Choosing The Perfect Dry Suit For Sailing

[@marcdaigle1163]

Dave's Dry Suit Hemming Co., might be in your future, says Yoda....😃

[@fat_tommo_goes_boating]

I have been surfing in a suit after a wedding. Dry suits are great 😊

[@SailingWithDave]

Yes, defintely keep you warm and dry. I'm desparately trying to get on the sea again now, maybe next week on the Neaps, but the weather is questionable, so probably drysuit weather!!

[@fat_tommo_goes_boating]

@SailingWithDave yes I know, down here, the only day it isn't meant to rain is Saturday and that's the only day I have firm work in I can't move, bleeding weather!

[@SailingWithDave]

@@fat_tommo_goes_boating Yeah, this season has been a wash out for me. Toital wash out to be honest. Not even sure what the channel will be like. Holidays have all been on Neaps so missed those weeks, Everything else its either been raining hard, blowing too hard or Northerlies or westerlies which are a blummin pain for Anglesey. Trying to plan a trip now for next week. Been planning an Anglesey circumnav for months now but its so stubbornly NW/NNW its unbelievable. Also raining a few days and rain on an open sail boat is not great if its set in. It can really get to you after a while!!

[@fat_tommo_goes_boating]

@SailingWithDave you are not the only one. Mind you I haven't had any holidays at all this year, ony been on the boat for the odd night

[@gavinbooth3649]

Dave - absolutely brilliant little video. Loads of info - helped me with my choice of drysuit. I went for the multi sport 4 2.0 currently £314 in marine superstore. All sizes in stock and managed to go into the store,so tried lots of different sizes on. Just need to get a fleece. Would you wear the thermal suit over your clothes. I normally wear tracksuit bottoms and sweatshirt but find that the sweatshirt rides up while I pull the suit up. Can’t wait to give mine a try. Thanks again for the video- happy sailing 😃

[@SailingWithDave]

Many thanks for that. So glad it helped. I haven't worn the inner fleece yet. Used it as a pillow a few times on the boat but thats it!! I've worn the suit once in the spring and then it was a bit too hot!! Hopefully when it gets a bit colder i'll give it a wear. One thing I noticed was that the neck is way too tight for me. Gives me a sore throat after about 2 hours so I need to trim the latex a bit.

[@JagoWilson]

What buoyancy aid/ life jacket will you use on your adventures? Buying a dry suit was a great idea! No more peeling off a soggy wetsuit! 😂

[@SailingWithDave]

Yes, I think it is a needed item, although it is a bit hot to wear when not in the water!!! There is string debate over using an inflatable life jacket (ILF) V a Bouyancy aid (BA). I am a BA convert to be honest. I think sailing a dinghy solo, you need to be able to manouvre and at least try to right your dinghy or indeed get on top of it if turtled to wait for help. I htink doing that with an ILF is not possible. If I had a bigger boat or was part of a crew where you could wait for assistance then an IFL may be the best option. Thats my 2 penneth anyway!! I do get a new BA for 2024 season. Its really good and has lots more pockets for things so is very useful. Its slightly larger too so keeps my big old body more bouyant. I bought the NRS Chinnok OS.

[@Spud63]

being that i started off sailing on the sea on fast cats a drysuit was the only way to go for me , you are contantly being drenched with water that can only be described as being in a washing macj=hine, on the lugger i went sallapettes and dry top or wetsuit and dry top if it was summer , with the dry suit you have to be very carefull u dont get pin holes where u can get small leaks , i had an incident on the d zero where my suit legs had unknown to me filled enough that when i capsized i couldnt reach up enough out the water to the dagger board , with that i cut the socks off just so i could still use it to keep warm , no safety boat that day and i would have been a goner for sure

[@SailingWithDave]

Yes, I understand that about the holes. You have to be very carful of dry suits, especially the socks. In a way not the best thing for a dinghy. My issue with any clothing is the fact that the Lugger is essentially "dry" so its in effect a small yacht. That makes shorts/tshirt or at least salopettes and coat the OK choice, However it can swamp or capsize so the right choice is dry suit. I do wonder though that a drysuit will be too hot to wear if perfect for in the water. I have foiund getting the clothing mix very hard.

[@Spud63]

@@SailingWithDave i guess itsa case of dress to the weather and is it on the sea , if it can be rough then drysuit , if its calm not , if too hot in calmer conditions you can always drop the top part and be more comfortable on most yachts crew are changing acordigly , carry both or 3 juist incase , with a cabin boat its a no brainer , carry for all weathers, its the only way forward than open boat and risk to swamping , but tyhen sail acordingly but exppect the unexpected

[@christophe6065]

Thank you for this video. I'm wondering what happens with a dry suit if you have to row for one or two hours ? (it can happen on a sail and oars boat). What about sweat ?

[@SailingWithDave]

Well Chris, I think you understand the conundrum of clothing on a dinghy. The Lugger is designed to not be wet whilst sailing, Lime say a laser or dart 16.so a wetsuit isn't the order of the day. So you turn to the dry suit which is definitely more appropriate, however you do get hot in them. So I agree, that a bout of rowing would have you working up a sweat in the summer months. Unlike a canoer who at least has the water splashing up to give a bit of cold relief. It's the same with dressing for when dry or if dropped in the sea. The dry suit may be the right kit, should I capsize and need to wait for help, but what if it's too hot to wear on board?