Cold Weather Boating Gear

While the weather on land may still seem warm enough for some autumnal cruising, the truth is that temperatures drop when you’re out on the water. This means you’ve got to be prepared for colder temperatures and bundle up. And if you choose to head out on a fishing trip or cruise during winter, staying warm becomes even more essential.

Staying warm while boating requires that you have the proper gear ready to go. Andersen Boat, located in Burnt Hills, is proud to be your New York boat dealer, so we’ve gathered up some of the top items we think you should have if you want to go out on the water this fall and winter.

Drysuit

These thick rubber or neoprene suits are designed to block out every drop of water to keep you warm and dry. If you’re often boating in rough waters or fishing off the coast, a drysuit can be an essential tool in your fight against hypothermia. While drysuits are a little hard to put on and bulky to wear, they’re your best defense against the wet and chill.

Extra Layers

Adding more layers of clothing to what you’re wearing can help keep you insulated and dry, too. Thick wool socks, lined gloves, thermal underwear and a thin wool cap are all great options to wear under your overcoat or drysuit. Multiple thin layers of clothing made of wicking materials like wool or acrylic will keep you much warmer than one thick coat can, and you can always add or subtract to them as necessary. Keep some extra socks and sweaters on board in a dry place in case you do get splashed and need to change.

Signalling Devices

If you’re in trouble, there are a number of options designed to signal for help. A simple whistle is easy to wear around your neck or attach to your lifejacket so you can blow on it and alert someone. Learn the SOS morse code (three long blasts, three short blasts, three long blasts) to blow into your whistle. Its high pitch can cut through storms and wind to get you help when nothing else is at hand.

Signal flares on your boat are another great way to alert others to your distress. A flare gun is also good to have, since its bright light can be seen from miles away. If your boat has emergency locator lights, it will be easier to see through fog and rain. Finally, a personal position locator beacon (PLB) can be worn at all times to help rescuers find you. If these beacons are submerged, they will activate and send out a signal that can be picked up to locate you in choppy waters.

Flotation Coat

You can choose to wear a life vest over your layers, or you can go with something more heavy-duty like a full flotation coat. These coats are thickly insulated to keep you warm on the boat, and they’re designed to be buoyant to keep you afloat if you fall into the water. Float coats can be a much better option for cold-weather boating than a standard lifejacket, so make sure to pick one up for yourself.

These pieces of equipment should help you stay safe and warm when you’re out boating in the cold. Still need a craft and looking for a great deal? Visit us at our location in Burnt Hills, New York, to check out our full stock of new and used boats for sale in many styles. Andersen Boat welcomes all of our customers coming from the cities of Saratoga Springs and Schenectady, New York.