sailing sunglasses

Pye_End said:
assuming they are genuine....
Click to expand...

That has been my concern. I would assume that a pair of cheapos from Boots would meet the legal UV requirement. Not so sure about a pair of possibly fake Oakleys or Raybans.

If you are prone to losing them then builders merchants carry cheap sunglasses under safety equipment. No aspirational brand names on them but some look quite decent.
 
Riojasailor,
Not to question your professional expertice, but I seem to remember Richard Feynman deciding to look at the Los Alamos test blast through a glass windscreen in a truck because it would protect him from the blinding U-V that everbody was either wearing strong goggles or facing away to avoid.
Drift, the auto masks that welders use are developed from the nuclear flash goggles the army had for the cold war.
 
I use "over sun glasses" same as used by oil field work crews in the desert, they fit comfortably over the top of my prescription bifocals.
They stop all UV, and are easily wiped clear when soaked with spray, (or rain), they may not look the fashion item, but they are practical and virtually disposable, I wouldn't be without them.
 
DownWest said:
Riojasailor,
Not to question your professional expertice, but I seem to remember Richard Feynman deciding to look at the Los Alamos test blast through a glass windscreen in a truck because it would protect him from the blinding U-V that everbody was either wearing strong goggles or facing away to avoid.
Drift, the auto masks that welders use are developed from the nuclear flash goggles the army had for the cold war.
Click to expand...

That was probably tinted with the appropriate materials. Plain uncoloured glass does not stop the most damaging forms of UV radiation. I trained with UV lights. They had to be shielded with different types of filters to block out the different types of wave lengths.

The sunglasses available from the RNLI catalogue (about£15 last time I looked) are great for sailing. They offer good all round protection from sun, spray and wind.They are also very robust and take a huge amount of punishment. The frame will break before the lens. In the US I can buy a good pair of sunglasses for about $15. I can buy exactly the same glasses at West Marine for $79 dollars. If you buy from a reputable supplier so you know the UV protection rating sticker (which all sunglasses as opposed to coloured glasses should have) is genuine then everything else is just fashion and personal taste.
 
Last edited:
riojasailer said:
Feel free to question anything I say - I don't get upset easily. I'm an Optometrist and I work with spectacle lens materials and transmission factors relative to the absorption of visible and non visible radiation on a regular basis.
Click to expand...

Well here's what Wikipedia has to say about it

"Eye
High intensities of UVB light are hazardous to the eyes, and exposure can cause welder's flash (photokeratitis or arc eye) and may lead to cataracts, pterygium,[24][25] and pinguecula formation.

UV light is absorbed by molecules known as chromophores, which are present in the eye cells and tissues. Chromophores absorb light energy from the various wavelengths at different rates - a pattern known as absorption spectrum. If too much UV light is absorbed, eye structures such as the cornea, the lens and the retina can be damaged.

Protective eyewear is beneficial to those who are working with or those who might be exposed to ultraviolet radiation, particularly short wave UV. Given that light may reach the eye from the sides, full coverage eye protection is usually warranted if there is an increased risk of exposure, as in high altitude mountaineering. Mountaineers are exposed to higher than ordinary levels of UV radiation, both because there is less atmospheric filtering and because of reflection from snow and ice.

Ordinary, untreated eyeglasses give some protection. Most plastic lenses give more protection than glass lenses, because, as noted above, glass is transparent to UVA and the common acrylic plastic used for lenses is less so. Some plastic lens materials, such as polycarbonate, inherently block most UV. There are protective treatments available for eyeglass lenses that need it, which will give better protection. But even a treatment that completely blocks UV will not protect the eye from light that arrives around the lens.
"

So, apologies, UVA gets through glass. I note that UVB is stopped by glass.

As it happens, I wear very expensive light weght photo chromatic, plastic spectacles, but not because they are UV protective, they weigh a lot less.

The one thing I'd be interested in is the evidence that peeps that spend time on water are at more risk of eye problems because of UV exposure.
 
Polarised sunglasses from a fishing shop - usually have some 'wrap around' protection and strong enough for the job. Oh and that funny bit of stuff to stop them dropping off into the water
 
DownWest said:
Lizzie_B said:
That was probably tinted with the appropriate materials. Plain uncoloured glass does not stop the most damaging forms of UV radiation.
I wonder what coatings were available in 1945?
Who mentioned coatings, though I would suspect there were various coatings available even in those ancient times :-)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Optical quality comparison

I have an eye condition and am ultra sensitive about protecting my eyes in the best possible way that I can. I am wondering if there is any optical quality/protection difference between a £40 pair of Gill (which is what I wear) as compared to a £150 pair of Maui Jim's which have been suggested above as having excellent performance characteristics. As has also been suggested above I'm not too bothered about the cost or indeed I don't care if I look like a complete dick wearing sunglasses as long as they offer excellent protection and are practical for sailing wear (before anyone suggests carrying a welding mask around with me!)

Rob
 
Last edited:
Bosun Higgs said:
hitherto I've always bought the el cheepo from the local market but for a variety of reasons I need to buy some decent ones which will give a fair degree of wind protection.

any recommendation? preferable at sensible non-brand-name-junky prices
Click to expand...

I have two pairs, the first were Gill's Racers with air vents which make one look like a Roswell escapee. Very comfortable, they float, have a head band to prevent them falling in the oggin, and are polarised to reduce glare(see below). They have grey lenses which I find a little depressing to look through as the day always seems dull even on a cloudless day. Cost about £37

My second pair which I wear all the time on the boat even on dull days, are Harken (can't remember the model name but lizard style like the Gill), also very comfortable, with gentle head-grip arms which avoid the need of a headband, polarised and with amber lenses which make for a much more cheerful outlook! Cost about £80

The polarising effect as previously commented on by another is tiresome as a rainbow effect through the lense blocks the instruments readouts unless viewed at exactly the correct angle- a bit of neck twisting is required.

In case it is important- my son can't wear lizard styles as his eyelashes are too long and they cause continual discomfort by brushing against the lenses
 
galadriel said:
After all, you only get one pair of eyes, dont you?
Click to expand...
I'm on my second set of lenses now! :eek:
After many years of sailing and working outdoors never wearing a hat or sunglasses I had to have both cataracts operated on in my late forties.
-Look after those eyes!
 
Me too

DJE said:
I'm on my second set of lenses now! :eek:
After many years of sailing and working outdoors never wearing a hat or sunglasses I had to have both cataracts operated on in my late forties.
-Look after those eyes!
Click to expand...

Although in my case, late thirties, nothing to do with not wearing eye protection and everything to with genetics. Like our noses our eyes run in the family.
 
riojasailer said:
I would agree Maui Jim are excellent.
Click to expand...

Went straight down to the optician this morning and bought a pair of Maui Jim. No dithering on eye care! Very impressive when compared to my £50 Boots jobbies. Good wraparound protection. Excellent colour contrast and I'm told first class UV protection. Second mortgage terrirtory though so strapped around the neck.

Rob
 
UV wrap around protection from ugly fit overs

Slip on sunglasses that fit over my regular prescription lenses work well for me...

Walmart for twenty five dollars

uv protection and croakies to retain them from falling overboard.
 
The best sunnies I've owned were a pair of Bolle wrap arounds. The lense quality was fantastic, very comfortable, and never felt like they would fall off.

Sadly I trod on them and scratched the lenses to buggery, and at almost the same moment, they stopped making that model. Bit of an arse really.

I currently just have a pair of Ray-Ban Aviators which are better than nothing and great for posing.

For me choosing a new pair of sunnies is a long process and not one I skimp on cost.
 
For those on a budget, there's a selection of "fishing" sunnies here for £10 to £30 odd. All polarised and including a floating pair. No doubt if they were rebranded "sailing" glasses the price would be higher...:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top