A PLACE IN THE SUN

SEVEN WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN WHILE YOU'RE ON THE WATER

- PETE MCDONALD

Quick-when you think of boating safety, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Odds are it's a flare gun or a fire extinguisher or a life jacket or even a VHF radio. Sun protection is probably not at the top of the list, but it should be. We usually think of boating safety in terms of immediate danger-waves, storms, man overboard. But in the long term, those bluebird days can hurt you if you're not careful. The American Academy of Dermatology states that 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, and approximately 9,500 people in America get diagnosed every day. The good thing is it's easy to protect yourself, and most of us do it already as part of our boating routine. If you don't, you should. Here are seven products to help protect yourself from the sun's rays.

COLUMBIA TERMINAL TACKLE PANTS

Who thinks of pants when they think of sun protection? I do, especially if they're lightweight and breathable like Columbia's Terminal Tackle pants. Because they're part of Columbia's PFG line designed for fishing, the pants have Omni-Shade, which gives them a UPF 50 rating. As an added bonus, they have Columbia's OmniShield protection, which helps repel biting insects. Made mostly of polyester, they dry quickly, clean easily, and stand up to rugged use. They come in four different colors and have six pockets, including a zipper pocket great for stowing your cellphone or car keys so they don't fall overboard. Columbia's entire PFG lineup offers great sun protection in everything from shirts and hats to hoodies, but I chose the pants because I wear them on the water. $60; columbia.com

SAWYER STAY-PUT SPF 30