Waterproof waterproofs recommendation required

  • Thread starter Thread starter KAM
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Humm usually a good clothing manufacturer will re proof their clothing at a reasonable charge, plus give the clothing a once over and repairs where necessary, if ask to do so. You will then probably carry on /over with any guarantees given by the Manufacturer, which cannot be bad, eh ?
 
I have an old leaky set of Mustos and a newish set of Guy Cotten. In cold, windy, or occasionally showery conditions the Mustos are very comfortable. In lashing rain or breaking seas the Cottens are the business albeit sweaty and agricultural.
 
Back in the 70s I could not find a set of warm waterproofs & ended up in a Belstead motor bike jacket well waxed with a padded hood that my mother fixed on with buttons. Still the most waterproof jacket i ever had.
However, on one polar series I was crewing a UFO 34 at Burnham & myself & another crew turned up in odd gear. I had a duffel coat with string round the waist & my mate had wellington boots & a long overcoat that he used on the farm. The owner was gobsmacked. He complained that all the other crews waiting on Priors ramp had posh gear & we had rubbish kit.
"Sorry Don" I replied" It's too cold for thermal gear. This is duffel coat weather mate"
But we were warm. Takes a lot to beat the old fashioned duffel for warmth if you can get one
 
kalanka said:
I have an old leaky set of Mustos and a newish set of Guy Cotten. In cold, windy, or occasionally showery conditions the Mustos are very comfortable. In lashing rain or breaking seas the Cottens are the business albeit sweaty and agricultural.
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You beat me to it. That's exactly what I have decided to do. 4 years of buying specialist cleaners and proofers buys a real waterproof PVC jacket that should last years. I thought the Sea Storm at Gael Force looked the business.
 
My wifes Musto BR2 literally fell apart after 2 seasons use. Maybe only a dozen outings and the lining just turned to powder. Musto don't want to know - apparently one shouldn't expect anything to last longer than the warranty period! I will never buy Musto again.
 
JumbleDuck said:
My Guy Cotten stuff hasn't leaked since I bought it in 1989. It's a bit agricultural (aquacultural?) but by God it keeps you dry.
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+11111. Mine too. They have two grades. The deapsea fishing ones are are a stiffer PVC the yottie ones more flexible and available in white which ours are. bought ours from their factory outlet store in Concarneau which is always worth a visit. Got us breathable jackets too for street use, on sale for under £ 20 back then, in the bargains bin. Ours replaced top of the range Musto Ocean stuff that was too heavy, too hot and took too long to dry after use. the Guy cotton stuff can be hosed off with fresh water, given a quick shake, even a wipe and hung up to drip dry fast.
 
I have a breathable Typhoon Drysuit.
It is now 5 years old and has seen quite a lot of hard use racing, in RIBs etc.
It does now leak very slightly when I capsize.
Cost about £200, rrp was more like £300 though.
When it dies I will get another one.
Mine has no latex bits, it's fabric feet and neoprene cuffs and collar.
Latex seals may be better at sealing, but go bad in storage or fail drastically just before a windy race.
I wear an oilskin jacket over it sometimes, mainly for the hood/collar.
 
The other problem I see is all the top of the range trousers are bib and braces. If it looks like a light shower I usually grab the jacket first. If it gets heavier you then have to take off your life jacket and jacket to put on the bib and braces trousers. Then not only do you have all the jacket pockets round your waist with all the superfluous flaps and bits of fleece you also have a second set of pockets in the trousers again with flaps and fleece. Pretty uncomfortable and not very accessible by the time you have put a life jacket back over the top. Despite all the drain holes I suspect the pockets would be a hindrance in a MOB situation. I wonder if the RNLI still use Musto.
 
KAM said:
OK I have been very patient but my expensive Musto goretex waterproofs are just not up to the job. They have been a soggy mess most of the summer despite washing and nickwax. I went back to wearing my 1985 vintage neoprene mustos which worked much better but there are just too many linings and pockets and flaps and bits of fleece none of which are essential but all of which have to be dried out. I am looking for some proper non breathable PVC jobs like fishermen use. Lots on ebay and amazon but its difficult to work out what is what. Could someone recommend a reasonably cheap brand please.
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You mention Summer in this post there is a big difference in water getting in (Waterproof) and water getting out (Breathable) heavy waterproofs designed for open ocean sailing may just be too hot!!!! try some lighter inshore stuff or even an unlined jacket from the likes of sprayway North face etc for summer use
 
Daydream believer said:
Oh dear! i wish you had not said that as I have just spent 900 euros whilst in Holland on a set of Mustos.
My last set just suddenly died after 11 years really hard abuse & i found they worked as they should.
I just do not see the point in buying cheap gear that does not work- I have tried different makes over the years & found Musto to be the best
I did have a set of XM kit years ago that worked really well & i kept for working on moorings on the beach & still do not leak in spite of mud & paint attack
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It would be good to hear what kind of sailing the OP does £900 Mustos are not designed for warm weather inshore sailing they are designed to attract two types of sailor!!!

1} Those that sail in potentially heavy seas i.e. Ocean crossings, Southern Ocean, Cold Weather
2) Those with more money than sense
 
KAM said:
I presume the instructors kit was relatively new. The soggy mess was the jacket and trousers hanging in the cabin next to the heater many nights this summer. Its been a relatively wet one on the west coast of Scotland. The gore tex fabrics seem to absorb a lot of water and take a long time to dry. I think it would be much better to have a PVC set which could just be left to drain under the spray hood. Been using goretex from reputable manufacturers for climbing and skiing as well as sailing ever since it was invented I understand how its supposed to work but have been let down unpleasantly both sailing and on the hill on several occasions. Its just too fragile and have eventually come to the conclusion that it just does not last longer than a few months. I recently did a comparison with my old neoprene proofed very well worn musto jacket purchased in 1985 and found its performance far superior.
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From memory it was a couple of years old, but very, very well used.

I've used Gortex for decades both for sailing and as a member of a Mountain Rescue Team and apart from the extreme of extreme weather it has worked for me.

As Flaming suggests it might be worth sending it back to Musto for them to have a look at it, Gortex offer a lifetime guarantee on their fabric and I know a YMI sent a 10 year old jacket back to Musto and got a free replacement.

P.S. as an ex resident of Fort William I understand the rain in Gods Country. Devonshire has been pretty wet this summer.
 
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I found this old thread.

I haven’t bought oilskins for myself, other than a drysuit, for twenty years, having laid in a stock “off the back of a lorry, guv” when working in China.

I don’t think old style oilskins are a problem under way and sitting or standing in the cockpit. They are a huge problem if you exert yourself and then sit in the cockpit. Obviously this happens when one gets under way or when one does a sail change. One often sees people wearing salopettes and boots without a jacket when getting under way.

I seem to be sliding down the Musto slide; started with the base layer stuff, which is great, then added the mid layer. So far so good. I’ve got a Henri-Lloyd drysuit which is great if I fight my way into it before the boat starts chucking it aft. This seldom comes to pass.

I’m thinking that the Goretex mid layer stuff gives one a second shot at staying dry... looking at the prices of the top layer and thinking carefully...
 
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There are some very favourable reviews of the Decathlon waterproofs on this forum Minn. Marine gear without MPS (Marine Pricing Strategy).
 
We have now got Tribord 900 stuff from Decathlon. Half the price of the big brands and IMHO better made.
 
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