All the gear, no idea

If your missus likes the idea of branded gear then buy it - and make the experience of buying it a pleasant as possible!

Enjoyment of sailing can come from many things - and not all are to do with the boat.

For sure - you can get matching his n hers Lidl wellies and hi viz roadsweeper waterproofs from an industrial supplier, they'll be perfectly effective and you'll probably save £200, and then you'll be sailing on your own.

This board is full of old men who delight in recommending the cheap and crap option. Don't be one of them!

Btw - for commercial marine work I wear steel toecap boots and hi-viz waterproofs provided by employer. They are considered disposable and generally last for a couple of rotations at most.

OTOH my musto oceans - which have many 1000's of sailing miles behind them I bought 20 years ago, along with my Musto M1 boots which still do not leak despite many wadings ashore over all sorts of surfaces.
 
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My view was marginally different, having come from a background of seeing many (many) children suffer from cold and wet due to inadequate clothing - despite many upfront warnings and lots of advice prior to events - I took the stance that as a leader I would always dress in the best kit I could afford in order that I wouldn't be the one who got cold first (or wet).

In practice this pays off by being able to forget about the weather and concentrate on the job. I carried this to yachting - having already purchased most of the gear for other activities I then proceeded down the Gill route and clothed the entire family in suitable gear such as I had already got for powerboat/rescue boat stuff. I don't disagree that I probably paid more than I needed to, but it does have a two fold result: a) I know that we can be prepared for almost anything chucked at us should we get caught out (bad planning aside) and probably get through without everyone getting hypothermia and b) believe it or not, it helps us to feel less like bloody numpties - because we at least got the clothing right and its one less worry.

The wife couldn't care less about what she wears, but that cold day when the wind collar gets turned up and the hands go into the cosy pockets is going to get me more brownie points than insisting we save £100 and dressing her in a dayglo workers outfit.
 
TQA said:
Bought my Henri Lloyd Ocean Racers back in the late 80s. Eyewatering money. [ 700 quid ?? ] But they are still keeping me warm and dry on the now rare occasions they get dragged out of the locker. I reckon top quality foulies are a good investment.

Mind you I don't need them much in the Eastern Carib nearly always just T shirt and shorts and I have a good dodger and bimini for when it rains.
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Bought mine at london boat Show in 85, still going strong.
 
I've been pootling around the Solent for 3 years in Hudson Wight stuff and I've been very satisfied. It was (still is I think) reasonably priced and it's kept me warm and dry, in one instance crossing Christchurch Bay with F7 gusts up the chuff and biblical amounts of rain blowing horizontally onto my back.

My Crewsaver wellies were £35 new off Ebay and they've done the job as well.
 
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thecommander said:
Thanks for the replies. Glad others aren't spending too much. Now to convince the wife!!

I'm thinking/hoping we might pick up second hand stuff at Beaulieu boat jumble.

P.S. Seen plenty of members of the Henri Lloyd brigade in Cowes.
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That's the idea. Don't buy heavy, bulky and expensive new offshore gear if you are just going to trip around the Solent in summer weather. See if you can interest the CO in buying a stylish waterproof/windproof jacket that will be of some use if you find she goes off sailing pretty rapidly. I hate to be negative but this has been known.

Unless you intend to race there is no reason why you should have to expose yourself to regular drenching in order to sail. Light waterproofs will do.
 
over the past few months I have used a Hi vis construction workers jacket that I bought in a builders merchants. Only for pottering around Chichester harbour in cold weather and rain. Also for visiting the yacht to do maintenance tasks. It is proven breathable, proven waterproof, a warm quilted lining which worked well on a cold day, a hood that is a bit rubbish but tightens down and finally was dead cheap. It is bright yellow of course. I certainly could by seen In my little tender at night. The lining would not dry out very easily either. But it has saved my best Musto from getting grubby. Recommended. It would be good for an occasional crew or first timer crew who has no gear at all.

It is ok for fair ish weather and short periods of a maybe few hours of rain. But I not would feel so comfortable if I was on watch or helming in very cold wind and rain for a good few hours. It is then when my proper Ocean hood and high neck/throat protection design is needed.
 
For much of the Summer, you won't need anything described as 'sailing gear'.

And for much of the Winter, you probably won't venture out much.

Only sail clothing I have bought is a Gill jacket on sale and I could have got similar from Blacks or Trespass.

If the money is tight, put it to safety things like very decent (and comfortable) life jackets, and boat maintenance.
 
I have the advantage of living near to the Guy Cotten works and they have a factory shop at Trégunc, not far from their base in Concarneau.

I bought an offshore suit from them for €100 and I have bought a series of oilies for the occasional crew members at prices ranging from 10€ to 50€.
 
obmij said:
If your missus likes the idea of branded gear then buy it - and make the experience of buying it a pleasant as possible!

Enjoyment of sailing can come from many things - and not all are to do with the boat.

For sure - you can get matching his n hers Lidl wellies and hi viz roadsweeper waterproofs from an industrial supplier, they'll be perfectly effective and you'll probably save £200, and then you'll be sailing on your own.

This board is full of old men who delight in recommending the cheap and crap option. Don't be one of them!.
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+1

Get your missus the good stuff and get on enjoying sailing! You know it makes sense.
 
thecommander said:
I must add, we intend to do all year round coastal sailing in the Solent.

Thanks
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You need to be asking yourself this question when its cold and pouring with rain in February. :disgust: Buy the best you can afford.........you will then be able to take everything nature throws at you without feeling miserable......plus the kit should last many years. :encouragement:
 
When the water is falling from the sky then any reasonable waterproof should do the job.

It's when the water is leaping out of the sea that the sailing specific stuff really seems to come into its own.

The reason that racers tend to wear good quality stuff is simply that when its rough you still have to sit out exposed to it. When cruising, especially coastal cruising with reluctant compainons, you rarely have to as you have a spray hood to hide behind.
 
Cheers for the replies guys. Very helpful.

We've been trawling the internet for the last 3 day and the best I can find is a Musto BR1 Coastal Suit for £180.

SWMBO is however convinced she now needs a channel suit - incase we do any overnight passages to Poole or Weymouth. The only difference I can see is a higher collar. Might let her have this one :)

P.S. We do plan on sailing as much as possible in the winter. The wind and rain doesn't bother us, even SWMBO seems up for it. I guess we're used to having a little motorboat which took on alot of spray and water and which we frequently had out in force 5-6 in the Solent last year.
 
For sure - you can get matching his n hers Lidl wellies and hi viz roadsweeper waterproofs from an industrial supplier, they'll be perfectly effective and you'll probably save £200.This board is full of old men who delight in recommending the cheap and crap option. Don't be one of them!
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Think you may have missed a 1 off the front of that figure....? :)
 
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Colvic Watson said:
A trip to Decathlon, their sailing stuff is excellent and not inflated prices. They do Internet as well.
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Yes, I bought my wellies from them, and they do large sizes.
Some years back Lidl had a sailing jacket as a special, excelent kit.
As I said earlier, to find Musto gear at better than half price, who could resist?
Some above have associated staying dry with quality kit. The most waterproof item I have is a cheap plastic cape! No good for racing, where you want duribility, but for just sitting in the pouring rain it's hard to beat, but now I will have my posh Musto trousers on under it, and feel very yachty :)
 
My Decathlon suit lasted about 7 years with sailing at least twice a month, re-proofing once a month.

My Henri Lloyd replacement is more stylish, but not as warm.
 
Wear whatever you fancy - and to hell with whatever other people think!

But don't forget that being cold (and wet makes it worse) is one of the contributory factors leading to seasickness.

Also, in the long run, it may be more economic if your missus wishes to continue sailing...?
 
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