Foul weather gear...

[hellosailor]

Sea-rat, a lot depends on your budget. "Real" marine-sourced GoreTex foulies are going to cost a bloody fortune, easily $600 or more. Personally, I love GoreTex, but I started sailing (OK, not mid-Atlantic!) with a set of cheap foulies and after being cold and wet, soaking wet, once too often I went out and bought a top set of Henry-Lloyd foulies (bib pants and a float coat with chest harness) that fortunately were being cleared out on sale with a new line being introduced. Even then it hurt, and I said to myself at least I only have to buy them once.

These days I'm more likely to wear the GoreTex I bought from "camping" sources like REI and Sierra Trading Post. GT comes with different warranties and if you buy it, you want the "Extreme Wet Weather" top grade, with sealed seams, or it is worthless in a downpour. (Or storm at sea.) You can buy recreational GoreTex at a fraction of the marine price, typically $50-150 each for the pants and jacket if you buy them on sale. You won't get the same bright colors--which is a real safety issue if you go overboard, but then again, your PFD should be bright anyway. And you won't get the same waterproofing (good collar, iner wrist seals, etc.) unless you shop carefully. But there are some great bargains to be had there.

And fwiw my GoreTex works just fine in humid weather, as long as you are warmer inside the vapor pressure still pushes the moisture out. You'll still be hotter and more humid than you would be in cool dry wx...but I save the real foulies for real nasty wx, the GoreTex beats "plastic" every time in anything less. Particularly in hot humid summer weather.

If someone doesn't like the fact that my winter-weight foul pants are RealTree Camo pattern, I just tell 'em I'm duck hunting, do they want to see the shotgun or have fresh duck for dinner? At $50 instead of $200+, I can deal with it.

If your butt is warm and dry--you'll enjoy sailing. So by all means, get the best foulies your budget allows, however you do it. Start from the skin out--with polypropylene or other "wicking" underwear, even if that is only jockey shorts. Poly is about the only way to keep your skin dry--and that's important. Wool and silk also stay warm when dry, but they don't "wick" the moisture from your skin like poly does. Same thing with your pants and top, avoid cotton like the plague.

Any good camping supply can tell you about keeping warm and dry, and dress you from the skin to the final layer. What you choose for that final layer...you already have the options for. By all means if you can, TRY IT ON, don't just mail-order it. There is a huge difference in hoods and collars and how they fit and keep you dry. Worth way more than the premium you may have to pay to try it on and buy it locally.

[GordMay]

For really foul weather (even in the tropics) I like my Mustang Floaters, both jacket &
Suit.
Product Catalog :: Mustang Survival

Jackets: Mustang Survival Flotation Coats
Suits: Products :: Work Suits

[Weyalan]

Make sure you get breathable - I used heavy non-breathable (Musto offshore) for years, and recently got a set of breathable (Musto again), and I am just amazed at how much more comfortable I am.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by Seeratlas

Best foul weather gear is a pilot house. Second best is wool.

seer

On that note...Lee cloths around the lifelines of the cockpit.

[Lynx]

Take a look at these product -

Grundens - Quality Foulweather Gear

No hipe, just real work foul weather cloths.

[Nauticatarcher]

I love my " Nauticat" when it rains I just close the door, when it gets cold I turn the heater on, after 20 years commercial fishing I've been wet cold and miserable enough to know its not Fun

[Ex-Calif]

Nauticat - Do you have a website or a pointer to a Nauticat owners site. Your boat is definitely on my short list and I would love to lurk around with some owners.

Sorry for the brief hijack...

[Nauticatarcher]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Nauticat - Do you have a website or a pointer to a Nauticat owners site. Your boat is definitely on my short list and I would love to lurk around with some owners.

Sorry for the brief hijack...

There is a very active owners group on Yahoo
nauticat : Nauticat yacht owners and admirers
and also try
NauticatUSA

[Ex-Calif]

Thanks - Duly bookmarked...

[Seeratlas]

Originally Posted by Nauticatarcher

I love my " Nauticat" when it rains I just close the door, when it gets cold I turn the heater on, after 20 years commercial fishing I've been wet cold and miserable enough to know its not Fun

Hehehe, People that haven't sailed Pilot House boats before don't know what they're missing. But for any of you on the west coast currently, you can do a *test* run today . Find someone with a pickup and go sit in the bed in your foul weather gear while he drives you around for a few hours in that little squall you're having When that ceases to be fun, have him stop by the local doughnut shop grab some coffee and couple of jelly filled, then get in the cab, turn on the radio and the heater and see if you like it a little better heheheh.

Worst part is, its actually a pretty fair comparison.

really

seer

btw, it was a sail on Nauticat (I think a 43) in a drizzle that converted me in a hurry. NICE boats and worth every penny.

[David M]

Ever notice how the really expensive foul weather gear is pretty much the same as the moderately priced gear? That tells me something right there. West Marine is just as good as the "Ralph Lauren" brands.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by Seeratlas

Hehehe, People that haven't sailed Pilot House boats before don't know what they're missing. But for any of you on the west coast currently, you can do a *test* run today . Find someone with a pickup and go sit in the bed in your foul weather gear while he drives you around for a few hours in that little squall you're having When that ceases to be fun, have him stop by the local doughnut shop grab some coffee and couple of jelly filled, then get in the cab, turn on the radio and the heater and see if you like it a little better heheheh.

Worst part is, its actually a pretty fair comparison.

really

seer

btw, it was a sail on Nauticat (I think a 43) in a drizzle that converted me in a hurry. NICE boats and worth every penny.

I like the analagy but don't forget that you will have to get out of the pilothouse at some point so when you are finished with the jelly donut and still driving around have your friend throw the latch on the hood and then crawl out the cab window and raise the hood and then check the oil and put the hood back down. You'll probably want some foul weather gear for that.

[Nauticatarcher]

Originally Posted by Charlie

I like the analagy but don't forget that you will have to get out of the pilothouse at some point so when you are finished with the jelly donut and still driving around have your friend throw the latch on the hood and then crawl out the cab window and raise the hood and then check the oil and put the hood back down. You'll probably want some foul weather gear for that.

Yes but as it will be only for a short time I will be able to get buy with cheap gear as opposed to living in it for days on end

[sea-rat]

hey everybody, I just purchased my foul weather gear from West Marine: Home Page . I got the GILL Key West offshore jacket and its corresponding bibs. I figure I dont want the hugely expensive step up, the atlantic, because its just kind of too much. Anyways, that said, Im kind of in a bind about what boots to buy. I dont know of any popular boots you all buy, so any suggestions would be great. I dont want a pair of huge rubber beasts, just something that will go well with my gear and that will be adequate for my trans-atlantic trip.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sea-rat

what boots to buy.

I have always had Burke sea boots cos they are cheaper! About $40. But I think they are only Australian. Burke Seaboots
I notice on your Westmarine site theres some Gill boots for $49 US. Have a look at them.

I've always thought those boots that are a few hundred dollars are a joke... Now I find theres a pair for $450!!!!! Dubarry Fastnet Offshore Boot You'd look so pretty walking into the yacht club with those on! LOL

I reckon the $49 ones and if you want to splash out get 2 pairs then one set can dry while you wear the other and a few pairs of nice thick woolen socks

Toasty tootsies!!!