It's gonna start getting colder, and my wife and I are considering various kinds of formal attire (wet suits, dry suits, birthday suits, etc. ) to take us through the cold season. So far we've made do with swimming suits (and informal T-shirts).



Will a wet suit or a dry suit persuade my wife that it's still romantic and fun to sail through the cold weather, or should I plan on giving up as it gets colder? What kind of wet suit or dry suit should we consider? Is the money for the fancy things really justified, or are there cheaper options?



Jonathan

Just travel to S. Florida to sail in the winter. You don't need directions, just follow the geese :P

Wetsuits are good, but when they're wet, and you're moving along at a good clip, the evaporative cooling can be uncomfortable. I found that a good "spraysuit" over top of a wetsuit can be a good solution (in the spring), or just a spraysuit by itself, if the water is warm but the air is not (fall). I have a one-piece version, but they're now also available in two-piece versions2. In Murray's Marine catalog, theyare called "wind top" or breathable semi-dry top and breathable chest-high pants, on p8.

That all depends on where you are? Here in Houston/Galveston a spray top with fleece under and shorts will suffice for most of the winter. However, I have sailed in much colder conditions, and I will tell you this: DON'T SAIL IN JUST A WETSUIT!!! You will hate yourself for it. A wetsuit with spray suit over it is fine. There is nothing worse than the evaporative cooling effect a wetsuit has when it's already in the 40's.



I tend to feel that unless the water you are sailing in is REALLY cold, skip the drysuit. They are too much trouble and, I feel, offer a sense of false security. What if you have a leak you didn't know about and your suit starts to fill up during an extended time in the water? How are you going to get back on the boat carrying that much water? Don't get me wrong, with care and a keen eye a drysuit is a very valuable tool in cold weather. From personal experience, everytime I have worn one, I was wishing I had just worn spraysuit with fleece (my favorite).



Just some thoughts from a fair weather sailor.

How long can you stay immersed in the waters you are sailing in safely before hypothermia sets in? I'd also use a "when" not an "if" mentality about dumping the boat if the water temps are cold to frigid. If I fall into Lake Michigan in the middle of August, so what. When I fall into Lake Michigan in mid May or late September, I'd better be prepared.



My $0.02 worth



P.S. I am budgeting for drysuits for next season.

I think it all depends on your latittude.



Down here in Southeast Texas, A 3 mm wetsuit and spraysuit will get you through the winter. Water temp and air temp should be considered for safety sake........

Well, I live in North Carolina. The air temperature in January is between 28 and 50, averaging about 40. The water seems to get down to about 40 degrees. So what do I need for that kind of weather?



Let me be clear about my level of ignorance - what is the difference between a wet suit and a dry suit?



Jonathan

A wet suit works by trapping a layer of water next to your skin and letting it warm to your body's temperature and act as insulation. It always fits skin-tight, and comes in thicknesses; typical light ones are 2-3 mm, standard is 5 mm, and 7 mm is heavy. They work well in colder water and warmer air; there is no evaporative cooling while you are in the water, and once you are back in the warmer air/sun, the cooling is actually beneficial.



When it's sure-nuff cold, a drysuit is the only way to go. It actually keeps you dry, and most are quilted or lined for warmth as well. They do not fit skintight, and are better for really cold water temps and cold air conditions.



Spray- or semi-dry suits are similar to raincoat material; never quilted but sometimes with thin lining. They are meant to keep the wind off, and work really well in cooler air/warmer water situations as well as for an outer layer over a wetsuit, to cut down on wind-induced evaporative cooling.



hope this helps; I sail in Texas and own a shorty wetsuit and a full body spray suit as well as a spray top. First line of defense is the spray top over a t-shirt; next line would be spray top and shorts over the wetsuit, then spray suit over wetsuit, then I suppose spray suit over fleece over wetsuit...then it's too damn cold for me, and you can go sailing by your own self if you're that crazy! of course, water temps in the 40 are not something I have experienced, and my yacht club (mostly monodulls, admittedly) will not start a race if windchill is below freezing.



good luck, and

sail fast

Being from Texas, I'm not by any means an authiority on the subject of cold water. But here are my opinions:



A wet suit allows water to enter the suit. The water is trapped between the neoprene and your body, and is then warmed by your body. The neoprene and trapped water act as insulation. (purely my definition, flame suit is on). A wet suit does not provide protection for extreme cold temperatures (my guess, less than 50 degrees).



A dry suit does not allow water to enter the suit. The suit acts as insulation. A dry suit provides protection for colder water and, with extra undergarments, extremely cold temperatures.



Here in Texas, our average water temp are in the high 50's and our air temps are in the 40-60 range.



I've been using different compinations of a 3mm wet suit, Gill Breathable Spray top, Gill Breathable Spray bottoms, neoprene booties and Gloves. Depending on conditions (the colder it gets), I'll layer the wet suit and spray suit.



As stated earlier, coming from Southeast Texas, I'm definately not a great source for this type of information. Just my '$0.02'.

i see you live in rtp. i'm down here in charleston. although the climate here is warmer winter sailing is a challenge. man vs. sea. now that's romantic as is gets. i am origonally from greensboro and have been here a year. i sailed all winter on weekends mostly. being from the piedmont, i mtn. biked quite alot. i found myself wearing my winter biking stuff. and skiing stuff, tights, fleece and gortex, anything that is not cotton works great with an outer shell of gortex. last winter the harbor got down to 55 degress or so. i never really cold but the hands and feet get cold first. this winter, i will spend my $ on warm gloves and boots. your wife, if she has any sense about her, will not go with you, so make sure you have dependable ship to shore communication. !

Here is a girl’s point of view.

If there is wind, the air temp is 60 or below, and the water is below 70 degrees, I can guarantee you that I could not be persuaded that “it's still romantic and fun to sail through the cold weather”, unless of course I was wearing a dry suit.

Seriously though. If you are serious about cold water sailing, I’d go for the dry suit.

Most men, including my skipper, are perfectly content sailing with a wet suit with a spray suit or spray top overtop, in colder weather. But I can attest that that gear would never cut it for most women.

Once we get cold, we get cranky. And you know what happens then. Besides, the best part about sailing with a dry suit on is when you get back to shore and peel out of it you are totally dry – no standing around shivering.

Be smart – get the dry suit! And make it a Goretex one.



Tracie

Hobie Tiger 942

Tracy wrote:



"Once we get cold, we get cranky. And you know what happens then."



You know, I can't answer that with a "yes" or a "no" without getting into trouble!



But thanks for the response - it won't be romantic unless my wife agrees it's romantic ;->



Jonathan

Hi Paul,



I'm not sure I'd have a so what attitude about falling into Lake Michigan at any time of year! Unless your in a shallow bay. I'm sure somewhere you can look up the average tempurature of that lake, and will find that it ain't warm at any time of year.



Heck, as long as the water is significantly colder than you are, it can zap your energy in a big hurry. I found that out by sailing on Lake of the Woods in mid-August.



The morale, at the least in big water, always wear a shorty!



Fair winds,



Tim

As usual it is user preference. We have cold water and warm air in Texas so I like to wear a shorty and then cover it with nylon pants and jacket to keep the water off and still be cool if the sun comes out. If I had the money for a dry suit I probably would buy one cause they keep air and water off and some have vents for coolness.

if however you end up in the water without your boat for a while you better have a wetsuit on.

I also live in N.C. on the Outer Banks. I sail year around with a Gore-tex drysuit. They are pricey but if you buy one that's not gore tex, as I did, and then try one that is you'll kick yourself for not spending the extra dough. I've got 5 seasons including 4 Worrell 1000s on my Kokotat and have only had to replace the seals once.

The goretex keeps the sweat from building up inside the suit, but you should still where poly-pro long underwear (for wicking) and if it's real cold fleece under the suit. after you get used to the suit it's actually way more comfy than a wetsuit.

Hope this helps,

Todd A. Hart

Hey Tim!



While I would never call Lake Michigan warm, the mid to late summer months are at least bearable. Prevailing winds tend to push all the warm surface water to my side of the lake. Racine is rather Shallow, too. The point I wanted to make to the gentleman asking the original question is... Wear what it takes to survive if you encounter disaster. We wear wetsuits even when the water is 72°. I am always very concious of water temperature. If I don't want to swim in it wearing a wet suit, I won't sail in it either. Simple rule for survival. I am sure there are some general guidelines for exposure available on the internet. I'll bet the Coast Guard would be happy to answer questions as well.



P.S. If I ever did sign up for the LOWISA, it would be based upon my possession ot drysuits for both me and crew.