Floatation suit.

sighmoon said:
While looking for something else, I came across a floatation suit:

http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Baltic-Polar-Floatation-Suit.html

"waterproof, but also gives extra buoyancy and protection from cold shock" Sounds like a good idea, and not that expensive as these things go.

Has anyone tried one?
Click to expand...

Yes. I use a two piece one from Cosalt as my winter oilies for racing October through to April. Its excellent at keeping me warm behind the wheel but less good for jobs like winching because the internal foam makes it less flexible and and amount of winching causes me to overheat because of the insulation. Never tried jumping in wearing it.
 
awol said:
Great for night watches, snow storms etc. but much too hot for anything even slightly energetic. Mine's a Fladen and cost £85 a couple of years ago.
Click to expand...

Same here, you overheat very quickly doing anything slightly energetic.
The only real problem that I have found is that if you are sat down out in wet weather, water pools in the crouch area and leaks through the zip leaving you with wet B locks!
In those sort of conditions I wear waterproof hiking trousers underneath, which is also handy if I need to strip off to do any work.
 
Demonstration clip

Different make, but demonstration of a floatation suit in action on YouTube here

Not keeping the chap dry (not a Dry-Suit) - note he says how cold it is, but certainly making sure he's not going under.

Not got one myself - yet.
Can't decide between the 2-piece (easier to take off if it gets too warm)
or the 1-piece (less water getting in between the jacket & trousers)
 
Last edited:
sighmoon said:
While looking for something else, I came across a floatation suit:

http://www.crew-safe.co.uk/acatalog/Baltic-Polar-Floatation-Suit.html

"waterproof, but also gives extra buoyancy and protection from cold shock" Sounds like a good idea, and not that expensive as these things go.

Has anyone tried one?
Click to expand...

Yes, any very good they are too. Not only for sailing, but if you get one that is not too lurid is can be used in civvy life for things to.
Very comfy. Mine is a two piece.
 
LadyInBed said:
The only real problem that I have found is that if you are sat down out in wet weather, water pools in the crouch area and leaks through the zip leaving you with wet B locks!
In those sort of conditions I wear waterproof hiking trousers underneath
Click to expand...

Perhaps an alternative solution would be to glue a kind of sporran-shaped flap of additional material to hang over the zip as a B lock guard?

If enough people started doing it there could be a fashion for fancy patterned ones, or humorous comments or pictures (like the front end of a surprised-looking sheep) :D

Pete
 
I took my Fladen suit swimming today. Seems to be plenty enough buoyancy to keep me floating but if I let myself go limp the suit's preferred position is definitely face down. The weight of water when I tried to get out was considerable though it did drain quite quickly.
 
It occurred to me years ago that the guys who work on trawlers and offshore oil rigs don`t shell out mega-bucks for designer yacht-wear.....So What do they wear?...that obviously does the job and at a fraction of the price....and I ended up buying a Mainstream 2-piece Flotation Suit from a "fishermans outfitters"......for just less than £100.... It keeps me warm and dry whilst allowing me the freedom to work on deck....and it still looks decent....14 years later..... All I have to remember is.... to not fall overboard wearing only the trousers....as I`d end up floating upside down.
 
wotayottie said:
Yes. I use a two piece one from Cosalt as my winter oilies for racing October through to April. Its excellent at keeping me warm behind the wheel but less good for jobs like winching because the internal foam makes it less flexible and and amount of winching causes me to overheat because of the insulation. Never tried jumping in wearing it.
Click to expand...

I also bought the two piece Cosalt suit a few years ago and it cost no more than a normal cheapish sailing suit and salopettes. It can get very hot on warm sunny days but most of the time I wear the top only over a T-shirt and it's fine. It also means that I always have some buoyancy when in the dinghy. In theory it should also keep me warmer if I fell in because of the overall covering of closed cell foam.

I have heard that floatation suits may interfere with the self righting mechanism of a lifejacket but I haven't tried that out myself.
 
wotayottie said:
Yes. I use a two piece one from Cosalt as my winter oilies for racing October through to April. Its excellent at keeping me warm behind the wheel but less good for jobs like winching because the internal foam makes it less flexible and and amount of winching causes me to overheat because of the insulation. Never tried jumping in wearing it.
Click to expand...

Too hot for winter sailing? I'm getting one!
 
sighmoon said:
Too hot for winter sailing? I'm getting one!
Click to expand...

Yes. You try winching when short tacking a 35 foot cruising boat. TBH, ordinary foulies get a bit warm doing that.

But the cosalt kit is a god send standing behind the wheel when you arent moving around very much at all and there is ice on the deck.. I suffer from the cold a bit ( wear a vest in winter to swmbo's disgust) but the only bits of me that now feel cold when helming are my hands and feet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top