A new player in the Foul Weather Gear market...

[flaming]

But with an old twist.

https://www.northsails.com/sailing/en/performance-sailing-clothing

North Sails are launching their own range of sailing gear. And they've hired Nigel Musto, who of course sold Musto a few years ago, to do it....

Well well....

With North's name on it you can assume it won't be cheap, but could it be a step up from the current offerings from Musto, Gill etc....?

 

[michael_w]

Bit unfortunate they've chosen a photo of PRB. I wonder if they'll make survival suits too.

 

[Bobc]

I guess with HL as good as gone and Musto now gone to HH, there's a gap in the market to replace.

Personally I'm happy with the Tribord stuff.

 

[Quandary]

I imagine multiplying North by Musto must take each garment well in to four figures, my guess is £1,299 for a jacket, Too high?
If you can manage with a crew of 8 and add the Dubs that is £12k. might be better spent on a sail?

 

[flaming]

I imagine multiplying North by Musto must take each garment well in to four figures, my guess is £1,299 for a jacket, Too high?
If you can manage with a crew of 8 and add the Dubs that is £12k. might be better spent on a sail?

We'll see when it launches I guess... I don't think they'll be going for the cheap end of the market though.

 

[Pasarell]

Over many years I've bought all the big name gear. currently Gill jacket
A few years ago bought Lidl jacket and trousers for my wife who was new to sailing. We're in the Med so its spent a long time in the locker but had it out over the last few days of non stop torrential rain. It's excellent! Next time I will be buying a set for myself at a fraction of the price of the big names.

 

[Laser310]

One of the things they highlight in the press release is the use of goretex

I have had many sailing garments made of goretex, and mostly they have failed by delamination.

I've had great luck in having them replaced under warranty, but I'd rather just have something that doesn't fail.

I wonder that a company as big as North, and with as much experience with materials, couldn't come up with something better if they took on the challenge.

 

[Tomahawk]

I would want to know where they are made.
North Musto label and hefty price tag... but made in China (Covid) would not seem worthwhile.

 

[38mess]

I imagine multiplying North by Musto must take each garment well in to four figures, my guess is £1,299 for a jacket, Too high?
If you can manage with a crew of 8 and add the Dubs that is £12k. might be better spent on a sail?

Quite right.
What's wrong with those yellow plastic oilies? Ok they can make you sweat a bit, but how long does the average sailor wear them in one go?

 

[Sandy]

I wonder that a company as big as North, and with as much experience with materials, couldn't come up with something better if they took on the challenge.

There have been a number of "gortex like" materials used. In my experience nothing came close to Gortex.

 

[davidmh]

Gortex and the like go wrong when the garments get dirty and are washed. Each wash make them less waterproof and re-proofers never get the garment back to the original condition. Fisherman's suits of "PVC" last a long time and can be cleaned. You do sweat in them but that is much less uncomfortable than having salty wet water getting inside the suit. Prices of sports waterproof gear has become astronomical, Sailing walking running it all the same. Sailing in PVC is only a real problem in racing boats where you really work up a sweat.
Musto/North will be very expensive like North Sails,
David MH

 

[flaming]

Quite right.
What's wrong with those yellow plastic oilies? Ok they can make you sweat a bit, but how long does the average sailor wear them in one go?

I normally put my gear on at the start of the day and rarely take it off until ashore. I'm lucky that I get to sit at the back of the boat with quite a bit of human shelter between me and the waves, but the front of the boat people get really rather wet. PVC stuff is miserable for this. What I would like is some gear that lasts more than a couple of seasons before my backside gets wet when I'm sat in a puddle.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

Quite right.
What's wrong with those yellow plastic oilies? Ok they can make you sweat a bit, but how long does the average sailor wear them in one go?

had mine on for 6 days solid in 2019. Well the salopettes, I took the jacket off to sleep.

 

[38mess]

had mine on for 6 days solid in 2019. Well the salopettes, I took the jacket off to sleep.

That's a long time
I wear my yellow oilies on my work boat, they keep me warm and dry and they are throw away, cheap to buy, around £25 a set from any hardware store.
Edit.
Someone just shouted up that you can get a set for£7.99 in Screwfix.

 

[dunedin]

One of the things they highlight in the press release is the use of goretex

I have had many sailing garments made of goretex, and mostly they have failed by delamination.

I've had great luck in having them replaced under warranty, but I'd rather just have something that doesn't fail.

I wonder that a company as big as North, and with as much experience with materials, couldn't come up with something better if they took on the challenge.

surely Goretex is just one of the layers - the important bit in the middle. If other layers delaminate away from the Goretex, isnot that the fault of the clothing manufacturer, not Gore?

 

[Sandy]

Gortex and the like go wrong when the garments get dirty and are washed. Each wash make them less waterproof and re-proofers never get the garment back to the original condition. Fisherman's suits of "PVC" last a long time and can be cleaned. You do sweat in them but that is much less uncomfortable than having salty wet water getting inside the suit. Prices of sports waterproof gear has become astronomical, Sailing walking running it all the same. Sailing in PVC is only a real problem in racing boats where you really work up a sweat.
Musto/North will be very expensive like North Sails,
David MH

Your experience is very different to mine.

I spent my Mountain Rescue Team days pre-Gortex. MRT is a bit like sailing. Out in all weathers, usually a gale or storm, lots of periods of activity and non activity. My waterproofs were usually as wet inside as they were outside! Try standing on a small snow ledge at 0300 hrs in a whiteout, those old waterproofs got very, very cold! No steaming mugs of coffee being handed up from a nice warm galley either.

My current Gortex, Musto HPX, is seven years old and working as good as new. Washed, re-proofed and dried correctly.

There is no way I'd go back to PVC stuff, just need to sort out a waterproof zip for a pee these days

 

[michael_w]

IMHO Goretex is bit of a con. Work hard in oilskins and you'll still get sweaty no matter what the construction. I've yet to find any clothing with goretex just isn't waterproof for more than a year or two. I've had a brand new pair of trousers start to leak after 3 days on an ocean passage of three weeks ...

What I'd love to have is a pair of my old Musto trousers circa 1986. Coated bri-nylon and bullet proof (well till I shredded them on a cleat.

It's worth remembering that Gill have a lifetime warranty, I've gone through at least 2 jackets and 3 sets of trousers.

 

[dunedin]

IMHO Goretex is bit of a con. Work hard in oilskins and you'll still get sweaty no matter what the construction. I've yet to find any clothing with goretex just isn't waterproof for more than a year or two. I've had a brand new pair of trousers start to leak after 3 days on an ocean passage of three weeks ...

Both my regular use Musto oilskins and my main walking coat (worn most days each winter) are Goretex and each 20 years old, but still good for most conditions.
Also have Goretex walking boots, which are brilliant, Goretex Dubarry‘s etc. So far lasting well for me

 

[Blue Sunray]

Both my regular use Musto oilskins and my main walking coat (worn most days each winter) are Goretex and each 20 years old, but still good for most conditions.
Also have Goretex walking boots, which are brilliant, Goretex Dubarry‘s etc. So far lasting well for me

I've also got Goretex kit of similar vintage that has been worked hard and still serves me well.

 

[Laser310]

surely Goretex is just one of the layers - the important bit in the middle. If other layers delaminate away from the Goretex, isnot that the fault of the clothing manufacturer, not Gore?

i think all the layers together are the "goretex"

the gore company supplies it complete.., the garment maker is not doing any laminating.

The pieces i had replaced were covered under gore's warranty to the garment maker - gore guarantees that the material will not delaminate

my replaced pieces include:

dubarry boots
Musto MPX salopettes
Kokatat dry suit - replaced _twice_

all because the goretex delaminated causing the garment to leak.

I also had a henri LLoyd jacket delaminate, but they wouldn't do anything about it except offer 25% off a new one - which anyone can find...

i just think that maybe goretex isn't well suited to the marine environment, and something new is needed