Commercial Fisherman Oilies

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alec

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My Henri Lloyd 'Azores' have finally had it. Never liked them much anyway. Sweated muchly.

Having watched 'Trawlerman' and 'Deadliest Catch' etc they all seem to wear the same stuff I have seen on Commercial Fisherman's suppliers websites. The cost is about 30 squids for the top and the same for the bottoms.

Surely they must work or these tough guys would not use them.

Apart from not having the designer look can you think of any reasons why I should not buy them ?

Also, would I look hard instead of, well... a yottie
 
Now that I've got "breathables", I'd rather not go back to the old stuff - I find "breathables" warmer and I feel drier.

But, they come at a hefty price. If cost and durability, rather than comfort, are the determining factors, then the commercial fishermen's gear would seem to be ideal. While this advert claims that their gears remain "flexible in freezing weather,unlike the old fahioned oilskins whaich could stand up on their own", I'd guess that they will take up more hanging space than yacht oilies.
 
As someone who used to work as a fisherman but is now a yottie I wear the breatheable stuff when the weather is OK and then put the old truly waterproof gear on top when water starts coming at me.

Call me old fashioned but.....
 
I have promoted Guy Cotten stuff on here many times.

We had the super expensive, heavy, Southern Ocean in winter type stuff and guess what? We rarely used it! Firstly it was too hot for summer use in the UK, secondly it was too heavy and thirdly the very nice fur lined collars and pockets took double ages to dry whilst the suits just took ages. As a result most of the time we used lightweight suits, still not cheap and not long lasting, nor all that waterproof except for light spray/showers. Oh and BTW we sweated in both heavy and light stuff, but then we didn't pay another mortgage worth price for the other layers apparently required.

Then when in Concarneau we visited the Guy Cotten factory shop. I knew of them before and their stuff is sold in the UK, plus in all the Cooperative Maritime fishermans chandleries in France.

Guy Cotten make all kinds of gear for all types of use and do the high end yottie stuff as well as the fishermen style PVC stuff. There are actually several versions of the PVC gear, it isn't just the Deadliest Catch super heavy duty stuff. The fishermen gear is a bit simpler and heavier PVC, the yottie version is a much softer more flexible PVC, not filleting knife proof but still very durable and more yottie use friendly. We bought bib & brace trousers and jackets from I think from memory their 'Rosbras' range, all in white PVC. These have velcro trouser bottom adjusters and elasticated inner wrist bands with velcro adjusters on the outer wrist, full hood and a full length zip with velcro cover flap. We have used ours now for 5 or 6 years so over 10,000 miles and they are still as good as when we bought them, fully waterproof and apart from stickin back a loose velcro tab on my trousers no other problems. Yes I do sweat a bit in mine but SWMBO doesn't in hers, it maybe just me or the fact that I would be more active, however I don't 'glow' any more than I did before with the sooper dooper stuff. A huge advantage is that we can simply hose them off to get rid of any salt, give them a shake and they are dry very quickly, just as long as it takes for the wrist elastics to dry. As a result they are not covered in mildew as were our sooper ones and nor is the oilskin locker.

We would buy the same again when (if) ours wear out. Just very satisfied users BTW, no relationship with Guy Cotten.

Guy Cotten U.K Ltd.
Unit 1, Heathlands Road - Ind. Est. Station Road - Liskeard PL 14/4 DH - Cornwall G.B
Tél. (44) 1/579 347 115 - Fax (44) 1/ 579 347 119 - guycotten@btconnect.com
Guy Cotten Espagne

See here for website (in French)
 
I bought some very cheap rubberised type oilie trousers (high level with braces) a few years ago. They are very baggy and easily go over my wellies. They are NOT breatable through the fabric but the baggyness makes every movement pump air through to give a much better ventilation than any of the breathable fabrics on the much tighter expensive yachtie gear. They are totally waterproof even if you sit in a puddle whilst the expensve gear alwatys seems to leak in extreme circumstances
I have tried similar jackets but the collars are rubbish. A really good high adjustable soft lined collar with hood is essantial in my view.
So my tried and tested solution - cheap commercil overtrousers - expensive Musto Gortex jacket, and two hats Lowe Alpine Skull cap for bad weater (pull hood over if necessary) and heavy cotten Tillley hat if sunny and not blowing hard. Dont get lightweight Tilleys - they blow off too easy
Martin
 
Thanks everyone !

Really excellent feedback.
Have gone for the Guy Cotten 'Rasbras' . Got them today and really pleased. They have recently modified the hood so that it turns with the head. The hood is stiffened and has a peak which is great for a specs wearer like me.

The quality and stitching seems excellent, they also have neoprene inserts for the knees which is an extra plus for me as I kneel quite a bit ( hank on headsails ).

Total cost was 107 pounds.

Regards,
 
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