If I lived in the deep south like you, I would stay in longer too. We have had ice on the deck more than once when we hauled out during the second half of October. I can count on at least one serious gale before the end of October. That is why the 79 year old powerboat is coming out at the end of September. The sailboat can ride a gale out, so it stays in until late October. Insurance requires that I be out before November 1.