What to wear power boating: RIB rides, courses, and spray days
Power boating covers everything from a gentle wildlife RIB tour to a full-throttle coastal blast and an RYA Powerboat Level 2 course. What you wear changes with the boat and the weather, but one rule holds: assume spray, wind, and a temperature drop the moment you leave the harbour.
This guide covers what to wear for power boating in the UK: passenger RIB trips, sightseeing tours, and hands-on training days.
On a RIB briefing, the skipper will point at the spray line on the tube. Sit below it if you want to stay drier; the bow and windward side get hit first when the sea picks up.
What the operator usually provides
On a passenger RIB tour like the RIB tour to explore Puffin Island (from £35), the operator supplies the boat, life jackets, and often waterproof splash jackets and trousers for passengers. You still wear sensible layers underneath and bring a change of clothes if you want to stay comfortable after.
On an RYA powerboat course such as RYA Powerboat Level 2 in North Wales (from £291.50), you are driving as well as riding. Expect a detailed kit list from the school: waterproofs, non-slip shoes, and warm layers are standard.
Always read the listing's "what to bring" section. Do not assume the centre loans full offshore kit unless it says so.
Passenger RIB tours: what to wear underneath
| Layer | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Base | Wicking tee or thermal top (not cotton) |
| Mid | Fleece or softshell, easy to zip under a splash jacket |
| Legs | Quick-dry trousers or leggings; shorts only on hot calm days |
| Feet | Trainers or deck shoes; sandals only if the operator allows |
| Outer | Operator's waterproofs on top, or your own if you have them |
| Extras | Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen; gloves in spring/autumn |
Even on a wildlife tour at displacement speed, wind chill matters. Evaporation from spray on your clothing pulls heat from your body: wet fabric in a 20 km/h breeze can feel 5 to 10°C colder than the air temperature on the pontoon. Sitting on a RIB tube for an hour in a damp cotton tee is colder than walking the same distance ashore because you are not generating as much metabolic heat.
Hands-on powerboat courses
When you are on the wheel, you need freedom to move and grip on a wet deck.
- Waterproof jacket and trousers: sailing-style or offshore oilskins if the school specifies
- Non-slip, closed-toe shoes: deck shoes or trainers with good tread
- Gloves: thin sailing or powerboat gloves help with cold and wheel grip
- Buoyancy aid: usually supplied; wear it properly fastened
- Notebook and theory materials: shore sessions are part of most RYA courses
Bring a dry bag for phone and car keys. Spray finds pockets.
Life jackets: fit and wear
Passenger tours issue life jackets or buoyancy aids before launch. Put them on fully fastened, not slung loose. You should fit two fingers under the shoulder strap, no more. If you are taking a child, ask the operator about child-sized kit when you book.
Do not substitute your own inflatable belt unless the operator approves it. Commercial boats follow specific safety rules.
Season and sea state
Calm summer harbour trip: lighter layers, but still pack a windproof. Evening tours cool quickly.
Open-coast RIB: treat it like cold-water boating: full waterproofs, warm mid layer, hat. At planing speed, spray is driven by apparent wind; the bow and windward tube take the worst of it. Sea surface temperatures off UK coasts are often 12 to 16°C in summer, so even a brief drenching matters if your base layer is cotton.
Winter or shoulder season: thermal base, fleece, waterproofs, gloves. Operators may shorten or reschedule in bad weather; that is normal.
What not to wear
- Jeans and cotton hoodies: heavy when damp, cold in wind
- Loose scarves or long untied coats: snag risk near lines and hardware
- High heels or flip-flops: unsafe on wet decks and pontoons
- Only a t-shirt because the forecast said 18°C: water temperature and wind chill are lower than the car park
After the trip
Pack a towel and dry change in the car, especially on splashier rides. Hair and shoes will get salt or lake water on coastal and estuary trips.
Common mistakes
- Refusing the centre's waterproofs because it looks sunny. You will want them ten minutes out, especially on the windward tube.
- No sunglasses retainer: losing a pair overboard is expensive
- Underdressing children: kids cool faster; layer them like you would yourself, then add one more layer
Ready to book
Wildlife RIB tours are the softest entry: sit back, dress warm, enjoy the coast. RYA courses are for when you want to drive boats yourself.
Browse power boating → · Pair a Menai Strait trip with our North Wales activities guide.
More kit guides: hiking · paddleboarding · kayaking · sailing
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FAQs
Do RIB tours provide waterproofs?
Often yes on passenger sightseeing trips: splash jackets and trousers that fit over your clothes. They block wind-driven spray, not full immersion. Confirm on the listing. Wear wicking layers underneath (not cotton): if spray soaks through gaps at the cuffs, synthetics dry faster and keep you warmer than a damp hoodie. Bring your own if you are prone to feeling cold; centre kit is usually unlined PVC or similar.
What should I wear on an RYA powerboat course?
Expect waterproof jacket and trousers, fleece or softshell mid layer, wicking base, closed-toe non-slip shoes, and gloves in cooler months. You will be standing on a wet deck, handling lines, and driving at speed: freedom of movement matters more than a thick coat. The school kit list is authoritative. Buoyancy aids are normally supplied; wear them fully fastened.
Can I wear a dress on a boat trip?
Practical clothing is better: trousers or leggings, stable shoes, layers. Life jackets must sit snug on your shoulders; loose fabric bunches under the straps and can ride up. Spray and boarding steps are awkward in a dress or long coat. Save style for the harbour café after you change.
Will I get wet on a powerboat?
Assume yes, even in sunshine. At speed, the hull throws a fine spray that finds zips and cuffs. Boarding from a pontoon wets shoes and trouser hems. Rain and sea mist add more moisture. Waterproofs over quick-dry synthetics are the system; cotton hoodies under a splash jacket stay cold for the whole trip.
Are crocs OK for power boating?
Not ideal. Crocs and similar foam clogs have low friction on wet fibreglass and tubes. They also offer little toe protection if you catch a cleat or gunwale in chop. Closed-toe trainers with tread or deck shoes grip better when the deck moves under you. Some operators will ask you to change footwear before boarding.
Does where I sit on the RIB change what I should wear?
Yes. On a fast run, the bow and windward tube take the heaviest spray because the boat pushes water into the apparent wind. At slow wildlife speed you stay drier aft (towards the stern). If you are nervous about cold or spray, ask the crew where to sit and use the centre's waterproofs even if it looks calm at the dock. Wind on the water is often one Beaufort force higher than ashore.