How the arrival of Autumn on Sept. 22 changes boating

Boating safety changes as temperatures cool © Alyssia Greiner

Say a final goodbye to the summer 2024 boating season as Sept. 22 marks the fall equinox. With the change of season, ushered in by cooler air and water temperatures, boating safety also changes.

With that in mind, the BoatUS Foundation offers three safety tips tailor-made to help you safely enjoy the wonders of the water during the off season.

• A life jacket for the season: Unexpected falls overboard could be big trouble fast, so wear a life jacket that fits over your clothing or consider investing in a float coat (a combination winter jacket and PFD). It can provide the return of your life. A life jacket or float coat can give you more time to self-recover as there are fewer boaters on the water, decreasing your chance for good Samaritan help. Some of the most comfortable life jackets today are inflatable models and can be easily worn over outer gear, but keep in mind inflatable jackets should not be used when air temperatures are expected to be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• More than just a hat: Keeping your body warm when fall temperatures drop is a story about layers and facing the myth about the need to wear a hat. While it may be a sunny October day when you head out just wearing a T-shirt, ensure that it's synthetic or wool, as wet cotton has no thermal value. Additional layers can be added as the day and temperatures change. And while your grandmother always told you to wear a hat because that's where the biggest loss of heat is, that's a myth based on imperfect testing done by the military in the 1950s. Yes - your grandmom loves you and you should wear a hat. However, 90% of heat loss comes from the body, so having the right layers are key. It's also a good idea to keep a spare set of clothing aboard in a drybag.
• A word about batteries: While smartphones work in all seasons, battery performance declines as temperatures drop. On average, a cellphone battery can last two to three years, or 300 to 500 charge cycles, depending how much it's used and recharged. The biggest drain on battery life is the energy your phone uses trying to find and connect to Wi-Fi or data networks. With all these variables, don't trust that your phone's battery life will be there for you when you need it. Carry a spare power pack aboard when cold weather boating. You don't want to lose a critical navigation app, or the ability to call for help if necessary. The same goes for personal locator beacon batteries.

For a closer look a cold weather boating, go to BoatUS.org/cold-water-boating.