Best Cold Weather Boating Gear

As a serious angler, you know what it’s like to get soaked in the rain and cold weather during a long day out on the the water. Even if you’re new to fishing or only spend a few hours at a time on the bank or center console boat, you can imagine how miserable it is to go out unprepared into the worst of the elements. That’s why, no matter what type of fishing you do, you always need to go out prepared with the right apparel in order to stay safe, comfortable, and energized enough to get the most out of every trip. At New Jersey Outboards, we put together this short guide to explain what types of equipment should be used in each boating situation. So when you decide to buy some gear to suit up before your next trip, or if you need a new boat, come visit us at our dealership in New Jersey, where we proudly serve customers from New York.

Lighter Applications

For shorter day trips, lightweight gear will protect you just fine without weighing you down. It’s also a lot cheaper than heavy duty equipment, which is yet another great reason to choose simple gear when only spending a couple hours or so on a boat. Ponchos, hats, waterproof boots, and gloves are all great articles of clothing for fishing, and they can frequently even be found at common department stores, which means you don’t need to go to some sporting goods store just to get the right equipment. However, they don’t provide protection for very long, as rain and wind will eventually cause you to get soaked, so you’ll need extra layers if you plan on boating for longer than a few hours.

Gear for Day Trips

If you’re not spending days at a time on the water, but still want to stay comfortable at the lake or river over the course of an entire day of fishing, you might want to upgrade to some heavy duty gear. Fishing and rain gear, typically made from PVC, is heat-welded at the seams, which prevents any water from entering. It’s better for anyone who plans to spend an entire day on a center console boat, because the sturdier structure will keep you dry for a longer period of time. However, you’ll probably spend a little extra on this type of equipment, so if you want to save money, we don’t recommend buying it for shorter fishing trips.

Coastal Fishing Gear

Setting out on a deep sea fishing trip in a center console boat requires a lot of preparation. Cold weather can be miserable and even dangerous if you don’t bring the right fishing gear, so make sure you pack with coastal equipment when you go on one of these trips. This gear comes insulated, featuring several unlined layers that block water and keep you warm in the wind and cold.

Offshore Fishing Equipment

For some of us, fishing is more of a lifestyle than it is a hobby. If you’re spending months at a time out to sea, you obviously need the best gear around, which is why you should invest in some offshore equipment. Sure, this stuff’s a little bit costlier than the other equipment, but to stay safe and comfortable doing something that you’re passionate about, it’s worth every penny. The joints are reinforced with extra layers, which prevents the seams from tearing over the course of time, and it’s designed with breathable material that keeps you warm yet less constricted. It also comes with adjustable storm flaps, seals, and collars, so you can make your equipment suit your comfort.

There are many different types of fishing out there, which is why you have so many options to choose from when suiting up for your next trip. Hopefully you now know what gear to buy before the next time you go boating in cold weather, but if you have any further questions, or just want to check out our selection of center console boats, come on into New Jersey Outboards, where we serve the areas of Connecticut, Delaware, and Philadelphia, PA.