Why Did Boat Captains Start Wearing the Hats They Wear?

Have you ever sailed a boat, only to scratch your head over who the ship’s captain is? Most people would answer this question with a no. It’s not that captains have some mysterious aura about them. Rather, they are dressed for the part. That too, from head to toe.

Safe to say, the most important aspect of a captain’s attire isn’t the shirt or the pants, it’s the headgear. Those fond of cruise ships can vouch that a captain’s signature hat is a tell-tale way to identify their importance.

But the real question is: why did captains start dressing this way? History books offer plenty of evidence that ancient captains didn’t always look the part. In the same vein, lore suggests that ship captains looked pretty rugged back in the day.  So then, why are captain sailing hats so coveted?

Protection From the Sun

The sun feels great when you’re chilling on the beach. Make those hours on a boat and it’s a completely different story. Needless to say, even the best sunscreen in the world cannot subdue the heat of the sun. Captains are incredibly prone to sunburn, wrinkles, and flaking. Don’t forget, just because you’re having a great time steering your yacht, doesn’t mean your skin’s having a blast.

Quality hats are ergonomically designed to keep UV (ultraviolet) rays at bay. While they cannot fully block the scorching summer sun, they do offer ample protection.

Aesthetic Touch

Let’s be honest, sailing caps are quite the touch. A captain’s outfit is virtually incomplete without their hat. On professional cruise ships, it is part of the mandatory uniform. Hats serve a massive aesthetic purpose, in that they look great and help other members of the ship identify the captain. This certainly comes in handy in times of emergency and general correspondence.

What Makes a Sailing Hat Worth the Buck?

Sailing hats are hard to come by. Ask your next-door trick-or-treater and they’ll tell you where to buy a dozen from. But when you have a ship to run, you can’t just buy the first thing you see. After all, you’ll be sporting this hat for most of the journey so it’s only fair that the accessory is comfortable enough.

Breathable composition

Hats made of nylon or polyester might make a decent first impression but they’re the bottom of the barrel when it comes to comfort. Thick sailing caps will wear you down, absorb too much heat, and make you sweat every other minute. Superior quality products, on the other hand, flaunt a breathable composition that keeps it breezy up there.

The right size

From gender-based size variation to general differences in head girth, your cap should fit like it was made for you. No compromises! The right size contributes to comfort just as much a lightweight composition does. Buy a sailing hat too loose and the wind might whisk it away — now, that’s mortifying!

Easy to clean

Black or white, you’ll be surprised how fast a sailing hat gets dirty. From catching dust to staining because of sweat, staining is inevitable. Naturally, you should look for a cap that’s easy to clean. The best options available online are machine washable!