What dinghy sailing clothing to wear

[Fire99]

Dinghy sailing has fixed costs for me of a few hundred a year

I think that's the crux of the issue. To some, that's as much as they spend on everything, in total. (And probably still get much of it back when they sell the boat)

Decent comfortable buoyancy, cheapy wetsuit and maybe some dinghy boots (for about 20 quid) if you're feeling flush.

100 quid of gear at the worst.

 

[Quandary]

I am with Lw395 and I do not think he deserves the stick he is getting for responding from the dinghy sailors perspective, but the OP will know who he wants to heed.
A couple of years ago I was involved in a club teaching kids to sail ín Picos, at the same time I was taking their parents who came down with them (mainly the mums) out in my Laser 13 which is a heavy, old fashioned, high freeboard, dry and stable dinghy; to avoid intimidating my customers who mainly turned up in shore clothes I left the wet suit at home and wore just shorts, a rash vest and a spray top, I was often cold after only about an hour perhaps because the sailing was upright and sedentary and I limited the sessions for each crew to half an hour or so on cooler evenings, so that my customers were not put off, and this was in summer. Those kids in the Picos who had fitted wet suits etc were able to stay out longer, enjoyed pushing it more, gained confidence much faster because they enjoyed a capsize and went forward with real enthusiasm. As organisers of training we have to address risk and one of the biggest is hypothermia.
When our own children started in dinghies we let them use any clothing they thought suitable including a home cut wetsuit but as soon as one of them really got in to it competitively we made sure he had a wet suit and a good dry suit. Many years later he is just back from crewing on the winning boat in the Sigma 33 championships and the Irish Nationals. With growing youngsters you do have to balance the cost against the years that it will fit, but as a parent you have to protect your kids.
So if the OP is serious about his new hobby he will get a lot more out of it and enjoy it for much longer if he has decent gear, of course if he only intends to go out for the odd hour on sunny afternoons once a month in summer nearly anything will do, but I suspect he is more keen than that or he might not have asked.

 

[Fire99]

So if the OP is serious about his new hobby he will get a lot more out of it and enjoy it for much longer if he has decent gear, of course if he only intends to go out for the odd hour on sunny afternoons once a month in summer nearly anything will do

I think the point is that this hasn't been discovered yet, by the OP, so a bit of middle ground is IMO the best route. Cheap wetsuit, decent buoyancy aid etc. Drysuits and all that malarkey are expensive and to be honest many very serious dinghy sailors don't wear em.

You wan't to stay warm and safe from the word go but on the other side of the fence, you don't want to promote the idea that to sail any dinghy, you have to spend a fortune on additional kit.

 

[jontifosi]

What a fantastic response thanks all.
I only intend to be a fair weather sailor (for now), especially as i'm building up my sons confidence. I don't want to fork out a fortune either.

So think i'll get two sets of long johns 2-3mm and some kind of windproof top, it looks like the tops are going to be the expensive bit.

If we really take to it then we'll get some more serious kit later.

any tips on tops?

 

[Fire99]

any tips on tops?

I bought a Typhoon waterproof spray top, which I wear over my wetsuit, for £35 on Ebay. As good as any other and with that combo, I was perfectly warm.

 

[Hazeltine]

Haven't you lot hear of fashion? All you need is the full zhik range, nice, durable and overall top quality

 

[Fire99]

Haven't you lot hear of fashion? All you need is the full zhik range, nice, durable and overall top quality

Clearly not. 'Zhik' ? Are you speaking English? haha

 

[Hazeltine]

Only the biggest clothing brand in skiffing

 

[Fire99]

Only the biggest clothing brand in skiffing

So you're saying 'Swimwear by Mr Byrite' isn't cutting edge then?

 

[Hazeltine]

I think you can answer that one yourself

 

[Fire99]

That said, on a slightly serious note, I've always been a little conscious that I'd rather be a good sailor with naff gear rather than looking like a Fast-net pro but sailing like i've forgotten to to fit the rudder.

 

[Hazeltine]

Oh yeah definitely, it's better to be good sailor with rubbish than be fully kitted out like a pro with a new boat and be useless, it's just embarrassing

 

[trapezeartist]

Jeez, guys! They've just bought a Topper to play with - why would they want to spend gazillions on Olympic class gear?

Because the water is just as cold, whatever dinghy you're sailing!

My steamer wetsuit cost me about £120 and lasted seven years of hard sailing nearly every weekend. That's hardly gazillions, is it?

I just think the OP is far more likely to enjoy his new boat if he is warm and comfortable.

 

[Lakesailor]

Goodness.
Have any of you read the thread?

No-one is saying go out in budgie smugglers.

I and others have said get a cheap wet suit. Do you think they are so much poorer than an expensive one? The OP has said he doesn't want to spend much.

It isn't a one-chance-or-die situation. You go out and if you find you're a bit chilly you stop and get a bit more gear.

I used to have friend who bought the best of everything for anything he fancied having a go at. Wardrobes full of once-worn gear.

 

[Hazeltine]

Sounds like a nice salary then

 

[trapezeartist]

I and others have said get a cheap wet suit. Do you think they are so much poorer than an expensive one?

In a word: yes. I had a cheap old wetsuit when I started sailing, before I bought the nice steamer. Chalk and cheese.

In life in general, I've been guilty of buying too cheap much more often than I've bought too expensive. I'm still trying to find the right balance.

 

[Iain C]

No doubt I'm one of the ones coming in for a bit of stick with my sailing wardrobe I mentioned. However I don't care...there is nothing worse than wearing unsuitable kit for the job IMHO.

However just because I have "branded" kit does not mean I don't look for a bargain. The most expensive bit of kit I own is an MPX drysuit...£199 from Bicester Village (RRP £500) and if it means I can sail when there's ice in my boat, why not? Shortie...£15 from a bargain bin at the dinghy show. Wooly bear...chucked in the deal from a previous drysuit that expired. Spare 3mm...about half RRP as it was "last years colours" from SIBS if I remember rightly. Summer gloves? Showa builders gloves at £4 a pair. Lond sleeve rashie? £15 from SLAM in Cowes as it had a biro mark down the front.

 

[Fire99]

No doubt I'm one of the ones coming in for a bit of stick with my sailing wardrobe I mentioned. However I don't care...there is nothing worse than wearing unsuitable kit for the job IMHO.

However just because I have "branded" kit does not mean I don't look for a bargain. The most expensive bit of kit I own is an MPX drysuit...£199 from Bicester Village (RRP £500) and if it means I can sail when there's ice in my boat, why not? Shortie...£15 from a bargain bin at the dinghy show. Wooly bear...chucked in the deal from a previous drysuit that expired. Spare 3mm...about half RRP as it was "last years colours" from SIBS if I remember rightly. Summer gloves? Showa builders gloves at £4 a pair. Lond sleeve rashie? £15 from SLAM in Cowes as it had a biro mark down the front.

There are lessons to be learnt from everything and what I have picked up from your post is....... I think you should buy all my sailing gear for me .. Some good deals there

 

[Jamesuk]

Just bought topper topaz, wondering what my son and i ought to wear whilst sailing it? Long john Wetsuit 2 or 3mm? and some sort of jacket?
where to buy?

Hi.

We sell a number of wetsuits from Gill for adults and children. Helly Hansen Buoyancy aids are very popular as they are a low cost quality item. Perfect for Topaz sailing. As for the jacket have a look at Spray tops, Some people will also buy trousers too but most I remember just wore shorts over the wetsuit.

Give Richard a call in the office to advise you further. 01983 812 879.

To give a bit of balance, have a look at Rooster sailing they have some good stuff for the serious racers, I bought a few bits from them for my Nephews Topper.

You also might want to buy an Under Armour (My new favourite brand) recovery suit too, when I think back to when I went sailing with my Dad, he needed a week to recover Although he chose not to wear a wetsuit and fell in.

I hope this helps and Enjoy your day.

Spray top - http://www.marineandoutdoorclothing.co.uk/mens-c1/jackets-c6/gill-dinghy-spray-top-p77

Wetsuit - http://www.marineandoutdoorclothing.co.uk/mens-c1/wetsuits-and-drysuits-c19

Buoyancy aid - http://www.marineandoutdoorclothing.co.uk/search/aid

Recovery suit - http://www.marineandoutdoorclothing.co.uk/search/recovery

 

[Searush]

What a fantastic response thanks all.
I only intend to be a fair weather sailor (for now), especially as i'm building up my sons confidence. I don't want to fork out a fortune either.

So think i'll get two sets of long johns 2-3mm and some kind of windproof top, it looks like the tops are going to be the expensive bit.

If we really take to it then we'll get some more serious kit later.

any tips on tops?

Here we go again; if you must have "proper sailing gear" you will pay proper sailing prices . But for windproof jacket almost any waterproof cagoule style jacket will do.

I have used old Peter Storm jackets quite often - you'll find something in a charity shop for buttons. It doesn't even need to be waterproof does it? There will be no elasticated cuffs or collar, but a rubberband on each wrist & an old towel or nappy* round your neck will do the same job.

Different situation if you are spending hours on the water, or possibly racing where there isn't the choice to go back to shore for a hot drink & a warm up from time to time.

I go swimming in just a pair of shorts, but in UK waters & summers like this one I'll not be in the water more than 15-30 mins. Summer sailing for an hour at a time doesn't need sophisticated kit - it really doesn't!

* top tip; old bar towels or nappies (the traditional washable towelling ones ) cut in half & sew end to end make superb toweling scarves for any type of sailing, there's nothing worse than cold water running down your neck when everything else is reasonably warm & dry!