Resolution
Well-Known Member
You might need to learn how to spell their name. Useful also to pronounce it with a French accent.
Breathables, am I the only one?
- Thread starter Praxinoscope
- Start date
You might need to learn how to spell their name. Useful also to pronounce it with a French accent.
Praxinoscope
Well-Known Member
Sacre bleu mon ami, I have enough trouble with the languages I do speak let alone the ones I don’t. p.s. you had better tell Gaelforce Marine they seem to be as good as me at spelling.
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Frogmogman
Well-Known Member
Why not get a Mac?
One of my late lamented Uncle's favorite Naval reminiscences was of the ship on which he served with the Chief of the Clan Mackintosh.
They would pray for rain, so they could call down to the wardroom for someone to bring up the Macintosh of the Mackintosh of Mackintosh.
Sybarite
Well-Known Member
My original ones were red and white. As they were cheap, the whole crew had the same uniform. It actually looked quite smart.
dulls
N/A
I am about to buy some more gear and it will all be PVC from now on. I cant believe i fell for the expensive stuff. It dont last and it dont stay waterproof. Guy Cotten or equivalent.
dulls
N/A
My experience of goretex goes back to the mid 80s and use of it in the military and then in sailing. My gut feeling is that it stops being breathable not long after getting covered in mud on land and sea salt at sea. I returned to issue pvc waterproofs for both. I think it degrades in just a few hours of exposure to either and washing the stuff is impracticable until you return home. My subjective view.
Gadget257
Well-Known Member
Nothing seems to alleviate the clammy feeling of any oilskin I've owned in very wet (e.g. breaking seas, or heavy rain) conditions. I believe that once the Durable Water Resistance coating has become worn the oilskin material easily becomes saturated and the breathable pores clog with water preventing vapour passing through. As I can't afford a new set of oilskins each year (I've tried all sorts of methods to reactive the DWR with varying degrees of success), after a watch or two in the conditions described above I tend to wear a goretex mid layer (very warm), or go back to the Guy Cotton type of oilskin
On another point raised in this discussion I always assumed the chilling effect of goretex in the wind is a sign that it is working as moisture is evaporating from the oilskin material works in the same way as we loose heat when we sweat (evaporative cooling).
On another point raised in this discussion I always assumed the chilling effect of goretex in the wind is a sign that it is working as moisture is evaporating from the oilskin material works in the same way as we loose heat when we sweat (evaporative cooling).
Sharky34
Well-Known Member
IIRC, you are supposed to wash them with a soap based cleaner, not detergents, which clog the pores.
Robin
Well-Known Member
Guy Cotten used to do a yottie version too softer and more supple. Ours are still going strong after 15 years plus so maybe not still available. We bought them in trendy white,from their factory store in Concarneau . Also bought a white fabric jacket from them on sale for around £10 that is still going strong as my trendy go ashore jacket.
edited to add
disclaimer, totally unrelated to or funded by Guy, but open to offers.
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Minchsailor
Well-Known Member
I got some Guy Cotten hi-bib yellow trousers literally ages ago - still going strong, although I have had to replace the elastic braces. Also +1 for their breathable jackets - about 2/3 the price of the major brands, the waterproofing still good 6-7 years, and warm and comfy. Been up to the Arctic circle a couple of times in them.
michael_w
Well-Known Member
It's worth pointing out Gill have a lifetime warranty. I've gone through 4 pairs of trousers and 3 jackets all of which were 'breathable' in about 10 years. Now they've changed the design and I don't fit into their new shape.
Sharky34
Well-Known Member
Had a good lockdown then.
fredrussell
Well-Known Member
This^^^
If rain or sea water isn’t ‘beading up’ on your breathable jacket, it will struggle to breathe. The factory DWR treatment will last a year or two and then you have to reproof, but in my experience it’s never as good as the factory DWR after that
Conspiracy theory alert!!!
If manufacturers could make a DWR treatment that lasted for 10 years or more, do you think they would use it? Man in The White Coat anyone?
Catalina36
N/A
When it rains I put up an umbrella. Who says they have no use on a boat?
Sharky34
Well-Known Member
Are you a naval occifer?
Catalina36
N/A
When I'm not using it I keep it in the wheelbarrow.
RJJ
Well-Known Member
Breathable for me.
I like to sail actively. I can't leave my racing behind; I am always trimming sails, adjusting that leech line, reef out even if it goes back in ten minutes later etc. If you're wearing breathable stuff you don't have to be so sensitive to the number of layers; you can get a bit warm without becoming clammy. I agree with the comments above that the rubber/pvc oilies are being used to trap heat, which isn't really the intention, and suggests the body is accumulating moisture.
I did my first Fastnet in 1993 in pre-breathable oilies. It was pretty horrid from personal comfort perspective.
Most fundamentally, though, cotton of any kind has no place in a foul weather system. Man-made thermals for me, several thin layers to peel on and off; silk or some form of wool if you're feeling a bit richer.
All that said I think it's odd to complain about the price of Musto etc. I like my Plastimo XM at less than half the price. Decathlon stuff looks good too, at a price you could replace annually.
I like to sail actively. I can't leave my racing behind; I am always trimming sails, adjusting that leech line, reef out even if it goes back in ten minutes later etc. If you're wearing breathable stuff you don't have to be so sensitive to the number of layers; you can get a bit warm without becoming clammy. I agree with the comments above that the rubber/pvc oilies are being used to trap heat, which isn't really the intention, and suggests the body is accumulating moisture.
I did my first Fastnet in 1993 in pre-breathable oilies. It was pretty horrid from personal comfort perspective.
Most fundamentally, though, cotton of any kind has no place in a foul weather system. Man-made thermals for me, several thin layers to peel on and off; silk or some form of wool if you're feeling a bit richer.
All that said I think it's odd to complain about the price of Musto etc. I like my Plastimo XM at less than half the price. Decathlon stuff looks good too, at a price you could replace annually.
RobWard
Well-Known Member
I don't get the use of breathables on a boat. Climbing and walking they are great, you generate huge amounts of sweat in even the coldest weather and it is that gradient that drives out the moisture. (As dick Turnbull of this parish will no doubt be along to point out, this effect is only sustained if you wear synthetic base layers as well.)
For most of us, on a boat, we are not generating those levels of sweat so there is no need for breathables, just chuck your wooly vest and jumper on and an impermeable oilskin and you will be fine!
Praxinoscope
Well-Known Member
I'm beginning to think judging by the numbers who seem dissatisfied with them, that 'breathables' are the sailing equivalent of 'The Emperors New Clothes ' there are those who have seen through the hype and those who because they cost them an arm and a leg still go on believing that they are brilliant and better than than the old oilies.
I've recently dumped my breathables and bought a set of Guy Cotten waterproofs and can say that they Are Waterproof and with a wooly pulley underneath perfectly warm and comfortable.
I've recently dumped my breathables and bought a set of Guy Cotten waterproofs and can say that they Are Waterproof and with a wooly pulley underneath perfectly warm and comfortable.
Tamar
Well-Known Member
Going off on a tangent here, my extremely expensive for what it is musto blousen jacket zip catches on the waterproof lip evertime and jams up. It's on all the zips.
But the jacket is fine and warm and lightweight, not sure it's waterproof anymore, and it's only six months old
But the jacket is fine and warm and lightweight, not sure it's waterproof anymore, and it's only six months old
