Chilled grandson

[Graham_Wright]

Having introduced my grandson to dinghy sailing in France, he has joined a club at Hollingworth Lake. They seem to be a bit short of wind meaning they have had a lot of time in the water practicing capsize righting.

However, there is not a lot of flesh on him and evaporation from his wet suit soon results in his being chilled.

Is there any way to ameliorate this evaporation?

 

[sarabande]

diminish rather than ameliorate, perhaps

There are wet suit liners for divers, but I am at a loss to think why closed cell neoprene evaporates. Is the wet suit non-closed cell ?

 

[coliholic]

Dry suit rather than a wet suit?

Not cheap, but how much do you love him ?

 

[duncan99210]

diminish rather than ameliorate, perhaps

There are wet suit liners for divers, but I am at a loss to think why closed cell neoprene evaporates. Is the wet suit non-closed cell ?

The water is not absorbed into the wet suit, rather into the fabric that covers both the inside and outside of the suit. As the water evaporates, especially from the outside, then chilling will occur. When diving in a wet suit I always take a waterproof jacket along to wear as an outer layer once out of the water. If your grandson is coming ashore and then getting cold, try doing that. Otherwise, a dry suit is the (expensive) answer.

 

[prv]

When diving in a wet suit I always take a waterproof jacket along to wear as an outer layer once out of the water. If your grandson is coming ashore and then getting cold, try doing that.

Any reason he shouldn't wear a spray-top or whatever while still sailing? Fairly sure I've seen dinghy sailors doing that.

Pete

 

[AshleyWright]

Indeed, my son wears a rash vest under a wetsuit and a waterproof jacket over it for dinghy sailing. He still gets cold though. Wetsuit boots are good and a hat helps too.

 

[dom]

The water is not absorbed into the wet suit, rather into the fabric that covers both the inside and outside of the suit. As the water evaporates, especially from the outside, then chilling will occur.

Yes I think that's the answer. As others have said a cheap waterproof smock over the top should sort it - you can even put the smock over the bouyancy aid to create a big air bubble inside (if the club allows that). I often wear a cotton t-shirt for comfort underneath a wetsuit, which helps stop itching and also helps prevent water from running around inside. (This is not recommended I know, but lots of people do it).

If that fails (which I doubt), think about moving up to a thicker wetsuit. A goretex drysuit will not only cost a lot and only last a year or so, it is also quite likely to get torn or damaged by the typical messing around youngsters naturally engage in. Non-goretex ones are not fit for purpose.

 

[Hydrozoan]

... However, there is not a lot of flesh on him and evaporation from his wet suit soon results in his being chilled. ...

If he were immersed all the time, evaporation could not be an issue, so the extra layer suggestions sound sensible. My eldest grandson is - at the moment - as skinny as a rake, whilst eating like an adult (and his mother often had blue feet). At least yours isn't following your tagline!

 

[Roe]

I'm more familiar with surf wetsuits than dinghy ones.

Firstly, is it a winter or summer suit that he's wearing? Secondly, is it a shortie picked up at a service station or a decent, branded one, with flat lock/invisible seams? I would only use a winter steamer in this country, even in summer and I'm of the same opinion when I'm out with my brother in biscay. Decent surf suits have a shiny coating on the top half of them so that when we are sitting up on our boards, the wind does not evaporate the heat. Is his like that?

I've only worn a dry suit once, it was one of the most uncomfortable and unwieldy pieces of clothing I have ever worn. Additionally, when submerged, the pressure of the water is exhausting by itself. Invaluable for the task in hand (clearing a fouled prop in February) but misery in itself and something what would put me off boating in short order if it were a regular occurrence.

 

[Tintin]

Short of fattening him up a bit, try one of the kayaking dry cags (which have drysuit seals at neck and wrists) - that will help prevent the flushing that steals heat. A hat of some description is also worth while, and some wetsuit boots without a zip.

What thickness is his wetsuit - for winter surfing 5-7mm is common rather than 2-3mm summer suits.

Also is the wetsuit a good snug fit, and is the neck seal good? If not flushing will steal his heat.

When I was young and skinny surfing and kayaking in winter we used to eat lot of mars bars during the activity and also stock up on cals with fired eggy bread for breakfast.

 

[pagoda]

I'm more familiar with surf wetsuits than dinghy ones.

Firstly, is it a winter or summer suit that he's wearing? Secondly, is it a shortie picked up at a service station or a decent, branded one, with flat lock/invisible seams? I would only use a winter steamer in this country, even in summer and I'm of the same opinion when I'm out with my brother in biscay. Decent surf suits have a shiny coating on the top half of them so that when we are sitting up on our boards, the wind does not evaporate the heat. Is his like that?

I've only worn a dry suit once, it was one of the most uncomfortable and unwieldy pieces of clothing I have ever worn. Additionally, when submerged, the pressure of the water is exhausting by itself. Invaluable for the task in hand (clearing a fouled prop in February) but misery in itself and something what would put me off boating in short order if it were a regular occurrence.

If you want to sail over the late Autumn, you really need a suit with 5 or 4mm body - and 4/3mm limbs. There are also suits with merino wool linings, my son who surfs in Orkney all year round swears by one. Not cheap, comparable with a dry suit..
Many kids wetsuits are just a bit thin...as we have discovered as they have come to our dinghy sailing club, so they don't like getting wet! A spray top helps quite a bit.

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

Dry suit; keeps you dry and therefore warmer.

 

[l'escargot]

Neoprene is a good insulator in water but a poor insulator in air. It is effectively "wind chill". A light cagoule or similar over the top will help.

 

[onesea]

As others have said a light water proof over the top be-careful with neoprene seals on the cuffs. If they are in and out of the water it can be a pain as it holds water in as well as out, round the neck I never like neoprene seals as it can chafe.

Boots, hats, gloves, mars bars, crisps, CurleyWurlys, Mr kipplings apple pies, coke a cola and hot chocolate can help as well.... Remember that his body will be burning all the calories its got to keep warm so let him eat what he wants...

Also once out of the water the worst thing to do is stop and sit still, keep them active pull the boats up out of the water drop the sails get them changed, don't let them stop. Once they are changed and warm and dry they can finish putting the boats to bed as you have cold beer in the bar!

 

[Graham_Wright]

If he were immersed all the time, evaporation could not be an issue, so the extra layer suggestions sound sensible. My eldest grandson is - at the moment - as skinny as a rake, whilst eating like an adult (and his mother often had blue feet). At least yours isn't following your tagline!

When in Aphrodite, both grandchildren spend most of their time in the water along with the resident French children. What a life! Swallows and Amazons aren't in it!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Neoprene is a good insulator in water but a poor insulator in air. It is effectively "wind chill". A light cagoule or similar over the top will help.

Agreed. All the instructors at the activity centre where I keep the Hunter 490 wear cagouls on top of their wetsuits, and I presume they know what they're doing!

 

[fireball]

It's already been said - a good wind/waterproof top is in order - one that can tighten up at the neck and wrists - not to keep water in or wind out, but to stop them from flapping around getting in the way!

Dry suits are fine, but rely on clothing beneath to keep you warm - I've been cold in a drysuit when others are in shorties - because I wasn't wearing appropriate clothing underneath it.

I've been warm in hikers, rashvest and spraytop when others are freezing in full wetsuits - because the spraytop is wind & waterproof it keeps the warmth in.

 

[Fantasie 19]

I am at a loss to think why closed cell neoprene evaporates. Is the wet suit non-closed cell ?

Not the neoprene - its the nylon outer layer as they hold the water causing it to chill on the outside... better to have a smooth suit, but they're not so tough (which is why they put the nylon on)...

When we used to windsurf a lot we always made sure we'd had a lot to drink before we went out... natural biological mechanisms soon make for a home plumbed central heating system...