Maryland boaters on the water earlier this year

It's again that time of year when the bay starts calling.

Earlier this month, local marinas predicted that most boaters wouldn't begin commissioning their boats for the season until April. But last week, many boat owners were saying, "Why not?"

Just as Midwesterners mark the coming of spring by bringing out their classic cars, local boat owners began the annual work of peeling their boats out of storage and plopping them into the bay for inaugural rides.

"It's the final frontier. It's the spirit of adventure," Lean said. But, even with a mild breeze blowing in off the water on a 70-degree day last week, Lean knew he had plenty of work ahead of him on dry land.

"As soon as you get one of these days, all of a sudden everyone says `I just want to get out of the office and get out there,' " said Lean, the general manager of the Kent Island marina.