Survival/Immersion/Drysuits

dom said:
I was more thinking both, but it's a fair question. Now obviously one always wants to get as many as possible, and at least one strong person, into the LR directly from the sinking vessel. But that, of course doesn't always work out.

Depending on the LR entry system I personally find it a doddle to enter while fresh and wearing a wetsuit, drysuit, or swimming trunks; even in cool water. Tiredness, cold, hunger, dehydration will naturally all detract.

Adding a heavy weight of wet (and near useless for thermal retention) clothes would - I'm guessing - seriously hamper one's ability to enter the LR.

Not to forget that, if the LR floats off or fails to work, a suitably specced drysuit would stand a damn good chance of keeping the casualty alive if within helo range and in possession of a tracking beacon.
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The downside of the dry suit is that you have to be wearing it - by the time the situation as developed to the stage where you are in the water, or about to enter the water - it is too late to put it on. So if the choice is either/or then I would go for the Liferaft in spite of its limitations.

It is of course possible to have both and I have thought about getting a drysuit but I don't think I would ever bother to put in on and it won't do much good sitting in a locker.

You you have a drysuit and if so do you wear it on a regular basis?
 
bedouin said:
The downside of the dry suit is that you have to be wearing it - by the time the situation as developed to the stage where you are in the water, or about to enter the water - it is too late to put it on. So if the choice is either/or then I would go for the Liferaft in spite of its limitations.

It is of course possible to have both and I have thought about getting a drysuit but I don't think I would ever bother to put in on and it won't do much good sitting in a locker.

You you have a drysuit and if so do you wear it on a regular basis?
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I do indeed have a drysuit and so does my wife. In winder/spring she sometimes wears a regular Musto Ocean HPX two-piece suit, but it is very bulky, esp with the necessary thermal gear. I don't even have a trad heavy offshore suit and mostly wear lighter weight waterproof gear. When it's cold, I mostly wear a drysuit and find it much easier and less bulky for foredeck and mast work and easy enough to cool by opening it for a while.

In fact, I would suggest anybody thinking of cold offshore gear at least consider a drysuit - quite aside from its considerable safety benefits.

The only reservation is that a drysuit absolutely must fit properly.
 
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dom said:
I do indeed have a drysuit and so does my wife. In winder/spring she sometimes wears a regular Musto Ocean HPX two-piece suit, but it is very bulky, esp with the necessary thermal gear. I don't even have a trad heavy offshore suit and mostly wear lighter weight waterproof gear. When it's cold, I mostly wear a drysuit and find it much easier and less bulky for foredeck and mast work and easy enough to cool if one wants to open it for a while.

Safety aside, I would suggest anybody thinking of cold offshore gear at least consider a drysuit - quite aside from its considerable safety benefits.

The only reservation is that a drysuit must fit properly.
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Exactly. It is actually less bulky and more comfortable. I don't actually find an offshore drysuit much harder to fight on and fight off than my Musto Ocean HPX two piece suit. Partly because I don't have to decide what to do with the mid-layer salopettes vis a vis my nice boots...! The drysuit has a pair of cheap and cheerful ordinary seaboots, two sizes up. On the other hand the charm of the mid-layer HPX stuff is that you can wear it pretty much all the time and just add stuff. A 275 Kn lifejacket is definitely not "fit and forget"; the weight of the bigger bottle and the thickness of the bigger bladder means that you notice it all the time.
 
a. If it is taking you longer to put on a drysuit than an immersion suit, either it does not fit properly or you are not using it often enough. It should take no more than 2 minutes.
b. You wear it. That is the whole point. If you fall MOB there is zero chance an immersion suit will help.
c. You do not need to wear seaboots, which I hate. Any deck shoes work, since the socks are attached.
d. MUCH easier to swim and move in.
e. Inshore you can probably skip the PFD. They really float. You may still need a tether.
f. You will need neoprene gloves and hood to stay in the water long in extreme cold.

I wear one a good bit if some combination of:
* Solo
* Cold water
* Kayaking
* Raining or rough. More comfortable in some conditions than foulies if below about 45F, because more windproof and fewer underlayers.
* Racing. I don't need the damn hood (neoprene beanie or WR fleece balaclava).
 
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thinwater said:
a. If it is taking you longer to put on a drysuit than an immersion suit, either it does not fit properly or you are not using it often enough. It should take no more than 2 minutes.
b. You wear it. That is the whole point. If you fall MOB there is zero chance an immersion suit will help.
c. You do not need to wear seaboots, which I hate. Any deck shoes work, since the socks are attached.
d. MUCH easier to swim and move in.
e. Inshore you can probably skip the PFD. They really float. You may still need a tether.
f. You will need neoprene gloves and hood to stay in the water long in extreme cold.

I wear one a good bit if some combination of:
* Solo
* Cold water
* Kayaking
* Raining or rough. More comfortable in some conditions than foulies if below about 45F, because more windproof and fewer underlayers.
* Racing. I don't need the damn hood (neoprene beanie or WR fleece balaclava).
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I don't quite see how you have managed to misunderstand what I wrote so completely!

Where did the "immersion suit" come from? I was comparing a Henri-Lloyd offshore drysuit with Musto Ocean salopettes and jacket. These are what I believe you call "foulies". Where did I say it takes more than two minutes to put a drysuit on? What I was saying was that you can often put a drysuit on quicker than salopettes and jacket.

I happen to like wearing seaboots when it's cold. Yes, I do know that the "socks" are integral. I have a pair of wetsuit boots which I also use.

Yes, I know they float. But my elder son, a professional seaman, disapproves of wearing one without a PFD. Yes, I know how to burp it,

Yes, I have also heard of gloves and a hat.

"Two nations divided by a common language". But thank you for telling me what I already know.
 
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Minn said:
I don't quite see how you have managed to misunderstand what I wrote so completely!

Where did the "immersion suit" come from? I was comparing a Henri-Lloyd offshore drysuit with Musto Ocean salopettes and jacket. These are what I believe you call "foulies". Where did I say it takes more than two minutes to put a drysuit on? What I was saying was that you can often put a drysuit on quicker than salopettes and jacket.

I happen to like wearing seaboots when it's cold. Yes, I do know that the "socks" are integral. I have a pair of wetsuit boots which I also use.

Yes, I know they float. But my elder son, a professional seaman, disapproves of wearing one without a PFD. Yes, I know how to burp it,

Yes, I have also heard of gloves and a hat.

"Two nations divided by a common language". But thank you for telling me what I already know.
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I was not responding to you. I was not responding to any specific post. I just hit the wrong button. I fixed that, above.

See how simple!
 
I have a breathable Typhoon drysuit that I bought for winter canoe trips . I find it fine and comfy to wear EXCEPT the neoprene neck seal, which I soon get very ‘aware’ of, to the extent that I seldom wear it for yachting, though it is on board.
 
fredrussell said:
I have a breathable Typhoon drysuit that I bought for winter canoe trips . I find it fine and comfy to wear EXCEPT the neoprene neck seal, which I soon get very ‘aware’ of, to the extent that I seldom wear it for yachting, though it is on board.
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Dry suits come with seals that are intentionally too tight and are meant to be trimmed (sharp scissors). Divers like them snug, but sailors can be more relaxed, so long as there is some tension and no gap. You should NOT be "aware" of the seal.
 
T
thinwater said:
Dry suits come with seals that are intentionally too tight and are meant to be trimmed (sharp scissors). Divers like them snug, but sailors can be more relaxed, so long as there is some tension and no gap. You should NOT be "aware" of the seal.
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Yup, but take it in stages, 10mm at a time, as the seals cost a bit to replace! And do use some “seal saver” on them; not only does it make them last but it helps to get them on and off. And lubricate the zip with the right stuff, too.
 
I carry a Fladen flotation suit ( 2 piece ) for when it’s cold or for those overnight watches. It’s a little bulkier than my normal wet weather gear and it might not be the height of fashion as it’s really designed for fishing/workwear but is beautifully warm and should keep me warm in the briney for a while if I’m unfortunate enough to go overboard.
 
Praxinoscope said:
I carry a Fladen flotation suit ( 2 piece ) for when it’s cold or for those overnight watches. It’s a little bulkier than my normal wet weather gear and it might not be the height of fashion as it’s really designed for fishing/workwear but is beautifully warm and should keep me warm in the briney for a while if I’m unfortunate enough to go overboard.
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I've always been interested in those. The brands that sell in the US are stupid expensive (small cold water market) and the imported ones are nearly as bad after shipping.
 
fredrussell said:
I have a breathable Typhoon drysuit that I bought for winter canoe trips . I find it fine and comfy to wear EXCEPT the neoprene neck seal, which I soon get very ‘aware’ of, to the extent that I seldom wear it for yachting, though it is on board.
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I have a Typhoon drysuit. I put a small tear in it, so I sent it back to them. While they had it for repair I got them to adjust the fit of the neck, mine was slightly slack on me.
They took a small 'tuck' in the neck.
Unlike the latex seals, neoprene seals, (like thin wetsuit material) can be adjusted.
My expericence is that Typhoon are top people when it comes to after-sales. Give them a ring.
Alternatively, dive shops often do drysuit repairs, if there's a good one nearby it saves time and postage.

Also I've seen divers wearing a strange collar 'tube' malarkey between the seal and their neck, which apparently stops the edge of the seal cutting in.
 
For those who do carry/wear dry suits which style do you go for?

Seem to be 2 main options - those designed for kayaking / dinghy sailing that are simply a dry suit and those designed for sailing that have many of the features of oilies (hoods, pockets etc). Those strike me as being more cumbersome (I wear my ocean oilies as rarely as possible)
 
I used my kayaking ones as I already had them, they are cut slightly different from sailing ones but still very comfortable, the main difference in many is the position of the zip, some need help to put on, mine can just about be done on my own, shoulder to shoulder but takes some doing. The front zips are good but I find them uncomfortable with LJ on. Mine also has front and side chest pockets.
 
bedouin said:
For those who do carry/wear dry suits which style do you go for?

Seem to be 2 main options - those designed for kayaking / dinghy sailing that are simply a dry suit and those designed for sailing that have many of the features of oilies (hoods, pockets etc). Those strike me as being more cumbersome (I wear my ocean oilies as rarely as possible)
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Second hand Goretex Multifabs survival suit as worn by people travelling via helicopter to oil rigs. Vertical zip so quick to put on. Look after seals. Use zip lube. Had it for years. Still leak proof. Very comfortable to wear. Has one pocket only. Bright orange. Multifabs now owned by different company that makes suits for SAR etc etc. New ones cost loads and loads. Mine is older version of this one below. Mine has vertical zip. Quite difficult to buy them now. On ebay for about £100 now and again. (Bargain). The Goretex socks are great as fit trainers or boots.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Survival-One-Winchman-British-Army-RAF-RN-Drysuit-Immersion-Suit-Dry-XXL/113711354832?hash=item1a79b993d0:g:gHwAAOSwF8BcYaex
 
Praxinoscope said:
I carry a Fladen flotation suit ( 2 piece ) for when it’s cold or for those overnight watches. It’s a little bulkier than my normal wet weather gear and it might not be the height of fashion as it’s really designed for fishing/workwear but is beautifully warm and should keep me warm in the briney for a while if I’m unfortunate enough to go overboard.
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No deal for me:
"One of the criteria of the ISO 15027-1 test is that the wearer must not lose more than 2°C of their body temperature during one hour in 5°C water. The test result with the Fladen suit was 1.2°C."
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- means that a single hour and my body temp is 35.3°C. I want to be alive in 2 days if necessary...
 
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