Dry suits - who in their right mind would buy one?

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Jamesuk

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I have just taken delivery of a new Dry suit RRP £1250, I look at what worked for me the last 7 years MPX Jacket, HH Salopettes, HL Midlayer trouser and top etc and ask do I really need one. I guess the simple answer is yes, I think to those times up at the Bow on board a 68ft yacht at 1am plowing through the English channel doing a sail change and getting the water down in my boots, down my back, up from the waist to flood my midlayers and so on in the middle of winter which on the type of vessel would mean a wet set of clothing for my next watch.

Today my sailing is much more chilled out, Med sailing and the occasional pop across the solent in Winter. When a drysuit came up at Half Price I bought it on the impulse moment and memories of yesteryear, perhaps I should join the Coast Guard as I am within 2 minutes of a life boat station.

Now tho can I ask, for those of you who have drysuits, does it give you those "superpower" moments, "Yes Ill do it, Im wearing a drysuit" is the money spent worth it. I have been looking at OS2 Jackets and Ocean smocks but where they fit the bill of being shore coats to the pub, a drysuit would be classed as anti social ashore or just being referred to as "special" but the SWMBO.

For now I have a photo wearing the drysuit, will I wear it at sea summer is just around the corner.....

I am hoping to get a reply from someone who has bought one with the same doubts and now would never look back, the jackets I bought 7 years ago still work they just look 7 years old.

Keep it?

cheers

James
 
I would never, ever wear one on a yacht (at least the kind of yacht sailing I do, and I do sail all year round) but it's an indispensable bit of kit for dinghy and small keelboat sailing in the winter.
 
My granddaughter wears one, including huggy bear for winter canoeing, she tells me a wet suit is far too cold, well she did when she was getting me to buy the dry suit!
 
Jamesuk said:
I have just taken delivery of a new Dry suit RRP £1250, I look at what worked for me the last 7 years MPX Jacket, HH Salopettes, HL Midlayer trouser and top etc and ask do I really need one. I guess the simple answer is yes, I think to those times up at the Bow on board a 68ft yacht at 1am plowing through the English channel doing a sail change and getting the water down in my boots, down my back, up from the waist to flood my midlayers and so on in the middle of winter which on the type of vessel would mean a wet set of clothing for my next watch.

Today my sailing is much more chilled out, Med sailing and the occasional pop across the solent in Winter. When a drysuit came up at Half Price I bought it on the impulse moment and memories of yesteryear, perhaps I should join the Coast Guard as I am within 2 minutes of a life boat station.

Now tho can I ask, for those of you who have drysuits, does it give you those "superpower" moments, "Yes Ill do it, Im wearing a drysuit" is the money spent worth it. I have been looking at OS2 Jackets and Ocean smocks but where they fit the bill of being shore coats to the pub, a drysuit would be classed as anti social ashore or just being referred to as "special" but the SWMBO.

For now I have a photo wearing the drysuit, will I wear it at sea summer is just around the corner.....

I am hoping to get a reply from someone who has bought one with the same doubts and now would never look back, the jackets I bought 7 years ago still work they just look 7 years old.

Keep it?

cheers

James
Click to expand...

Can let you have a Gul 'new' never used drysuit, at a fraction of that price.
(Infra GCX3 Breathable + inner fleece - offers please ;))!

PS
your in the marine clothing business according to profile?
 
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I've worn one once or twice when it's been impossible to avoid really foul weather. Out of choice I'm a cruiser so don't "plan" to be out when it's really pi55ing it down, but sometimes you don't get the choice. Normally, sailing foul weather gear is more than adequate.

Before getting an interest in sailing I was a very active UK diver so wearing a dry suit is a fairly natural thing to do. I started my interest in sailing with dinghies so, again, a dry suit was an obvious choice. As an aside, a dry suit undersuit under sailing gears works well to keep you warm.
 
I used to have a boat with a bowsprit and whilst changing headsails in heavy weather the violence of falling off a wave would make the water shoot up inside my oilie jacket and squirt out at the neck! Very wet. The next boat didn't have a 'sprit, but still no furler, so the only way to stay dry at the bow was with an Ocean smock with latex seals at neck and wrists. Trouble is they're awkward to get on and off and not very durable - I had the neck seal changed twice before giving up with it. Not best pleased when the darn thing disintegrated mid Atlantic leaving me soggy for three weeks. Also carried a drysuit for ship-abandoning purposes, but couldn't wear it all the time as it was a bit clumsy and the latex neck seal a bit tight (see before re: durability). Couldn't wear normal sea boots with it either as the drysuit went inside them and they would slowly fill with water.
Had a look at the Typhoon PS 220 at London Boat Show (Andark) and they seem to have addressed most of these issues. Neck and wrist seals are neoprene and quite comfy, has a decent hood, and leg gaiters that go outside normal yachting boots, handy pockets for knife, plb, ipod, whistle etc and also hand warmer pockets (essential). It's well cut to allow full articulation and looks like it might be good for extended wear. Not sure about the back zip, but I'm going to have a go an donning one tomorrow to see how easy/difficult that is. My present boat's quite fast and wet, so to stay dry and warm, a drysuit's about the only thing that'll do the job for extended time in the cockpit. Cost? About £500. I'll report back on the donning/doffing issue if you want.
 
jesterchallenger said:
......looks like it might be good for extended wear ....a drysuit's about the only thing that'll do the job for extended time in the cockpit. ......I'll report back on the donning/doffing issue if you want.
Click to expand...

Do please report on the efficacy of the pee-tube. Oh, you don't have one? Well, it won't cut the mustard for 'extended time in the cockpit', then.

And don't forget the unperfumed talc, 'cos the wife gets stroppy when one pinches the expensive, perfumed stuff she got for Christmas...... :rolleyes:
 
I have two.
Sailing ones cost £250 to £300 quid.
A diving one cost me nearer £500, plus £75 for a quality under suit.

I don't like being cold.
 
dylanwinter said:
£1200

I am hoping to hoping to buy a boat that will take four of us to Orkney for about the same amount of money
Click to expand...

Why bother to buy when you can rent? The MV Pentalina will take all 4 of ye across for £60.... and there's a nice wee caff wher ye can sit and watch the wild Merry Men o' May passing bye.
 
oldbilbo said:
Do please report on the efficacy of the pee-tube. Oh, you don't have one? Well, it won't cut the mustard for 'extended time in the cockpit', then.

And don't forget the unperfumed talc, 'cos the wife gets stroppy when one pinches the expensive, perfumed stuff she got for Christmas...... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
The perfume is also bad for the latex seals. Seriously!
My current dinghy suit has fabric feet and neoprene seals, Like smooth wetsuit material. No talc needed.
 
oldbilbo said:
Do please report on the efficacy of the pee-tube. Oh, you don't have one? Well, it won't cut the mustard for 'extended time in the cockpit', then.
Click to expand...
You could have typed less characters into Google and saved yourself looking silly with unfounded 'Please do report, Oh you don't have one' wisearsery. The suit has a convenience zip.
 
Jamesuk said:
I have just taken delivery of a new Dry suit RRP £1250,
Click to expand...

£1,200? What on earth have you bought? The Musto HPX offshore suit costs £995, and the Guy Cotten TPS neoprene survival suit £780. And they're both Rolls Royce kit for extreme weather.

ETA - and yes, the GC doesn't look too practical for use outside abandoning ship. Or maybe in the Southern Ocean.
 
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Jamesuk said:
I have just taken delivery of a new Dry suit RRP £1250, I look at what worked for me the last 7 years MPX Jacket, HH Salopettes, HL Midlayer trouser and top etc and ask do I really need one. I guess the simple answer is yes, I think to those times up at the Bow on board a 68ft yacht at 1am plowing through the English channel doing a sail change and getting the water down in my boots, down my back, up from the waist to flood my midlayers and so on in the middle of winter which on the type of vessel would mean a wet set of clothing for my next watch.

Today my sailing is much more chilled out, Med sailing and the occasional pop across the solent in Winter. When a drysuit came up at Half Price I bought it on the impulse moment and memories of yesteryear, perhaps I should join the Coast Guard as I am within 2 minutes of a life boat station.

Now tho can I ask, for those of you who have drysuits, does it give you those "superpower" moments, "Yes Ill do it, Im wearing a drysuit" is the money spent worth it. I have been looking at OS2 Jackets and Ocean smocks but where they fit the bill of being shore coats to the pub, a drysuit would be classed as anti social ashore or just being referred to as "special" but the SWMBO.

For now I have a photo wearing the drysuit, will I wear it at sea summer is just around the corner.....

I am hoping to get a reply from someone who has bought one with the same doubts and now would never look back, the jackets I bought 7 years ago still work they just look 7 years old.

Keep it?

cheers

James
Click to expand...

How much did you pay for it?
 
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