake? To be fair, you might want to let them know that you are now basing your guess more on scientific data, rather than just gut instinct and a quick read of the Farmers Almanac, because good neighbors are hard to come by, and it's always best to keep them on your good side, right?

Late Ice Out Means You Still Have Time To Get Your New Dock or Lift Installed!​

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If you are still in the market for a new dock or lift, Lake Area Docks & Lifts can help you out. A late ice out for the 2023 season might be a blessing in disguise for you. If you have been meaning to shop around for a new dock or lift, but just haven't been able to find the time, stop in or give us a call, there is still time to get your waterfront equipment ordered, and a late ice means it could be a few weeks before it gets installed anyway. Just don't wait too long, or you risk missing an important, and valuable part of those 12 short weeks of summer in Minnesota. 
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When Is The Best Time To Purchase A New Dock or Boat Lift?

3/29/2023

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Northern MN Could Have A Late Ice Out

Morning sunshine rising over ShoreMaster Pontoon lift in Pelican Rapids
We're heading into the month of April and you can be sure of two things; 1.) The snow and Ice will eventually melt opening up the lake for your enjoyment, and, 2.) Smart waterfront property owners have either already planned and ordered their new dock or lift, or they are wrapping up their choices right now before March ends, and before the huge spring rush to get all of that new waterfront equipment installed in the water. Those waterfront property owners that have already ordered their new docks and lifts have afforded themselves the best opportunity to kick off the 2023 boating season with a new dock or lift (or accessories), and minimal, or zero delays to the start of their summer on the lake, because they are typically first in line when in comes to installation. If you are still waiting to purchase your new dock or lift, you not only risk the potential for product delays, but you will also struggle to find installers squeezing you into their already overbooked schedules.

"Last Summer Was Tough On New Waterfront Property Owners"

Although Lake Area Docks & Lifts keeps a healthy amount of inventory in stock all year of nearly every type and model of ShoreMaster Infinity Dock Systems and Vertical and Hydraulic boat lifts, and LA sectional and Truss Wheel-In docks. Some waterfront property owners have been surprised to learn that there are typically 2 - 3 week wait times (or longer depending on the time of year) to have their new dock or boat lift assembled, delivered, and / or installed. That length of time grows as you get into April, May, and June, and then might become a bit shorter heading into July and August.
Customer demand is driving most of this as waterfront property and real estate have been changing hands quickly as people look to the lakes to spend more of their time, especially with work from home arrangements now very common with a lot of employers.
Naturally, many folks are either looking to purchase their first waterfront property, or they are selling their home in Fargo or Minneapolis and moving to their lake home or cabin in the heart of Minnesota's Lakes country. 
With new waterfront property owners, many are finding out that it can be difficult to shop for and get that new dock or lift purchased and installed late in the season, for instance, when they don't close on their new waterfront property until April, May, or June. In those situations, many other waterfront equipment retailers may have already sold through their limited inventory. At Lake Area Docks & Lifts, we can often times help those customers because we strive to keep new and used docks and lifts in stock all season long even beyond the colder months of November and December. As a matter of fact, winter (October through February) can be some of the best times to purchase your new dock or lift, or even explore accessories for your existing equipment.
​When you visit us at Lake Area Docks & Lifts during the colder months in the off season, you'll find that our showrooms are open (some locations by appointment only) and you'll find our sales staff have more time to spend helping you find the perfect product, without all of the distraction that happens in the spring and summer months. You'll more than likely to get the best service possible, and you'll definitely be able to ensure that you'll be able to get your equipment in time to kick start summer.

ShoreMaster RS4 and Boat Lifts
ShoreMaster RS4 with curved sections installed by Lake Area Docks and Lifts
Shoremaster Homecrest dock furniture
ShoreMaster Fishing Rod Holder
ShoreMaster TS9 White Earth MN docks and lifts
Lake Area Dock Shoremaster with Supra Wakeboat

What is The Best Way To Start Looking For Docks and Lifts?

When asked about the best way for new waterfront property owners to begin looking at new docks or boat lifts, Lake Area Docks & Lifts owner, Donavan Rasmusson said "Just call or stop into any one of our stores, that is really the simplest way, we have everything in stock, customers can look, touch, and feel the docks and boat lifts, and really see the quality of the ShoreMaster products. Beyond that, shop a little online. But when you are ready to buy, the absolute best way to buy your waterfront equipment is in person, from someone you know and trust, and maybe that even lives in your community, or maybe even on or near your lake. Our store managers all live and play on the water, or they are out there working with docks and lifts every day, so they will absolutely understand what you are looking for and can help make your experience enjoyable." 
Rasmusson also said "Last summer was tough on new waterfront property owners that closed on their properties later in the summer. We were able to help our customers out, but it sounds like a lot of manufacturers and dealers ran out of inventory early in the year and couldn't satisfy some of that late season demand."

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Do I Still Have Time To Purchase My Dock and Lift and Have It Installed This Spring?

You absolutely still have time to purchase your new dock or lift and have it installed this spring. But if you are reading this in April, and you still haven't pulled the trigger on your new waterfront equipment, you really are running out of time to make sure that you can take advantage of every ice-free day on the water that's available this summer, because you are already several months behind other waterfront property owners who have already planned, designed, and purchased their waterfront equipment. So, if you are still on the fence about whether or not to finally buy that new dock or lift, don't wait any longer, now is the time to finalize the decision, so you can relax while the snow and ice melts, knowing that you will in fact be out on the water early this spring and summer.

​

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SeaLegs Canopy Systems For Your Pontoon

3/23/2023

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Lake Area Docks and Lifts Dock Mounted SeaLegs Canopy System
So, you bought a pontoon with SeaLegs and you no longer need a boat lift, but you still want to keep your pontoon covered and protected. Pontoon SeaLegs allow you to park your pontoon in very shallow water, and you can park your pontoon anywhere, including right at the shoreline along your dock.  However, at the end of each day or weekend you still need to cover the pontoon to keep it clean and dry and protect the interior from the harmful effects of UV rays, rain, and dust. If you use your standard boat cover to protect your pontoon when not in use, you might find yourself using your pontoon less because it is a pain to cover it, or it may be starting to wear out, or perhaps the fasteners are not working.  If this is the case, It's time to start thinking about a sea leg canopy from Lake Area Docks & Lifts. 
Snapping cover on pontoon
Covering your pontoon can be a chore.
Pontoon with SeaLegs
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Lake Area Docks and Lifts Freestanding SeaLegs Canopy System

   What Makes A Good SeaLegs Canopy System?

The key to a good sea leg canopy system is strength both in the aluminum structure and in how the system is anchored.  The base of a sea leg canopy must be strong, it must stand up to constant winds without the benefit of the weight of the pontoon to help hold it together.                                                                                                    


A longer base is also important, so you have room for your sea legs. Most SeaLegs Canopy manufacturers use a standard boat lift frame with common dimensions of 10’ wide x 10’ long for the base (the canopy is attached at the top and is longer to cover the entire pontoon. This base is typically too short in length to make lowering your SeaLegs inside the frame very easy. The 10’ length means the pontoon has to be centered perfectly so that the structure of the frame doesn’t interfere with the SeaLegs as they are lowered into the water. 


The Lake Area Docks SeaLegs canopy frame is 10’ wide x 14’ long, so there is plenty of room inside the SeaLegs frame. This means your pontoon needn’t be perfectly centered front to back as you lower your Sealegs into the water, and the 14’ length means there is less of a chance that the frame structure will interfere with lowering your Sealegs inside the Lake Area Docks & Lifts SeaLegs canopy system. ​

What About SeaLegs Canopy Anchoring?

Proper Anchoring plays a critical role in the construction of a SeaLegs canopy system. This is due to the fact that the boat weight is not on the SeaLegs canopy system, and without proper anchoring it can be susceptible to strong winds.  The corners on the base of a sea leg canopy frame should be reinforced because that is where the stress is. The stronger the corner reinforcement, the better. 

​
Two types of anchoring systems exist for the Lake Area Docks and Lifts SeaLegs Canopy System, one style features galvanized pipes with augers at the four corners of the canopy system, and the other utilizes landscape augers and chain affixed to the SeaLegs canopy frame.  Experience has shown that the landscape auger with chains might be the stronger, or preferred method of anchoring your SeaLegs canopy system because the landscape augers can typically be drilled further into the lake bottom, and the chains allow you to spread the augers out and away from the SeaLegs canopy frame structure for additional stability (similar to the anchoring of a large canopy / tent).
 ​
Dock Mount SeaLegs Canopy System Uses a Chain and Auger Anchor System (With Upright attached to dock side rail)
Dock Mount SeaLegs Canopy Anchor and Upright
Freestanding SeaLegs Canopy System Uses a Pipe and Auger Anchor System
Freestanding SeaLegs Canopy System Pipe and Auger Anchor

What Is The Right SeaLegs Canopy System For My Pontoon, and Lakeshore?

Lake Area Docks & Lifts offers two types of sea leg canopies, a free standing SeaLegs Canopy System, and a dock mounted SeaLegs Canopy System.  The dock mounted sea leg canopy might be considered the best option because the uprights of the canopy frame are attached directly to a dock system. However, a dock mounted SeaLegs Canopy System requires a strong dock, and a slip for the canopy to be mounted on. If you don’t currently have a dock system configured in a slip with a dock along both sides and the front of the pontoon, the dock mount SeaLegs Canopy will not work at your location. A dock mounted SeaLegs Canopy system can be considered stronger than a free-standing SeaLegs Canopy because the dock system itself provides additional structure and weight for the canopy system which creates a stronger base. In addition, the dock mount SeaLegs Canopy system does not require a frame at its base because the uprights are attached to the dock frame. This provides more clearance in shallow water as there is no base to get in the way of the sea legs during operation.  In cost they will range from $6000 to $8000.  One thing to consider though, if you choose a dock mounted SeaLegs Canopy System is that you may also have to purchase additional dock sections to complete a slip. ​
LA Docks SeaLegs Canopy System
If your dock system is not currently configured in a slip style layout, and the additional cost of extra sections of dock to create a slip are an issue, or just not in your budget, you can consider the freestanding SeaLegs Canopy system as the next best choice – especially if your waterfront location is in an area that is relatively protected from strong winds. Costs are very similar to the dock mount SeaLegs Canopy System, however there is no need to purchase additional dock sections to create a slip style dock configuration. ​
LA Docks SeaLegs Canopy System
A SeaLegs Canopy system will allow you to enjoy your pontoon more, and protect it from sun, wind, rain, and dust without the hassle of snapping a traditional cover on your pontoon at the end of every day on the water. You will truly find yourself using your SeaLegs fitted pontoon much more often when you can simply park it underneath the LA Dock SeaLegs Canopy system. Summer is short, we want to help you make the most of it! ​
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    Lake Area Docks & Lifts Blog

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