Why You Should Wear Polarised Shades When Boating

14 Jun 2024

Person holding a pair of sunglasses.

Polarised shades are more than just looking cool; they help you protect your eyes when you’re out boating on your Quintrex aluminium boat. Glare reflecting off the water surface can create discomfort, squinting, and even hinder our ability to see potential hazards. This is where polarized sunglasses become an essential companion for any boater. Let’s delve more about the benefits of wearing a pair of these and how to choose one based on your preferences.

Enhanced Comfort and Visual Clarity

Sunlight bouncing off the water's surface creates glare, a harsh reflection that reduces visibility and strains your eyes. Polarised sunglasses act like a filter, blocking this glare and allowing only vertical light waves to reach your eyes. This significantly reduces glare, creating a more comfortable and relaxed visual experience.

By eliminating glare, polarized sunglasses allow you to see underwater with greater clarity. This enhances visibility and is crucial for spotting fish, reefs, or underwater hazards. Improved depth perception allows you to judge distances more accurately, making navigation safer and more efficient.

Squinting to combat glare can lead to eye fatigue and headaches. Polarised sunglasses eliminate the need to squint, allowing your eyes to relax and reducing eye strain. This is particularly beneficial for extended boating trips under sunny conditions.

Improved Visibility When Operating a Boat

Enhanced visibility through polarised lenses allows you to see potential hazards on the water more readily. This includes spotting other boats, navigational markers, buoys, or even submerged objects that might pose a collision risk. Early detection allows you to react promptly and take necessary actions to ensure safety.

Boating often involves communication with other vessels using hand signals or visual markers. Polarised sunglasses allow you to see these signals clearly, ensuring proper communication and reducing the risk of misunderstandings.

By providing superior visual clarity and minimising glare, polarised sunglasses contribute to safer boating practices. They allow you to make informed decisions based on what you see, reducing the risk of accidents and collisions.

Additional Advantages of Polarised Sunglasses

Polarised sunglasses not only reduce glare but can also enhance colour perception. This can make your boating experience more visually vibrant, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of the water and surrounding scenery in richer detail.

As mentioned earlier, polarized sunglasses reduce eye strain. This translates to less fatigue, allowing you to enjoy your boating trip for longer without experiencing discomfort.

Choose polarized sunglasses that offer UVA and UVB protection. This safeguards your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, reducing the risk of long-term eye damage.

Choosing the Right Polarized Sunglasses for Boating

With a vast array of polarised sunglasses available, here are some factors to consider when making your selection before you head to your local marine shop to buy a pair or two:

  • Lens colour: Choose those with darker tints since they offer better glare reduction.
  • Frame material: Choose a durable and lightweight frame material like nylon or polycarbonate for comfort and long-lasting wear.
  • Fit and comfort: Ensure the sunglasses fit snugly and comfortably on your face. They should not slip or slide around, especially when navigating in choppy waters.
  • Lens Coating: Consider a scratch-resistant coating for added protection and a hydrophobic coating that repels water droplets for optimal clarity.
 

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