Keeping warm on watch at night: sailing clothing

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Jamesuk

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What sailing clothing do you wear, and what are the materials of the boxers up to mid layer before the waterproof outer layer?

I'm interested because the brands like 3 layer systems: base, mid and outer layer. My understanding tho is that is fine for sports when your active moving muscles which generate heat. They never offer a core layer or boxer shorts. I wonder how many people spend 100s on the kit then chuck on M&S cotton boxer shorts and t-shirt That hold your sweat and then chill you.

For most of us who have been on watch in a small boat mid winter in the UK we require much more than 3 base layers and are still cold.

I used to do press ups on watch to keep warm with 5 layers. Cold Feet: always a problem!

What's your kit, and does it work how you expect?

Cheers

James
 
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I am a merino convert. Merino "beasts" or boxers from Icebreaker. Icebreaker or Aclima layers to suit the temperature (I max out at t-shirt , long sleeve-t, jumper & heavy zip top - couple of merino layers on legs) . Aclima hotwool socks are really good - very warm, almost too warm . Dubarry boots, Musto shell outer, fleece scarf if cold - only piece of fleece I use - windstopper hat from musto.
I find the merino kit is really versatile, warm and doesn't smell even after weeks of continual wear.It's heavier than fleece, but its warmer for the same thickness.

Once I had tried a few bits of the kit, I was a complete convert. I works fantastically, wicks like crazy , keeps you warm and dry. I hardly ever use fleece /man made thermals now for mountaineering, skiing or sailing.
 
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Good boots and thick socks means I don't have a problem with cold feet. In the past I have worn thermal long johns available in Tescos and Asda, they make a great difference to the lower half. I tend just to where jeans and salopettes on top of that. Tea shirt with thin fleece inside the salopettes a thicker one outside, and a waterproof breathable outer layer. A woolly hat keeps the head and ears warm. A very high percentage of body heat is lost through the head, can't remember the exact figures, I suppose it's more if you are folically challenged. If you do get cold it's very difficult to get warm again. A hot water bottle stuffed inside the salopettes is a god cure for getting chilled. It also stays warm for quite a while.
 
Don't think there is any ideal clothing: always a compromise and you have to be flexible if possible. A few years since we sailed overnight in Jan/Feb, but it's much the same as a Scottish summer, just more so. I used artificial fibres for years but nowadays more tending to use wool wherever possible on the inside with only the last two outer layers being fibre pile and GoreTex/MPX. All that stuff about materials wicking away sweat may have some element of truth but, TBH, I think a lot of that is advertising hype.

Obviously a lot depends on conditions, but most of our overnights have been fairly inactive so more layers needed than if tacking all the time. Merino wool long johns and vests are best bought in climbing shops IMHO. I'm told that silk is also very good but I've never tried it.

Woollen rollneck or polo neck sweaters are brilliant and I wear a great one from Silvermans - https://www.silvermans.co.uk/tabid/...ATER+BLUE/0/SKU/4-180-15909-2842/Default.aspx

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It's strange thing, but trying get something like that from a "mainstream" store is next to impossible. For years I've asking in shops like Fraser's, Debenham's, Ralphie Slater's, and Austin Reed, and they never seem to carry them. But the odd thing is is that the counter staff tell me that "people are always asking for them but we never have any"....

The cold feet thing? Leather sea boots like Dubarry are wonderful - expensive but they last for years. Mine must be at least 13 years old have been re-soled at least once. I recommend a generous fit so that thickish woollen socks can be worn (climbing shops again).

Hands? Gave up on sailing gloves years ago and normally much prefer leather rigger gloves from a builders' merchant. Also depending on circumstances will use half-fingered woollen or full fingered Polartex. They can worn under waxed cotton and wool overmitts (climbing shops again). For very cold and dry, or sub-zero, conditions, I have a pair of woollen lined chamois work gloves that I found cheap in TK Maxx.

I agree with OP about cotton, so I avoid a cotton vest in winter, but not too bothered about underpants material.
 
Wool.

If its cold but dry I wear a reefer jacket made out of wool, if its wet I wear gore-tex oilies.

Wool beanie or traditional wool yachting cap (peak helps keep rain off eyes, also sun by day).

All wool socks.

Heavy wool roll-neck, sometimes over lighter wool v-neck jersey.

Wool as the main layer, doesn't matter then if you wear cotton or self-wicking modern t-shirt underneath.

Wool, designed to keep sheep warm in cold fields.

Wool, sometimes Merino wool.

Wool.
 
Babylon said:
Wool.

If its cold but dry I wear a reefer jacket made out of wool, if its wet I wear gore-tex oilies.

Wool beanie or traditional wool yachting cap (peak helps keep rain off eyes, also sun by day).

All wool socks.

Heavy wool roll-neck, sometimes over lighter wool v-neck jersey.

Wool as the main layer, doesn't matter then if you wear cotton or self-wicking modern t-shirt underneath.

Wool, designed to keep sheep warm in cold fields.

Wool, sometimes Merino wool.

Wool.
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I'm itching just reading that. :nightmare:
 
Merino wool socks + Sealskinz socks + Dubarry leather boots and you'll never have cold feet again. I recently bought a Sealskinz beanie hat. Being waterproof and windproof it's like toast. Problem with wearing too many layers is passing out through heatstroke if you have to do anything energetic, I'm of the view that it is better to be slightly chilly than overheating

My father's boat had an outlet for the diesel heater in the cockpit, and you could stuff an extention tube up your oilskin trouser leg.

Of course, the real solution is to go and sail somwhere warm! Night watches in the tropics dressed in shorts, t shirt and LJ/harness are a distant memory.
 
+1 on the roll neck. I guess the high street shops will only carry them when they are in fashion.

I've never gone for the three layer system thing - wicking sweat away is never a problem on a boat in February and March. I bought some Dickies fleecy lined trousers from Mole Valley Farmers (about £12 I think) and they are great.
 
Spyro said:
I'm itching just reading that. :nightmare:
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Modern wool kit just isn't itchy. Merino underwear looks expensive - £30 for a pair of Y's for heavens sake? :) The thing is they work, they work really well. Don't itch, more comfortable and wearable than cotton. Keeps you warm, doesn't accumulate sweat. Once I tried it , it was a no brainer decision for me to switch all my outdoor base layer and thermal layer kit to wool/merino - those sheeps know what they are doing.
 
The best thing about merino wool is that it doesn't smell (of your or the sheep). This is a big plus in a small boat. I have a merino wool cycling top and it has no whiff about it, unlike the synthetic one I have!
 
I'm in favour of the 'three layer' system:

HH dry base layer or similar
Thin(ish) fleece top
Mid layer jacket and salopettes, waterproof
Outer layer GTX jacket and salopettes
Leather GTX boots
Sealskinz beanie

As we know, the base layer is critical to avoiding the 'chill' from a non-wicking layer once it gets wet from sweat or seawater

The mid layer (I use the Gill i5 crosswind outfit) is really great both on and off watch. The salopettes are like a cosy babygrow, minus the arms, and comfy enough to sleep in. Same goes the for jacket if required. When it is wet and wild outside, in most boats (certainly on offshore races with a crew coming down in wet kit etc) things are getting fairly wet inside too. Therefore having a waterproof mid layer on when you are off watch is really nice. Then if the weather is light you can wear it outside as well!
 
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Good loop stich climbing socks. Good boots

Craghopper winter bags, long johns if very cold

Cotton teeshirt, rugby shirt, cheap fleece from Mountain Warehouse. I add a one of those gilet fleeces if very cold.

Scarf, fleece and a thinsulate hat.

Several sets of gloves and a hand warmer

All topped off with Musto MX.

Constant supply of tea/coffee/coco or soup on a cold night.

(and a wee hip flask for medicial use)
 
GREAT: Some interesting stuff.

I have a 5 layer system for night sailing but a 3 layer system for active sailing with say Clipper Ventures training in the day. Its the times when im inactive where warmth is the problem. Ten push ups and plank sprints usually does the trick.

This time of year i have 5.5 (including Cross wind Salopettes) layers for my chest.

T-shirt (Polyester), Gill Onesie baselayer, north face thermoball hoodie, insulated waterproof midlayer, helly offshore jacket or old MPX jacket.

Layers for legs: boxer compression polyester/elastane, Gill onesie baselayer, HL Blizzard salopettes or Gill crosswind salopettes then outer trouser usually something i spend as little money on as possible as they get trashed as they are the go to pair for everything from sailing to cooking.

Feet: until recently i used to wear two pairs of thin socks and £200 musto ocean boots did little for keeping warm. I have very recently changed my warm weather gear for a drysuit which has changed my clothing set up dramatically but not tested enough for writing about, hopefully get on the water again soon :-)

Anyone fancy nipping across to france one week? Let me know im fairly flexibile timewise :-)
 
Over here around, Ålesund, Norway. 62 degrees North. We do try to sail ALL year round. Our base layer is usually Wool based. 'T' shirt and long Johns, wool or wool mixer socks Dubarry style boots
Wool mixer fleece or jumper (Devold, all locally made) Either Musto/Gill/HH Jacket and salopattes or and isolated all-in-one system. (Regatta of Norway, Also local) insolation head gear with ear flaps and lined gloves. I have 5 suits, one all-in-one 'winter' suit, one heavy Jacket/salopattea with built-in inflatable life-jacket for 'offshore' sailing, a light weight 'summer' J/S set, one J/S set I use for 'racing/regattas'. and one very light 'rain' set. We have a mid winter regatta and cruise which has known temp. down to -8 with snow! Has they say here " There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!"
 
stevepick said:
I am a merino convert. Merino "beasts" or boxers from Icebreaker. Icebreaker or Aclima layers to suit the temperature (I max out at t-shirt , long sleeve-t, jumper & heavy zip top - couple of merino layers on legs) . Aclima hotwool socks are really good - very warm, almost too warm . Dubarry boots, Musto shell outer, fleece scarf if cold - only piece of fleece I use - windstopper hat from musto.
I find the merino kit is really versatile, warm and doesn't smell even after weeks of continual wear.It's heavier than fleece, but its warmer for the same thickness.

Once I had tried a few bits of the kit, I was a complete convert. I works fantastically, wicks like crazy , keeps you warm and dry. I hardly ever use fleece /man made thermals now for mountaineering, skiing or sailing.
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+1. We're currently skiing in Sweden, and I use exactly the same kit on board in the winter. Merino base, middle and outer layer - no, they don't itch - yes, including the boxer shorts - and a sailing jacket and sailing salopettes (whatever they're called) over the top. Woollen socks and sailing boots. Skiing gloves - yes, they have to come off to handle ropes or certainly to do anything fiddly, but they're on the rest of the time.
 
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