Cold Weather Sailing togs!

K

keelbolt

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What's your most prized cold weather sailing clothing? I got frozen yesterday, even though it was the south coast. So I need something warmer. But what? And how do you keep warm on a winter night watch?

KB
 
Thermal underwear, long jons and long sleeved top. Trousers. Micro fleece top, then heavy, thick fleece top. Go for man made fibres, avoid cotton or wool, it will get damp then cold with perspiration, yes you WILL perspire!

Make sure you have a balaclava on plus a microfibre hat, pulled down over the ears.

Top all that with good foul weather gear, that will keep the wind out.

Sorry if you are to hot!
 
Go with one of the expensive 3 layer systems, I invested (and had a heart attack re price) in Musto but haven't been cold since.

Good hat and boots are v.important
 
I bought a hat at Glastonbury some years ago. It has a drawstring at the top, when this is undone, it will pull down over my head and work as a neck warmer and seal for the top of my jacket. If I'm climbing around the boat I normally get too hot, even if it is very cold weather. Gets a bit soggy if it rains for a long time.
Allan
 
I agree: went for the three layer system (Henry Lloyd outer jacket + base and mid layers from sports shops), and it changed my sailing life. Top it of with a fleece wooly hat that covers the ears and can be pulled in the back of the neck. Skiing sock and standard blue plastic boots keep the feet warm and dry.
 
Best extras for cold weather in my case

1. Leather sailing boots. Toastie tootsies
2. Thermonuclear longjohns - mine are skiing ones from Helly Hansen
3. Ditto vest, Helly Hansen from a cycling supplier
4. Fleece hat, does ears as well, from North Cape
5. Winter cycling gloves, come well up wrists
6. Skiing fleece 'bandit' mask, unbranded

I can't remember the exact percentage, but a huge amount of body heat is lost from the parts of the body where major blood vessels are nearest the surface. Essentially, head, face & neck, hands and wrists, feet and ankles, knees and elbows. Normal clothing takes care of knees and elbows, so if you can wrap up/insulate the rest of those thin-skinned bit you're on a winner.
 
I agree with boatman. I do almost all my sailing in the winter months as I charter and its cheaper (and I'm tight).

The 3 layer breathable system certainly works and when completed with gloves hat and breathable gortex boots I have never been cold

Well worth the money and if you go to the Musto shop - not too expensive.
 
Over the last couple of years racing in the winter series and the interestingly named "spring" series I have gradually added all the bits of kit and am now the warmest person on the boat!

By far the best 2 bits of kit I've bought are my musto boots and the MPX offshore Smock.
The smock is sooooooo much better than the jacket, the neck seal keeps the wet stuff out of the back of your neck, even without the hood up. (I hate hoods)
 
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Yet another vote for the Musto 3-layer system. I have also used it for ski-ing (because I'm a tight fisted git) and it was more than adequate.

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When I worked in the alps I used to point and laugh at people in sailing gear!
The reflective strips just look great on piste......
 
As well as a standard 3 layer system, I also have an alternative. This is thermal underwear, 'woolly bear' suit (thick fleece salopettes, and thick fleece pullover), and a breathable drysuit with attached boots. Like you, I really appreciate the fact that no water can get past the neck, or the wrist seals. Teamed up with gloves and hats, I never get cold or wet in this lot.
 
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Went for the Musto 3-layer too + Dubarry boots.

Never been cold since - well worth the money.


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Yes me too Musto 3 layer system but even with hat and neck scarf I have occassionally added a fleece or another layer when winter sailing and really cold.

Its expensive but I bought a budget XM for myself and a budget series 2000 for SWMBO and we got caught in a storm off France in July and we were both damp and cold. I suspect the moisture was not wicking away from our body as fast in the cheap suit so yes I object to the price but found to my cost that a budget suit was a complete waste of money.

Be interested in any comments regarding Gill breathable gear.
 
I agree with the Wolly bear - but the problem with the Drysuit is that it takes ages to get yourself ready for the next cup of coffee!!
 
Ok - fair dos! ... I do have a front zip drysuit and it is possible ... but not easy! But I suppose it also depends how wet you think you may get on deck ... a drysuit would be superb if you're in for a soaking /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The flyzip was an extra cost option, and have never regretted that small cost!

Drysuits are excellent in opentop sportsboats doing 30knts in pissing down rain in middle of winter
 
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When I worked in the alps I used to point and laugh at people in sailing gear!

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Indeed; but the price of ski-ing clobber (which bears the Winter Sports equivalent of Boat Added Tax) buys an awful lot of booze. However, I concede that I looked a right plonker.....

misterfatbstard.jpg


/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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However, I concede that I looked a right plonker.....



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At least your eyes seem to be functioning correctly! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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