Ponchos are basically plastic bags.

Getting soaked is pretty much inevitable on the lower deck. The poncho might keep the rain off your head and shoulders, but that’s about it. Spray comes from the sides, wind flaps the plastic, water runs down your legs, and eventually you’re standing in a puddle on the deck.

The cheap ones tear easily and don’t cover your lower half. Even a good heavy-duty poncho will let water sneak in where it gaps around your arms and neck. And on a moving boat, the lower deck catches all the splash.

If you’re set on staying dry, get a proper waterproof jacket with a hood. That’s where you spend the money. The poncho is a “I knew I should have bought a jacket” moment waiting to happen.