Choice of waterproofs?

[Athene V30]

Out sailing this weekend and my 1 year old Compass offshore wet gear was just as wet on the inside as on the outside and that was only in the Blackwater and mainly due to rain not spray!

What is the gear of choice of you guys who have lived in your wet weather gear for days on end (am I painting too black a picture of my expectations for 2012?).

Breathable / non breathable / heavy traditional oliskins / 2 sets (so one can dry between wearings!!). I looked at the cost of known brand 'ocean' gear and decided I needed a second mortgage to afford them! If they keep me dry it would be worth it but to spend that sort of cash and still be wet would be a nightmare.

 

[Gargleblaster]

When it is really cold or really wet I wear a survival suit, which has a neoprene layer which not only helps you float but is a very nice insulating layer. Mine unfortunately opens at the sleeves and ankles so will let in water when you are trying to fix something on deck when the waves are breaking over you. But I wouldn't be without it.

I was wearing my Compass Inshore suit [non breathable, 5 years old and been through the wash more times than me] during a single handed race on Sunday when it was raining throughout. After getting back to my car and stripping my suit off, I found I was wet at my sleeve ends and around my knees. Someone asked me in the pub whether I had changed as everyone else was a bit wetter than me. I think the whole suit only cost me £29 5 years ago.

 

[NickiCrutchfield]

Here we go with an absolutely opposite opinion to Glayva
I have an 8 year old set of Musto MPX foulies. They have been through the mill over and over again. They have done about 12000 miles and the jacket is just beginning to let in a little water at the shoulders. I have hunkered down snug and dry so many times whilst all around is wet. Got pooped once, in march, and was submerged, all be it briefly, up to my neck and stayed dry. I can't speak highly enough of them as they have kept me dry, and equally importantly, aired all that times. I spent just under £300 on the jacket and £200 on the trousers. My next move, as funds allow, will be another MPX jacket (trousers still fine), and an Eric recommended TPS for the really **** times.
Nicki

 

[smolyneux]

My experience is the same as Nicki's but with an old set of HL's. At the time they cost me a lot of money but have done over 10 years. I will buy a similar set as well as a TPS.

 

[CPD]

Peter,
I used my 3 yr old Musto MPX's and they were brilliant. Couldnt speak highly enough of them.

 

[Ceirwan]

I've used Musto inshores for 5 years, i finally replaced the jacket after breaking the zip. Trousers still going strong! Best set of oilies i've ever had... (Note they seem adequate offshore as well)

 

[andlauer]

Bonjour
Sterenn is a good test for waterproff... Water enters as fast as it goes (ou reciproquement) !
As I'm always hooked the watterproff choice takes the two requirements into account.

1) Nice (Bad for sailing) weather (no wind, no waves) Tshirt + Spinlock harness.
2) Splashing water F2 to F4 Cotten breathing trousers with incorporated "light harness' (a belt round the chest)+ if required light and cheep breathable jacket (Decatlon).
3) Windy F5 to F6+ Cotten breathing trousers + MPX Musto + harness (be carefull no cotton pants... only hydrophob underneath the breathing oilies. (my bottom was peeling at Newport because I wore cotton pants!)(It's also the standard night gear). Dubary boots.
4) Bad weather F6 to "unlimited" (and liferaft) Cotten TPS above a light polar trousers and top. There is an incorporated harness. Dubary boots.
Keep dry and warm, it is very important !
Eric

 

[andlauer]

Bonsoir
Blondie Asler had an alternative : keep inside !!
It works until the mast falls.
But masts don't fall very often !
Eric /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[080653]

I read your post with some amusement. I got thouroughly soaked sailing down to the start at Plymouth and I too was wearing my Compass offshore oilies. I then spent a day trying to buy a set of those 'Fisherman' type yellow oilies when Roger ( ming-ming ) asked why I was bothering. He was right as with the Junk rig, all sail handling can be done from the hatch so why did I need oilies? When coastal sailing it is nesseccary to be in the cockpit more often than out on the ocean. In reality I only wore my kit when I needed to go out on deck because it has a built in harness, that was on 3 occasions there and back!
I think a survival suit is probably the better option if funds are limited.
I alaso think that Compass should be made to wear thier own oilies in our 'standard British summer'. Perhaps they would make a few modifications!