Wet suit

[Stemar]

I'm doing a dinghy sailing course over Easter. It's in Portsmouth Harbour, so the water will be COOOLD. I have of course no intention of going in, but....

I have a survival suit which would be ideal, except that it covers my feet - and footwear - and I'm a bit concerned that I might not be as sure footed in that as I might need, so I was thinking about getting a wetsuit. A wander round eBay suggests that a dry suit is well out of my price range, but a wetsuit seems affordable. Would I be better off with a full length or short leg job, and is there anything I should particularly look out for?

The budget is, shall we say, limited - more accurately, non-existent, and use afterwards is likely to be limited.

 

[2Tizwoz]

Perhaps you would find a dry suit more useful in the future?

Trident's web page has FAQs about dry suits

I've always found them most helpful.

What to look for secondhand

 

[masaccio]

Full length arms and legs, 3mm neoprene, ideally with reinforced (non-slip) knees and bum. Ones made specifically for dinghy sailing or Jet Skiing are ideal, but probably rather more expensive than a bog standard wetsuit.

 

[aitchw]

Problem is at this time of year you really need a full suit and preferably 5mm or 3mm with titanium. Try Jag wetsuits , mine has been excellent (4 years old now) though I only use a shortie with a dinghy coverall and decent dinghy boots.

 

[snowleopard]

Have you checked whether the school has wetsuits for hire? Buying one that won't be used again seems wasteful.

 

[Slow_boat]

I second the suit should be more than 3mm. I've got a 3mm full length for summer surfing but remember that modern wetsuit aren't windproof. It can be cold when not in the water, wear a cheep windproof over the top.

 

[Topcat47]

Done it often. You can usually get away without the wetsuit except for the capsize drill (I've done one on every dingy course so far). I borrowed one for that. The trick was to don it in the hot showers. We then hung about like drowned rats waiting for our turn ( we all used the same boat). Once completed it was back off to the showers to get out on the now cold wet gear and into something warm.

Any full length one will do at a pinch, with a rugby top and a set of waterproofs on top, it's fine. If you plan to compete with a dingy, by all means buy the best you can afford, but if you intend to stick to your cruiser after this, buy the cheapest set you can if you can't borrow one. Under your cruising gear it'll be OK.

A "silly" hat is a must.....a woollen "bobble" hat or something similar...NOT a bog-standard baseball cap, although my HH fleece lined one would be OK. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[2Tizwoz]

This post covers pretty cheap breathables

 

[Talbot]

if you do go for a wet suit. make sure that you have a windproof top that you can wear over the wet suit. The coldest period is after you get out of the water. the wind will wick water away and also evaporate some from the wet suit (unless you have the wind proof top.

evaporation = cold

 

[nyx2k]

i have a xl wetsuit with the neoprene gloves, hat and shoes. you are welcome to borrow it for a few days. its kept me plenty warm in january body boarding in cornwall before now.. im in southend so not far from london..im 13-14 stone and its a tight fit for me..
regards nick

 

[Spyro]

I used to windsurf all year round. At the this time of year the water is as cold as ever. I would go for one piece 5mm body with 3mm arms and legs for flexibility. Blind stitched, single lined with rear entry zip. You can get them with reinforced knees and elbows. Single lined means it does not have the evaporation and cooling effect that Talbot refers to.

 

[ex-Gladys]

At this time of the year you need to go for a "steamer" 5mm Wetsuit. Anything else will be cold. Water is at its coldest this time of the year.

 

[michaelh]

E wetsuits do a dry suit for £175 which is cheap for a dry suit. have no idea of the quality but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has one of these.

 

[Stemar]

Thanks for all the advice.

I've just ordered one that seems to meet the suggested needs - 3mm with 5mm chest and back. Apart from capsize drill, I expect to be able to wear something warm and windproof over the top.

I'll report back afterwards to say whether I think I got a deal or a dog!