How to Stay Warm on Your Boat
The weather is turning colder and if you’re planning on going boating in northern climates or in the mountains this winter, you’ll want to be prepared for anything. One of your challenges will be staying warm when you’re out on the water. Temperatures offshore on a lake or off the coast will be several degrees cooler than land temperatures, which means that even a nice day on land can be a brisk one at sea.
Germaine Marine, serving Utah and Arizona, is your local boat dealer. Here are some tips for staying warm on your boat this winter.
Layer Up Your Clothing
Tossing a huge, bulky overcoat over your street clothing isn’t very likely to keep you warm and dry on a boat, and it can make it difficult to fish or operate your craft. The best option here is to layer up your clothing so that you can add and remove layers as needed to remain comfortable. Start with thermal underwear or a wicking layer, then add pants and a long-sleeved shirt and a sweater or fleece pullover. Your outermost layer should be windproof and waterproof and easy to move around in.
Top Off With Winter Accessories
Insulated gloves (fingerless or convertible gloves allow you to use your fingers more easily), thick wool socks, tall waterproof boots, a snug scarf and a knit wool hat should help to keep the rest of you warm. Bring some extra layers and extra pairs of socks in case you get wet, since it’ll be hard to get warmed up again and you could be more vulnerable to catching hypothermia.
Add Insulation To Your Hull
You can insulate your boat just as you’d insulate the walls of your house in order to keep out the cold in your cabin. Putting insulation in the hull can reduce condensation and keep out the chill. You can talk to a professional about how to go about this if you’re not sure where to begin.
Bring Blankets
This is a very simple and low-tech solution, but thick wool or fleece blankets can be an easy way to warm up. Wrap one around your shoulders or on your lap while fishing or chatting with friends. Bundle up the kids in their own blankets, especially if they’ve gotten wet and changed their clothing. Just make sure that you regularly launder your boat blankets so they don’t grow mold or mildew when they get wet.
Buy an Electric Heater
Another way to keep your boat warm is to invest in a portable heater that you can park in your cabin or near the seating on your boat. You’ll want a heater that can stay upright in choppy waters, with a kill-switch that activates if the heater falls over to reduce the risk of a fire. You’ll want to make sure that your boat’s electrical system is capable of handling the voltage of whatever heater you purchase, and you may need to invest in another power source.
Have a carbon monoxide detector and a fire extinguisher on hand just in case any fires break out. It’s good to review your boat’s wiring as well to make sure there are no shorts in the system.
We hope these tips help you and your passengers to stay cozy, warm and dry on all of your fall and winter boat excursions! Still need a boat? Visit one of our dealerships or browse our website to check out our full stock of new and used boats for sale. Germaine Marine proudly serves the states of Arizona and Utah.