What Hat to Wear While Sailing ?

[Target9000]

Originally Posted by markpierce

But hatless here at sea level.

Looks like that older fella stole your hat. The scoundrel!

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Target9000

Looks like that older fella stole your hat. The scoundrel!

That's my 92-year-old Dad who introduced me to sailboats and their racing in the 1960s.

[Cormorant]

I wear a cotton/poly hat that looks like a Tilley, and I give it a few coats of wax to make it relatively waterproof. Rub on wax (canning parrafin will do), then melt it in with a blowdryer. Repeat a few times. Hat is still breathable but keeps the worst of a downpour off my head. After hours in the rain it does let damp through.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by zeehag

DO go for the neck protection--good to know tilley has that!!! ones i saw didnt---but the sailors using were more dock riders than sailors....

Zee the easy way to tell a "dock rider" Tilley, from a Tilley that can tell a story is the stain. Tilleys that have been warn in the sun, salt and over sunblock develop this unique stain where the front brim meets the crown of the hat. This stain simply will not come out in the wash.

In about 15 years I am on my second Tilley. Lost the first one while I was star gazing south of Marco Island in the middle of the night when there was an unintentional jibe... Thank God it was a sailing kayak or my head would have gone with the hat and headlamp that was zip stripped to the hat!

Bill

[minaret]

We have a different set of problems here in the PNW, way more rain and cold than sun. I wear REI's LED caps with built in LED lighting. They have a low beam, a high beam, and a strobe built in to the brim. Given how much I used a headlamp before switching to these, they're a no-brainer for me. I wear the light weight trail runner with ventilation in summer, and the fleece with neck protector in winter. They are awesome, the light is very bright, the multiple angles are great, comfortable, cheap, etc. They dont have a chin strap, so I use croakies with alligator clips to make a quick chin strap that's adjustable and comfortable if I need it, which I rarely do. As a result I'm never without a light just a click away, which is great both living aboard and in my profession as a bilge rat.

REI LED Trail Cap at REI.com

REI All Weather LED Cap - Men's at REI.com

[SabreKai]

I normally use a USMC fatigue cap. To protect the neck and back area I take a large handkerchief and fold it in half, then sew up one short edge. IF you want to get fancy, sew it in a curve down to the fold and trim the excess of. You can dip it in water, park it on yer dome and put the cap back on. Nice n cool while the water evaporated and the sun is blocked.

[Geoduck]

I like to wear my old beat up Stetson cowboy hat-it keeps out the sun and rain.
It keeps me warm when it's cold and cool when it's hot-especially when I get it wet!
I keep it tied on with a hurricane string and I don't worry about anyone stealing it
Because it's so ugly!

[nwdiver]

I wear a tilley and if needed a bandana under it and down the back of my neck. The tilley keeps my nose and ears covered, for many years I wore baseball caps to cover my nose and face and burned my ears too many times, now I'm older and wiser

[boatman61]

Lost mine off Baiona, Spain... a good companion and sadly missed...
At present I use an Arab style headscarf till I find a replacement....

[Mark424]

Thought I'd add to this old thread instead of starting a new one. I got toasted last year as my cap didn't have protection, and my wide brim hat got blown around even with a chin cord.

Does anyone have any experience with this cap or something like it? Will the chin strap keep it closed in your neck/ears protected in a good blow? Does it get too hot or annoying?

Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap

[bobconnie]

Ive got a Tommy Bahama hat that looks exactly like the one shown but is not a folder, with no leather band, it has a very stiff brim handles wind well needs a head strap tho, but Im gonna take care of that !! I use a kerchife under for the neck if needed. got mine in key west in a tourist trap LOL fine hat !! Bob and Connie

[deckofficer]

Come on guys, your sailing, you got to dress the part. lol
Lousy for sun protection and brass will tarnish to a green hue. With khaki cover, pants and shirt, it shows you have respect for customs officials.

[44'cruisingcat]

Originally Posted by Mark424

Thought I'd add to this old thread instead of starting a new one. I got toasted last year as my cap didn't have protection, and my wide brim hat got blown around even with a chin cord.

Does anyone have any experience with this cap or something like it? Will the chin strap keep it closed in your neck/ears protected in a good blow? Does it get too hot or annoying?

Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap

Have a couple like these. Gotta keep them ears covered!

[SaucySailoress]

Doesn't Newt wear one in his avatar pic?

We despite sunhats with brims... Seem to seriously reduce people's brainpower... Folks just seem to keep bumping our poor mast with their heads when they're wearing them.

[Boracay]

I have a hat like the ones shown (Legionnaires' Caps?) and it's not too bad to wear. Bit hot and tends to blow off in a breeze though. Can't see all that well when wearing it.

The one I prefer is a smaller "Bucket " hat. I have one with a snug fit that sticks on without a strap in quite strong winds. Not quite the same protection, but maybe wearing it more often makes up for it.

Tres chic!