Naked Boating
Return to DiscussionsI'm certain there are rules/laws prohibiting nudity where anyone can see you. But we've naked boated for decades and I'll tell you this; I've slipped out of my shorts before we left the dock and sitting on a towel, if I come close to other boats, I just slide part of the towel over my lap. I've even grabbed my shorts and stuck them between my legs, while in a hurry and if they couldn't tell that I was naked ... they had to have been blind. Still ... no problems. I think you'll run into problems if you were to flaunt it.
We've gone on houseboat trips, we owned PWC's, we used to rent boats at the marinas and go out on the lakes or in the bay and I've boated naked all the time on all of those boats. I think the best place we've boated naked was on Lake Mohave, NV. We acted as if we had suits on the entire time (4 days) we visited for the day. No one gave us a third thought. There was their first, then a second look and thought and then they were on their way with a wave, smile and usually a thumbs up!
I was tying up our PWC's one time. I was naked and the water line was just above my pubic area. My wife was naked and lying face down tanning her back. The Lake Patrol boat came into our cove, passed us, waved and continued on. I think they see lots of naked people on the lake and they are much more concerned with drunks driving boats than naked people. Earlier, a boat with a couple and two kids floated into our cove. I thought they'd screw up our day but they picked a beach adjacent but out of site from us. I decided to jump on one of the PWC's and go for a spin. I got to the opening of the cove and took off my shorts. When I returned I came in quietly and as I got closer, I noticed that the woman in the other cove was sunning naked on their boat. She looked up, saw me and rolled over onto the rear seat of their boat. I stood up and waved so she could see that I was naked and she smiled, waved, gave me a thumbs up and laid back on their sun deck of their boat. Her husband and their kids were naked and playing in the water. We regret not going over to say hello. We may have made some friends.
Legality varies by country, state, county, etc. Here in Florida simple nudity without lewd behavior is not illegal, but in 4 Florida counties it is (Brevard, Seminole, Hernando, and I think Nassau counties).
I am ALWAYS naked on my boats once I am 100 yds or so from the marina or boat ramp. If I am on a narrow waterway where boats must pass in close proximity, I keep a towel or breechcloth handy so no "innocent bystanders" have to see me naked in close quarters.
On open water, I just stay naked even if someone approaches me - if they approach me, they have entered my space - they have to choose to do so. I have had the Florida Marine Patrol stop me for safety checks, had the coast guard ask me if I had seen an overdue boat, and had the rangers in the Everglades National Park stop me to see if I had a camping permit a couple of times. NEVER did any of these officials even mention my nudity (though they probably joked about it back at the office).
For naturist boat camping information in Central and South Florida, see:
https://campingbare.no-ip.biz/wmaps.htm
Here on the W. Coast of Florida there is no problem with boating au naturel. I have a more diminutive boat in the form of a 16-foot sea kayak. In the Tampa Bay area there are plenty of not-so-public places wherea boater or kayaker can be nude for hours at a time. The marine patrol basically has a hands-off policy. I've been approached by them more than once and all they wanted to check was whether I had the required safety equipment aboard. The fact that I was totally nude was not even addressed.
Ok I know this is not quite like being Naked at Home but I was wondering how many of you have gone Boating Naked and how far off shore do you have to be so that your not breaking any laws
My wife and I recently sold our boat, and my biggest regret is not spending enough time out naked on it. We used to take it out a couple miles into green bay and sun and swim nude. There were always boats coming and going, although none ever came too close. We figured that if we couldn't really tell how they were dressed (or not), it stood to reason that they couldn't see us any better. Unless they used binoculars... and then that's their problem if they were offended. In Wisconsin, there are many municipal rules against nudity, but no state law. That's why Mazo beach thrives as a clothing optional beach... It's on state property.
Once I retire, my goal is to buy a bass boat and travel all over the USA. If I go to a secluded area, I will get naked. A few times, I did see people naked in their boats fishing, male and female. A couple of times, I was on the shore. I just got naked and fished.
Maybe you should start a Naked Bass Fishing Association, and hold tournaments across the country. If contestants are found to be fishing with clothes on, they are disqualified.