Cold? What Cold? Boating in a Winter Wonderland

Why would anyone boat in the winter? Are you nuts? I may be a bit nuts, but that's normal for me. I also live up in the Rocky Mountains where most of their high-altitude lakes actually freeze over in winter. So if I wanna get out for a boat ride and go fishing in winter, I've got little choice.

But while it's pretty tough to get a boat out, not every lake freezes and those offer plenty of places to toss off the dock lines and enjoy winter boating in the frozen north.

There are plenty of winter boating experiences in the winter to explore if you're one of those boaters who absolutely need to venture out. But if you plan to do so, you need to know a few winter boating tips, safety practices and the right vessels for the weather.

Winter Boating Safety

Winter boating is not for the faint of heart. I'm not afraid to admit I don't always want to go all the time. Sometimes, I'd rather stay inside. But maybe you're more adventurous than me. If that's you, then you need a stern warning before you go.

A Lesson in Hypothermia

A quick Boy Scout lesson. When you're camping in the cold, what do you watch out for? One of the biggest is hypothermia.

What is hypothermia? In a nutshell, it's when the body gets too cold and begins to shut down completely.

If hypothermia persists too long, you can pass out ... or worse. Jack Frost has claimed another life.

And no, a flask of whiskey in your cup holder does not warm you up. Instead, alcohol drives blood into your extremities, which is where you don't need it to be. You need that blood in your core to keep your organs warm.

Wet + Wind = Quick Death

Wind alone can be cold enough, especially when you don't wear proper winter clothing. Wind can cut through like a hot knife through butter.

But what if you also get wet? Whether it's freezing rain passing overhead or (more likely) a wave or two that comes over the boat's bow, being soaking wet in the wind makes the situation much more dangerous.

Being wet lowers your body temperature. When you add wind, it acts like a swamp cooler. Your body temperature can drop dangerously quickly unless you change clothes and get warm or get out of the elements.

When Weather's Bad, Go Home

When in doubt, just get off the water. How important is that fish you may or may not catch that day? How important is it for you to be out there?

At the first sign of trouble, head back to the harbor. If you can't make it back to the harbor, beeline for the closest shore.

Don't be afraid to run the boat ashore; that's why you have insurance. Insurance can replace boats, but you can never replace your life.

Always Give Trustworthy People Your Float Plan

A Float Plan is a good rule of thumb even in the summer boating months. Tell multiple trustworthy people where you plan to go, when you're leaving and when you're coming back.

If you're not back, they can contact the authorities to get help if something has happened.

Watch out for ice when you're out on the water. Large chunks can lurk largely below the surface (Titanic, anyone?) and watch for ice on docks, decks, mooring lines and wires. Iced lines are harder to work and more prone to break, while icy wires can present a shock hazard.

Keep a phone with good service and/or a transponder with you. Getting stranded at sea in the summer is a drag. Getting stuck out there in winter is a danger, especially when the seas aren't calm.

Keep an air horn and flares in the event that you need to make yourself seen or heard.

What to Do in an Emergency

The first rule of thumb is to avoid panic. Panic is your worst enemy in any situation. You lose control and make poor decisions.

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The next step is to quickly analyze the situation and figure out your best course of action. If imminent loss of life is possible, aim the boat for the closest shore and make a beeline for it.

As mentioned above, insurance will help repair or replace the boat. Insurance, however, will not replace a life.

If reaching shore is not a possibility (such as a motor failure or rough waters), stay dry and warm as you wait out the storm.

This is where a marine radio is important. Radio for help to get out to you. When help arrives, abandon ship. Again I can't stress it enough, stuff can be replaced.

What if help doesn't arrive or they can't reach you? Stay dry and stay warm. It's critical for your survival. If you go in the water, you have about 10 minutes of useful movement, and hypothermia can set in within an hour. Staying dry will help you stay warm, and staying warm will prevent hypothermia.

The Better Boat Air Horn is compact enough to easily stow in a boat, kayak or jet ski. Keep one near life jackets and other safety gear in case of an emergency.

Man Overboard

First and foremost, let's make this super clear, you always...always wear a personal flotation device when boating in the winter.

As noted earlier, the use of life jackets is more important during winter boating than in warm weather. Cold water follows a simple rule of 1, 10 and 1. Expect about 1 minute of cold shock while you fight to control your breathing, about 10 minutes of useful movement before your arms and legs stop working, and about 1 hour before hypothermia can make you lose consciousness. Without a PFD, staying afloat gets much harder once those first 10 minutes pass. So PFDs are critical even if you're an amazingly strong swimmer in normal conditions.

What if someone on the boat goes overboard? The first goal is to get them out ASAP. Cold water saps your strength, and muscles cramp and freeze as the body goes into shock.

When you come into contact with cold water, it literally keeps you from swimming due to the shock. You'll more likely drown first before the cold gets you.

1. Get the overboard person back into the boat. If they're not able to climb into the boat, it's up to other passengers. Remember, reach, throw, then go.

2. Remove all wet clothing. Down to their birthday suit. Yes, you heard me right, get them completely dry or it will be game over due to hypothermia. Hypothermia lurks around the corner. Act quickly.

3. Warm them up. Once they're dry, you or someone on the boat needs to help warm them up. Share a blanket together or use skin contact. Yes, what I have said may sound unpleasant, but death is far more unpleasant. So stop being a wimp and be a hero. Time is of the essence.

4. Get home quickly as the person recovers. If the person doesn't show signs of improvement, rush them to the nearest ER.

Appropriate Gear to Wear and Bring

You dress properly for weddings and church, right? You need to do the same with winter boating.

Don't go with a suit coat/dress, though your Sunday best can be warm, it probably lacks in the waterproof department. You need to have winter boating clothing that was purpose-built for cold and windy weather on the water.

Take a lesson from snowmobilers. They know what's up with winter sports and they know how to dress. Likewise, you'll dress similarly and use layers. Much like a lasagna with multiple meaty and cheesy layers, you too need many wonderful layers to fight off the cold.

Here's an order that's recommended:

Base layer: Undergarments, long johns, wool socks and good boots. The base layer is a last line of defense that also helps keep blood flowing and that heat moving around. Don't have anything too tight. Wool is best due to its unique nature to keep heat despite moisture.

Middle layer: Regular clothes, then insulating clothes to retain body heat. The middle layer is usually your street clothing, but it's important to have warm insulators like vests, lighter jackets or other warm clothing. Remember extra layers are okay. If you get hot you can always take layers off. But if you're cold, it's harder to add layers when they're back at home and not in the boat.

Outer layer: Waterproof and windproof clothing act as a shield. This is where you need to spend the big bucks. Good waterproof and windproof shells can cost oodles of cash. So you can either rob from your kids' college savings, or just wait for sales. Clothing goes on sale all the time so just keep a close eye for those deals in the off-season. A good outer shell will go a long way to keep you not only warm and dry, but safe.

Also, get waterproof boots. You could get wet feet early in the day and not notice, but then frostbite can become a legitimate danger. No one wants to lose a toe that way. It makes for a really bad day.

Consider ski goggles instead of sunglasses for your winter boating adventures. They'll cut the sun's glare, the water's reflection and keep you warmer.

Fjord Tough: Vessels Built for Cold Winter Boating

Enough beating a dead horse, I can't forget one of the most important aspects of winter boating. The boat.

With endless boats out there, there's truly only a select few that handle the cold. If a new boat is in the works, here are a few pointers to keep in mind before you go and purchase.

The Advantages of Outboard Motors and Jet Boats

The big advantage outboard motors and jet boats have in the cold weather is there's little danger of their motors freezing from the cold.

To explain, outboards drain via gravity when they're vertical. With jet drives, you rev them outside the water and it blows all the water out. It's as easy as that.

Sterndrives, however, are a different story.

The Disadvantage (and Expense) of Sterndrives

Sterndrives are dangerous to use in the colder winter months. I had a customer who was late-season fishing during one November. His boat ran good and the fishing was good.

However, as he was driving home, the cold got to the motor and it cracked. So his little trip ended with an expensive motor replacement.

If you only have a sterndrive boat and you wanna get out, just make sure you train yourself on how to drain the block immediately after you leave the water. By doing so, you remove all the water before it freezes. Remember that and you'll be ok.

Great Boat Styles for Winter Boating

The typical style of boat you want is one that can shield you from the elements. In other words, a fourth super layer to the layers you already have.

The first boat that comes to my mind is the walk-around style or cuddy cabin. They have the cabin down below and an area by the helm that typically has means to shelter you from the elements.

Some perfect examples would be the boat builders listed below. Keep in mind, though, not all brands use the words "walk-around" or "cuddy."

Also look for boats with cabins and hard-tops, as these typically are better built for winter weather.

• Pursuit Boats

• Boston Whaler

• Duckworth

• Grady-White

More boat brands are out there, but those are a few to get started. Essentially, you want a boat with the ability to ride through waves and give you shelter from the elements. Hardtops and full windshields really give nice protection from the cold.

How to Make Any Boat Suitable for Winter Boating

If a new boat with a cuddy cabin just isn't in the cards, don't worry. There's still hope. The easiest way is to install a full enclosure by using a bimini top and then clear acrylic on all four sides.

It's simple to install and can protect you from blistering winds and cold rains. Be sure to use a fabric waterproofing spray to maintain that water-repellent barrier.

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This set-up can be installed on any boat (not just a pontoon), but you do need a professional canvas shop to do the work. They'll install it properly and with the proper dimensions so it isn't too tight or baggy.

If you don't already have one, I highly recommend a marine radio as an essential piece of boat safety equipment. It can save your life in those "what-if" scenarios, like an overboard passenger or bad weather conditions that leave you stranded.

Lastly, just remember to pack extra clothing and gear as needed. Clothing gets wet and gear goes overboard. It's always smart to carry more.

Keep the Battery Charged

Batteries drain much more quickly in cold weather than in warm. A boat with a dead battery is, as they say in the nautical community, not good.

Check the Drains, Portholes and Seacocks

At winter boating season's start, and periodically throughout, you should check all drains, seacocks, windows, portholes and so forth for leaks and to make sure all seals are in good shape and plugs are in place.

Water that leaks into the boat from below or from rain can freeze and expand, causing damage and unsafe slick surfaces.

Change the Oil

Even when storing your boat out of the water over winter, best practices would still have you change or empty out the motor oil.

If you're leaving the boat in service, you also need to replace the oil. You should consider doing so with a formula specially made for cold weather.

Winter Fishing

While most boaters might head inland for the winter, fish don't really have that choice. Winter fishing can be enjoyable and productive. Just make sure you adapt your approach to the species on hand in the cooler water and to their potentially different winter habits.

If you're fishing for bass in the winter, for example, you might need to slow down your troll speed and switch up your bait.

Should You Keep Your Boat In the Water During Winter?

Sure, you can cruise at speed, see the sights and even catch fish during winter boating trips. But should you keep your boat in the water in the cold from a financial standpoint?

The short answer is yes, provided you're willing to do added maintenance. The pros to winter boating include more days simply using your boat and avoiding the costs of winterizing and storing the vessel.

The cons include the added effort needed for proper cold weather boat maintenance, an undertaking that does come with its own costs, but these will usually be less than indoor heated storage expenses.

Closing Thoughts

Winter boating, despite the drawbacks, has lots to offer. Colder months bring some of the best fishing to be had. You practically have the lake to yourself with fewer people around. And the views are breathtaking.

Just use your brain and be wise. If the weather is questionable, it's best to stay home. But if the weather's clear, be safe out there and enjoy that crisp fresh air.

Ready to stay safe on the water this winter? The Better Boat Air Horn is available at betterboat.com.

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