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When I was looking around to buy my Drysuit years back (its in need of replacement now when I get around to it) I had the following criteria:
1) The zip had to be positioned so I could zip it up myself without getting someone else to do it as with the shoulder fastening ones.
2) It had to have integral booties so my feet would remain dry
In the end the ideal one was a front fastening zip one made by Musto. It was one of the few then that had that but they seem to be all the rage now.
Great in the winter to keep me all nice and warm, bit damp inside since breathable fabrics weren't around much in the mid 90s but soon evaporates off when you take the suit off.
The only things that I didn't like were the tightness of the neck seals, you have to trim the seals to fit but you don't want to take too much off so in practice its just slightly too small for your neck.
The usual things that happened to my drysuit was the seals perished after a few years and you have to remove and reglue on replacements and if they aren't done right it leaks! I'll have to dig it out one day and have a review of whats needed to be done, ie new seals again.
I normally sail in the winter (well until the end of November) these days wearing little more than shorts\t-shirt and my waterproofs, can be a little chilly when you aren't doing a lot! I have capsized in a lake that was nearly frozen whilst sailing my laser wearing just the waterproofs (forgot the shorts & Tshirt!) and didn't really feel the cold.
Martin S.
Ex Sprint 15 Webmaster
Ex Seasalter SC Webmaster
RYA Regional Race Officer (South East Region) (Expired)
RYA Club Race Coach (Expired)
RYA Dinghy Sailing Instructor (Expired)
Alex
Having bought a dry suit last autumn I now won't be without one, though I tend to feel the cold, and have worn it a lot this summer with the poor weather.
I had a slightly different view than Martin in that I was happy with a zip at the back that I can't reach as I thought I would damage it less, it does mean when you come off the water and are desperate for the toilet you can be in a slight panic asking to be let out!
Being an odd shape and after trying on several, I got mine made to measure by Hammond, otherwise if it gets my body in the legs are miles too long.
If you do that then they fit the neck seals the correct size so no cutting, though they still can be a bit uncomfy, the plus is that even when you have had a swim in all you get inside is the condensation Martin mentioned.
Mine also has sailing boots attached which is great because you just slip the whole suit on as one and they are thick insulated boots so your feet stay toasty.
When I was buying mine and spoke to the people at Hammond they advised not getting a breathable one as they do not last as well, though they make them in either, and you get to pick the mixtures of colours you want!
Gordon and I both (totally independently) bought the same make of breathable drysuit - GUL. I think we were both more impressed by the price when compared to other makers, but I'm reasonably happy with mine. I find that I usually wear too much under the drysuit, and sweat up even though it's breathable.
Have a word around the Club on Monday - I'm hoping to turn up (sorry I didn't make it on Weds evening - I was too tired - something I have to ask one of my Cardiac Rehab people.....)
In July 2006, I thought I'd buy a drysuit for my forthcoming winter racing. I chose a bright red one. The supplier said, "Take it home with you and try it on. If you like it, you can buy it". This is what happened.
Now, if anybody remembers, July 2006 was in the midst of a heatwave. There was nobody else in the house at the time, so I carefully un-did the wrapping. I kept my day clothes on, as advised by the supplier, and slipped into the drysuit. However, the plastic zip was terribly obstinate. After much exertion and perspiration, I managed to draw the zip tight. Phew!
Phew again! It was bloomin' hot inside the wretched thing. It was like a diver's suit. I knew I had to get out of it, and quickly. I huffed and puffed, but couldn't shift the zip. I thought I was going to die of heat exhaustion. I rushed into the garage for some WD40, but then remembered I hadn't paid for the perishin' suit. I tried tying the zip to a nail in the garage wall, but that didn't work. The more I hurried about, the hotter I became.
I next rushed into the street to see if anybody could un-zip me. I must have looked a right sight in all that clobber during the heatwave. One chap laughed and said I looked like a pillar box! Eventually, some kind fellow gave the zip a wrench but broke it. I was relieved to get it off. I now see why it is important to wear your day clothes inside.
I decided not to buy, and returned the sweaty garment to the supplier. So if anybody owns a red drysuit with a broken zip fastener, you will know it has been previously worn by me!
Andrew,
TBYC.
Fading star of the Thorpe Bay fleet
Former rugby player in the extra-B
Struggling musician
Second best cabbage in the village show...
I wear a dry suit with front cross zip (Henry lloyd) for winter because it came with our 18 when we bought that and my old windsurfing steamer suit was rotting away and had holes all over.
Joan needed a new suit and again went for a steamer which we both prefer for winter having used them for years windsurfing. Whilst you do not keep entirely dry they are much better and warmer than wet suits per se. The main difference is that steamers normally have 5mm arms and legs whereas a lot of wet suits are 5mm body and 3mm limbs. The seals at limbs and neck are also better fitting on the steamer.
I find the dry suit is too cumbersome some of the time, especially when i am crewing Joan on the 18 and have my harness on and I also tend to put too much on underneath. The worst part I find is that it is my arms that tend to get cold as there is no internal insulation in the dry suit. In fact this year I have tended to use my removable wet suit arms (3mm) inside the dry suit so I can wear less on the body.
I have caught the dry suit a couple of times and made small tears that on a wet suit I could use the filler glue to repair. On the dry suit I have had to glue on rubber patches inside and outside of the hole and I am wary of the day I get a hole and fill with water and cannot get back on the boat. In 9 years I have had to replace the seals twice - it takes about 6-8 hours to do them and the cost works out at near a new summer wet suit. Once i caught the neck seal on the tiller and ripped it whilst tacking in high winds. i was very wary about capsizing after that in case I filled up!!
I would favour a steamer for winter and a lightweight wet suit with removable arms for real summer. Joan has been using her summer suit for about 6-8 weeks but has on occasion had to revert to the steamer over the last few weeks - I wonder why!!!
The good alternative is get a reasonable wetsuit with removable arms and buy a spray suit. You can then keep very warm in winter with the spray suit over the wet suit and quite a few of members do it that way. When I wear my wet suit on very windy days I use the spray suit top to keep out the cold and wet. This combination will work through most seasonal conditions. You can get neoprene socks to go on inside sailing boots to keep the tootsies warm. At least this way no risk of filling with water - but we always carry 'multitools' on our buoyancy aid belts.
The Dinghy Show in March is the ideal place to get all this kit but if your needs are more urgent ...............
Many thanks for the range of advice posted here with regard to a new drysuit - A Gul Force is on its way (something about preferring rear entry apparently....).
Should be delivered tomorrow and tested for size in my living room tomorrow evening - neighbours have been advised to ignore alien like apparitions eminating from our front windows late in the evening. I've also asked the missus to cool a bottle of champagne in the fridge and prepare herself for a wild night.....
