Dry suits - who in their right mind would buy one?
- Thread starter Jamesuk
- Start date
Babylon
Well-Known Member
I keep an inexpensive dry suit on board. It proved itself when I had to partially dry out (Neaps) at night in Lymington to check corroded skin-fittings. Its other purpose is to keep me dry in survival or liferaft conditions, both of which I hope never to encounter.
Simondjuk
Well-Known Member
oldbilbo
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It's not everyone who gets on well with 'em, and they can be a right booger to get into and out of. A certain last-century hero called Tony Bullimore AIR avoided clambering into his survival drysuit for many hours, despite being upside down and keel-less, in a storm in the Southern Ocean. Mind you, he's the sort who kisses hairy Australian midshipmen on TV, so what can you expect....
The correspondent somewhere above was right in explaining that the tiny concentric rings moulded into the rubber neck and wrist seals are there to facilitate an effective but comfortable fit, and not a stranglehold. The idea is that the owner - or a trained-to-a-hair RAF safety equipment worker - trims off successive rings with nail scissors or garden shears until the right fit is found.
Her's another tip. These seals are fragile. They tear when old and when too much effort is applied in a hurry. If one is likely to embark on a lengthy trip - a Clipper leg or a Jester escapade, for example, then it is worthwhile carrying spare neck/wrist seals and tube or two of rubber adhesive. Glueing the spare/replacement INSIDE the damaged seal is a whole lot easier, at sea, than complete replacement, which needs a workbench and optimum conditions. Once repair has 'gone off', trim rings for fit again as above.
Jamesuk
Well-Known Member
For the first Time ever I am reading every single post - only on page two - Oh and I made a mistake on price £1100, on offer I got the Helly Hansen Ocean Racing Drysuit still expensive at just over half the price but then my MPX Jacket from Musto 7 years ago was £350 it is just showing signs that all it is good for is about Cowes and the odd light shower. I treat it with reproofing spray and the DWR wash system Gill provides but it is faulting at the SEAMS. The DWA helps massively. Nothing I can do about the SEAMS - I could send it back to Musto as they did at the time give a Guarantee on the GORETEX - I will try that card as I do look after my stuff.
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
OP Question -
Who in their right mind would buy one??
Answer
My mates!
Seen below in action last week, not for the H&S brigade or the easily offended, the first minute or two should give you the idea....
http://youtu.be/oI19J9HYloE
Who in their right mind would buy one??
Answer
My mates!
Seen below in action last week, not for the H&S brigade or the easily offended, the first minute or two should give you the idea....
http://youtu.be/oI19J9HYloE
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Koeketiene
Well-Known Member
Brilliant - clearly everyone had a great time. Even the seasick bloke was smiling.
Shame Dylan won't like the footage as some of it was obviously made with a Go Pro
bbg
Well-Known Member
The only issue I have with that - and I am not normally of the H&S brigade - is not wearing a lifejacket. The risk of ending up in the water is not zero and one of the things that can happen with a drysuit is that air gets trapped in the legs. If someone goes into the water inverted in a drysuit they might find themselves floating feet-up.
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
I wasn't on board on that occasion so can't comment, it was filmed off of North Foreland above the Margate sands and to be honest does help break the journey home up a bit.
The Dutch guy in the dry suit has jumped off of my boat wearing the dry suit (unexpected and shouting man over!) and floated 'Dead Sea style', where you look like you're sitting in an armchair. I've heard of the legs filling with air, but he blew his suit up deliberately before jumping off.
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oldbilbo
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That's why, once inside and zipped up, one should pull the neck seal open a bit with one's fingers, then squat down hard to expel spare air. Release the neck seal, and stand up....
Seajet
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bbg
Well-Known Member
Yes I do that but it doesn't get everything out. Frankly, after doing a survival course I have come to the view that if I put boots or foulies on, I probably need a lifejacket, but then most of my sailing is racing shorthanded so maybe not typical.
xyachtdave
Well-Known Member
Some more risky, dry suit, kiteboarding while sailing madness for you here - http://youtu.be/MN7K_8RvWSc
What's not to like about dry suits?
Other than the cost....
Sorry about the bad music..it's Dutch disco apparently
What's not to like about dry suits?
Other than the cost....
Sorry about the bad music..it's Dutch disco apparently
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ffiill
Well-Known Member
It was Bruce Roberts who questioned why do those sailing in northern climes insist in having a wheel on an exposed cockpit instead of a deck house.
The day was celebrated when square riggers began to provide protection for the man at the wheel as it was when Clyde Puffers had their open wheel house roofed in!
I must admit to having a cosy wheelhouse over my centre cockpit motorsailer.
Just sit at the hydraulic wheel put the windscreen wipers on and steer whilst having a cup of tea!
