Keeping warm - ashore and afloat.

Ashore for bed (and afloat if you have shore power available) a modern leccy blanket, about £20. Put on full for a couple of hours, get in your toasty warm bed and either turn it off or if really cold leave on low all night, only a few pence to run...
 
I'm on the trail of finding functional thermals. I have a pair of Helly Hanson thermal long johns and have just bought Heatech thermal vest and long johns. In both cases, the long johns actually make my legs feel colder - I don't know how this can be. I also have some M&S thermals which are thick and heavy, but don't make my legs feel so cold.

All of these synthetic materials are hailed as being excellent for 'wicking away' moisture from the skin, but to be honest, I've never had a problem with sweaty legs - if one is in a boat, you're not going to working up a sweat anyway, it seems to me. I'd rather feel warm.

I have been looking at the silk type, hoping that these would feel warmer against the skin. Or the Merino wool type - which would be better to go for? At this rate I'm going to have more pairs of thermals than I could shake a stick at.
 
The Lazy Kipper said:
I discovered that the makers of the military "softie" jacket make softie trousers. Good 'eavens above are they warm or what! I bashered out in November and used the sleeping bag as a duvet I was so toastie. Lots of new ones but I got some second hand ones on ebay for a tenner, best bit of cold weather kit I've ever bought.
Click to expand...

What type of material is it?
I can not wear wool or some other materials against my skin, other wise I would probably die of heat exaustion caused by scratching my self:(
C_W
 
Last edited:
Warm wear overdose!

Feb201121.jpg

I am very much a fan of the 3 layer system with a base layer, fleece middle layers and waterproofs on top. The mid layers are where most of the heat is trapped and I have the excellent H-L Avid Mid layer salopettes and jacket. Musto do something similar and H-L have improved theirs with a better type of fleece. These suits are described as breathable, which they are but also waterproof, which they are not. (Try sitting in a puddle and you will find out that they actually just mean water resistant for a while). But they are still great to wear as they shrug off light rain and the odd splash if worn without proper oilies on top. I have read some reviewers who comment that one would hardly ever need all three layers in UK sailing . They must be made of sterner stuff than I because when it is really nippy I find 2 base layers and fleece under oilies are essential for longer haul sailing in winter.
I have tried several types of base layer over the years from the old Damart Thermolactyl chlorofibre sets to the more modern ones. The Damart kit is actually very warm - have used it in the Arctic (-32c) and had mine for over 30 years. Still going strong - loads of static electricity and a bit too hot for deck activity.
My blue Helly Hansen gear is their thick "wooly" poyprop type (not the lighter Lifa sets). Very warm, comfy to wear, can get a bit sweaty and is a bit clingy under a fleece. Has lasted very well - impervious to washing machines.
The light grey set is the very latest Musto Active Base layer. £49 for the top and £29 for the trousers so not cheap. Have to say am disappointed with this, Musto can't have done much product testing with it. Made of polyamide/polyprop/elastane, is is a lovely soft material and nice next the skin. It dries quickly and is very comfy, ideal for active work on deck. After just a few days use this winter my set started to disintegrate with yards of loose unfinished tread coming adrift and the surface starts to pile easily if it is rubbed against anything scratchy such as a zip. In addition the trousers have no cord at the waist, only a very lght and floppy elasticated waist band so they tend to head south when moving around.
The dark set is the Henri LLoyd Active Fast Dri. I have had this for about 6 years now. Very silky materiel, comfy to the touch, dries in no time at all, shifts perspiration very quickly and is really hard wearing. Have washed mine dozens of times and as good as new. The draw string turned to fluff after a year or so but the waistband is sufficiently strong to keep em up without string. In warm weather I skip the mid layers and just wear this under my oilies. In the summer they work without mid or top layers - they are highly UV proof. Similar sort of dosh as the Musto kit so these HL ones get my vote.
Tried new 100%Merino wool set last week - on big discount at Blacks. Not hugely warm but not itchy and did not smell of sheep. Neck line is far too low even with the zip top so buff (muffler headover thingy) essential.
Silk nice but best for ladies stockings - as does not retain heat well when wet. Cotton as has been pointed out is hopeless- absorbs moisture vapur faster than even the best Goretex can export it so dampness eventually chills. Fladden type flotation suits very comfy but not for active work or long haul as dampness eventually builds up in the suit as moisture has nowhere to go - ok if you can get out of the elements below to air the inside of it. As for tootsies, wellies no good in winter as damp cannot get out so invest in best breathable sea boots and wool loop stitch socks.

Robin
Pleiades of Birdham
MXWQ5
 
So - how do the rest of you keep warm in winter ?
Click to expand...

Stay indoors and turn up the heating!

Another vote for
Damart "Thermolactyl" thermal underwear when necessary to go outdoors.
Had it for years originally bought for sailing at the beginning and end of the season.

Thermolactyl their own synthetic fabric.
 
Gill base layer, Craghopper trousers and Berghous wind-stopper fleece

A proper technical base layer is the key, and isn't expensive. False economy to buy cheap stuff unless you know what exactly the specification of of what you are buying
 
djbreeze said:
Ashore for bed (and afloat if you have shore power available) a modern leccy blanket, about £20. Put on full for a couple of hours, get in your toasty warm bed and either turn it off or if really cold leave on low all night, only a few pence to run...
Click to expand...

If no shore power a couple of hot water bottles takes the chill off on cold nights. Also handy for tucking inside your waterproofs during the day.
 
dunedin said:
Gill base layer, Craghopper trousers and Berghous wind-stopper fleece

A proper technical base layer is the key, and isn't expensive. False economy to buy cheap stuff unless you know what exactly the specification of of what you are buying
Click to expand...

I agree cheap may well be false economy, but a very limited range offered by Gill.

I took a quick look at the Damart website before making the previous post... to check really that they did still do all the thermal stuff that they used too. Surprised in fact to find that they now do 5 different weights. Maybe not all the weights in all the styles, far from it, but nevertheless a good range to choose from.
 
Neil said:
[...] I have a pair of Helly Hanson thermal long johns and have just bought Heatech thermal vest and long johns. In both cases, the long johns actually make my legs feel colder - I don't know how this can be. [...]
Click to expand...

Well - I take some comfort (I'm sure there's a pun there somewhere ...) from knowing that I'm not alone here - this has been my experience too. I understand the "cotton when damp won't insulate" argument - but the long johns I tried felt colder from the first moment I put 'em on. Then, after mooching around the house for a while (hardly a sweaty activity) I still felt cold. But the minute I took 'em off, I'm back to feeling warm again.

Maybe we've found a new material for creating refrigeration ?


But - thinking of boating during the winter months (plenty of cod out there to be caught ...), if a person was to end up in the drink when wearing all these layers, they'd weight a ton when fishing 'em out. Bit of a concern there ...
 
electrosys said:
Ok - so I'm beginning to feel my age ... and as I'm currently landlocked due to a shoulder injury, and with snow and ice moving across country in this direction ... my attention has been drawn to how best to stay warm, and for the first time in my life I've looked to thermal underwear as a solution.

So I bought some brushed cotton long-johns off Ebay (which were obviously designed for someone with the belly of a Buddha and legs like a flamingo), and not only don't they make my legs feel warmer - the reverse is true. As a conclusive experiment, I wore them last night in bed (with middling effect) and removed them at about 3 a.m. - after which my legs began to 'glow' from the warmth below the duvet. Crazy. So those are now destined for recycling ...
I'm now wondering if a woollen mix would be an improvement ?

I've also looked at ski-ing trousers, but they're a tad expensive. Mind you - if they really work ....

For now I've fallen back on my old standby: wearing two pairs of jeans, one inside the other (40" inner, 44" outer). of course, this wasn't necessary when a certain make of jeans were made of decent thickness cotton duck, but then they became fashion labels, with a price to match ...

So - how do the rest of you keep warm in winter ?
Click to expand...

Regards material angora might be ok :) (edit : hair of angora rabbit or goat )
 
VicS said:
I agree cheap may well be false economy, but a very limited range offered by Gill.

I took a quick look at the Damart website before making the previous post... to check really that they did still do all the thermal stuff that they used too. Surprised in fact to find that they now do 5 different weights. Maybe not all the weights in all the styles, far from it, but nevertheless a good range to choose from.
Click to expand...

Be carefull to follow washing/ironing instructions. One of my funniest moments was watching my mate Tricky Dickies Damart longjohns turn into dolls longjohns as his wife ironed them!
 
In addition to all the thermal layers, have a look at these nifty little things on Amazon (also available elsewhere)

Peacock Hand Warmer

My partner and I have one each, hers being the Peacock, and mine the Zippo. In retrospect, I think the Peacock version is the better item, but they both do the job when the temperature drops.
 
rotrax said:
Be carefull to follow washing/ironing instructions. One of my funniest moments was watching my mate Tricky Dickies Damart longjohns turn into dolls longjohns as his wife ironed them!
Click to expand...

Iron underwear ??? :confused:

Iron ????? ;)
 
VicS said:
Stay indoors and turn up the heating!
Click to expand...
Gets my vote. As I am typing this they are jockeying for the start of a Frostbite Race on Windermere. We get a better view in the winter as the leaves have all fallen. Probably 30 or so boats. Beautiful blue sky and sunny. I just stepped outside to get a better look and it is bloody cold!
Only 5 years ago I was out sailing in freezing weather.
I don't like it now.


Edit, They're Off!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Refueler
Darn it ...... bl***y engine wont start - want to lift out boat.
2
Replies
34
Views
2K
Refueler
Refueler

Share this page

Top