What Goes in My Boat Bag Once Summer Ends: Golf Cart Coastal Edition

Every year people ask me when boating season ends.

The funny thing is...

I never really have an answer.

Around here, September and October are some of my favorite days on the water. The crowds get smaller, the humidity finally backs off, and the afternoons somehow feel even prettier than they did in the middle of July.

The only thing that really changes...

...is what I keep in my boat bag.

I don't pack an entirely different bag once summer ends.

I just make a few smarter swaps.

Those few changes are usually enough to keep us comfortable whether we're heading out on the boat, taking the golf cart down to the waterfront afterward, or staying out for one more sunset before heading home.

The Jacket That Stays Packed

The ride out is almost never the problem.

It's the ride back.

Once the sun starts dropping and the boat picks up speed again, the wind has a way of making the temperature feel ten degrees cooler than it actually is.

That's why my Helly Hansen Crew 2.0 Midlayer Jacket lives in my boat bag.

It's lightly insulated, so it blocks the wind without feeling bulky, and it's warm enough that I'm comfortable on the ride back to the dock without wishing I'd brought a heavier jacket.

I don't pack it because I think I'll need it.

I pack it because I almost always do.

The Blanket That Comes Along

I honestly don't think I've ever been the one using it.

Someone always is.

As soon as the sun starts dropping, somebody gets chilly.

That's why the sweatshirt blanket never comes out of the boat bag.

It ends up wrapped around someone's shoulders on the ride back, draped across a lap while we're watching the sunset, or borrowed before we even leave the marina.

It's one of those things you don't think about...

...until someone asks if you happened to bring one.

The Hoodie I Reach For

I own more hoodies than I probably need.

I keep reaching for the same ones.

Pimp Shrimp hoodies have become one of my favorites because of the incredibly soft lining inside. I've honestly never found another brand that feels quite the same.

It's the hoodie I grab when I know the morning is going to start cool or we're planning to stay on the water until sunset.

I also love supporting smaller companies that genuinely understand the coastal lifestyle.

The fact that Pimp Shrimp is a North Carolina brand makes me appreciate it even more.

The Hat I Always Grab

We don't turn around for lost hats.

Or sunglasses.

Or really...anything.

Once something goes overboard, it's officially donated to the water.

That's exactly why I love the Black Clover Hollywood hats.

The adjustable toggle lets me tighten it before we leave the dock, so once it's on, I don't think about it again.

It's such a simple feature, but after enough windy boat days, it's one I wouldn't want to be without.

The Boots That Stay Dry

Once the mornings start cooling off, my sandals usually stay home.

That's when the Huk Rogue Wave boots come out.

I can wear warm socks with them, which makes those cooler mornings and breezy evenings much more comfortable.

They're also incredibly practical on wet docks, slippery ramps, and mornings when everything seems to be covered in a little moisture.

They're probably not the prettiest shoes I own.

They're the ones I'm happiest to have when the dock is wet and the air starts cooling off.

The Same Boat Days—Just Better Prepared

I've realized I don't really pack a different boat bag for fall.

I just make a few smarter swaps.

A jacket that's already waiting.

A blanket that always gets borrowed.

A hoodie I know I'll actually wear.

A hat that stays where it's supposed to.

Boots that don't care about wet docks.

None of those things change why I love being on the water.

They just make it easier to keep saying yes to one more boat ride.

And honestly...

Those quieter afternoons, cooler evenings, and slower rides back to the dock have become some of my favorite days of the entire year.

Because around here, boating season doesn't really end.

It just gets a little more comfortable. -LME

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