Q on wellies

[Steve_Bentley]

I've recently started crewing on 25ft racing keelboat, and being new to sailing I'm still buying equipment.

I have a trick pair of watersport shoes for when it's warm and sunny (they have holes in the soles to let the water out), but figure I need something more substantial for when it's cold and miserable.

I'm thinking the Gill wellies would be a good idea but can't decide on the short or long version. I can appreciate the long version can be used to manually bail water more quickly (!), but apart from that what are the merits of short vs long? What would you choose? The long ones have lace-up tops.

Thanks!
Steve

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[Talbot]

short = easy to get off the feet when you fall in the water, suitable for larger boat that doesnt get goffered too frequently.

long= make sure you wear a harness cause you will have difficulty removing them, but stand a better chance of keeping dry feet in a smaller boat.

dry suit = best for small boats that get goffered frequently, but make sure water intake is regulated to length of time between pit stops, cause peeing is a real performance./forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[jimi]

The answer really depends on whether you are Welsh or Irish, the nautical Irish prefer red and green, the welsh prefer longish fleece lined ones with trainer type soles and lace up tops.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

The welsh ones also need to have quite wide rims and legs, enough that you could get a 1" dowel pole down the front, or something similar.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[Mirelle]

Short

The idea is that you should be able to kick them off if you go OB.

Long ones can be very dangerous if they trap air, since people do not breathe well when floating upside down.

However I do have a pair of Gill long ones and the lace up tops irritate the hell out of me, so I never use them.

<hr width=100% size=1>Que scais-je?

 

[phanakapan]

If you have fat/well muscled calves, definitely get short ones, for easy insertion and removal of legs with wet weather gear on.

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[kds]

I found the wet-suit type like you would use on a laser to be ideal on wet races in a keelboat - but they do tend to be a bit difficult to keep hygienic if you wear them on a long race !
Ken

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[kds]

p.s. They were by AIGLE, I think

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[Boathook]

Just come back from holiday where I used the Quayside breathable boots. Well worth the £70. Trouble is that I now have to buy breathable trousers and jacket.

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[Steve_Bentley]

Thanks everyone for the replies- it's given me some more things to ponder.

Steve

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[Swampyhotdog]

If you're going to be staying in the boat (ie not falling o/b) then there is only one option - Dubarry.

Before I got a pair (half price in a shop's closing down sale), I thought people who had them raved about them because they feel they have to justify spending a fortune on a pair of wellies. However, having just sailed from La Coruna to Carlingford with just myself and 2 crew, and sometimes doing a fairly long stint on the wheel/navigating/cooking/even sleeping with my Dubarrys on, I would not buy anything else.

The best wellie ever in my opinion.

Stu

<hr width=100% size=1>As with most posts here - my personal opinion - take it or leave it.
Stu