Fast Drying Towels

Boat life is better (or at least far less stinky) with fast drying towels onboard. But which towels are the best choice for you? Let’s take a look at some common options, starting with the one I DON’T recommend.

Terry Towels – Just Say No

Some cruisers stick with what they know. They bring their traditional terry towels from home. But it’s never a good idea.

Normal thick terry cloth towels seem to never dry on a boat — not even when we were cruising the Sea of Cortez, surrounded by desert. Instead, they pick up a sour smell in just a day or two.

Using thin terry cloth towels was somewhat better. They’d generally dry eventually and it’d take several days before they smelled bad.

But most cruisers choose less traditional fast drying towels.

Microfiber Fast Drying Towels

Eventually I finally found “travel towels” that did everything I wanted them to:

• Dry fast — in about 10 minutes when it’s sunny, breezy and moderate humidity; about an hour in anything short of rain (and even in rain, they’ll dry inside in just a couple hours).
• Go at least a week without laundering and not stink. What’s the point of getting all nice and clean in the shower, just to stink from my towel?
• Large enough to cover me. In communal shower rooms, I wanted to be able to wrap a towel completely around me. Actually, I wanted to be able to wrap a towel around myself even on the beach!
• Get me dry — this is, after all, the purpose of a towel. My hair too.
• Not take up too much space even hanging on a peg in the head. Space is precious.

The only “problem” with them is that they’re not cheap. But I’m glad that I finally bit the bullet and bought them — they’ve been perfect for us not just on the boat but also on inland travel, camping and numerous other times.

The ones I bought have gone through several “brands.” And today there are many options. If you visit a camping supply store, you can test the texture before you buy. Because a fast drying towel is different from the terry towels you are used to.

Microfiber is not like a terrycloth towel, it’s more like suede. It feels different but it does absorb water well. I find that it sticks to my skin just slightly and works best if I pat or blot the water rather than wipe. I admit, it’s not the same as cuddling up with a big fluffy terrycloth towel. But it doesn’t get stinky as terry cloth does. The trade off is worth it in my book!

Since these towels are often sold to backpackers, they can be small. Check the size carefully. MicroMiracle (Amazon) makes an extra large size that is 60 x 30 inches. And it has a convenient loop for hanging.

These fast drying towels are fairly thin and the large size rolls up smaller than a t-shirt. Use a permanent marker and put your boat name on the towel just in case you leave it in the shower room! Or check out one other great option.

Personalized TaLii Towels

If you want a “classier” option than writing your boat name on your towels, check out TaLii Towels.

Over the years, a few folks have reached out to me asking where they could find personalized towels with their boat name and logo. And I never knew where to send them until I got an email from Lisa of TaLii towels. Apparently, a customer of hers had mistakenly thought I recommended them. After a nice conversation, Lisa sent me some samples to check out for myself.

These are really nice microfiber towels, a little thicker (and hence nicer) than other ones we’ve had. But they are still fast-drying, non-stinky and compact when folded. And at 71 inches by 35 inches, the bath sheet is really beach towel size (and sand just shakes off the microfiber as opposed to sticking in terry cloth). These are seriously great towels — the combination of folding up into a small size and being fast drying while being large enough to cover you (or lie on at the beach) and good for drying off makes them a great boat (or travel) towel even without the personalization options. The lasering is a bonus!

And yes, having my towel “marked” was great. When I left it in the marina shower one day (my face is a little red to admit this), the person who found it got in touch with me immediately instead of just tossing it in a lost-and-found box.

The towels come in different prints, colors, and sizes — including a pet towel!

• See all the TaLii Towels

If you want a custom logo or font on your towel, Lisa told me how to order it:

• Select the towel(s) you want and put them in the cart.
• Add the laser option.
• Put the name of your boat of whatever else you want lasered on the form. Put a note in the comments section that you are going to email a logo or other art.
• Send your design with a note explaining exactly what you want to Lisa. If they have any questions, they’ll contact you.

Although they are great fast drying towels, microfiber doesn’t feel good to everyone. If you prefer the feeling of cotton against your skin, here’s another option.

Turkish Towels

Turkish towels are made from smooth, loomed cotton. They are highly absorbent while being thin and lightweight. Best of all, the more you use them, the softer they become.

If you add a bit of vinegar to your wash water once a month, your towels will become softer. And soap will rinse out more easily.

I’m particularly fond of the towels offered by Marmara Imports. They come in a variety of colors. And they feel soft against the skin while also drying fast without bulk.

Note – Marmara sponsors The Boat Galley podcast (find it on your favorite app or listen through The Boat Galley website). Check them out on our sponsor page for a discount for The Boat Galley readers.

Benefits of Fast Drying Towels

Whichever option you choose, you’ll find several benefits. Both microfiber and Turkish-style, cotton towels take up less room, dry more quickly, and, as a result, are less likely to smell. Who can argue with that?

Some links in this article (including all Amazon links) are affiliate links, meaning that we earn from qualifying purchases.