Dart 15 Forums

Andrew Watson wrote:

The outer layer of fabric on the seat of my drysuit had a hole in it caused by sitting on the grippy hull topsides of my Dart 15. I started wearing a pair of shorts over the drysuit to protect it (I look a bit like superman without the muscles) but these have also worn through. Is this a common problem and does anyone have a solution? I wonder whether you can buy special pads/shorts to stop the problem?

Charles replied:

Andrew, you obviously find your Sprint so thrilling you can't sit still!

Wearing out your suit AND a pair of shorts sounds like some pretty serious abraision. I've gone through 1 pair of (old to begin with) canvas shorts in 3 years & so revently splashed out ?11 at Mattalan for a new pair. Liz Gall did comment at the TT this weekend how sartorially elegant I looked... not sure how she kept her face straight though!

You can get various sorts of hiking shorts which start at around ?30 if you want, try your local chandlers or one on the web.

Bob replied:

I thought your shorts were the last reminants of demob issue from the Army & Navy stores!

I reckon that after the sitting out needed at events like last Saturday at Draycote, that hiking shorts might be good for personal protection, not just drysuit protection. They might stop some sliding around too.

Does anyone use them already (over drysuit/wetsuit)?

(Ouch!)

My word, Robert - how did you dredge up this old item?
Cheers
Bob

PS I'm pleased to see I was as subtle in 2005 as I am in 2007!!!!

Easy process, Bob, as the search facility works well. I've concluded that hiking shorts must be for cissies as nobody has recommended them and there's no advice forthcoming, even from George Stephen (who usually has some good advice to offer).

I think I might try out some of the Magic Marine minimalist ones and hide them under my drysuit. Alternatively I could tape some carpet underlay to the backs of my thighs on extreme days - I'm just a bit of a wimp unfortunately and I shy away from the possibility of discomfort at first sight.

I've never known you as anything other than tactful and polite, Bob (in your own way, of course).

Cheers

Shredded Robert.

Robert, this must be your problem?

I'm pretty sure George was wearing hiking shorts at the Nationals, the ones with braces.

Tell me how you get on with the "minimalist" ones, not sure the beach babes will go in for them much though...

My main worry is that they will get torn off! (by the frantic activity whilst sailing)

Hi Charles - yes I have some hiking shorts similar to these:

http://www.purplemarine.com/store/produ ... _id=254372

I got them cheap in a sale, they are great for summer instead of a wet-suit.

Charles wrote:Robert, this must be your problem?

I'm pretty sure George was wearing hiking shorts at the Nationals, the ones with braces.

Tell me how you get on with the "minimalist" ones, not sure the beach babes will go in for them much though...

Charles wrote:Robert, this must be your problem?

I'm pretty sure George was wearing hiking shorts at the Nationals, the ones with braces.

Tell me how you get on with the "minimalist" ones, not sure the beach babes will go in for them much though...

Charles

It's not the boniness of my bum that's causing the problem, more the weight that my haunches have to support on the deck/hull join when I hike out for anything other than a short-ish period of time.

George

Thanks for the link. I've checked and they are out of stock in my size until mid March. Are they suitable for "under drysuit or over shortie wetsuit" use? Maybe the cheap Crewsaver ones might do this better? http://www.wesellcrewsaver.co.uk/produc ... -short.htm

Regards

Robert.

The ones that I linked to are suitable in place of a wetsuit in summer and just about are ok over a shortie in spring if I breathe in. In winter you will need to get something like the ones you have linked to that will fit over your sailing gear.

Rooster sailing make similar hiking shorts to the ones that I use. I only bought them as they were ?17 in a sale, so any make that is similar would be good. Laser sailers are increasingly wearing hiking shorts. Rooster shorts are popular with them.

I also find them useful when crewing an Albacore where I find the hiking position very uncomfortable!

Thanks George. I think I'm going to have to get my backside along to the shop to try some on and see what's best. Maybe I'll even find a sale.

Appreciate your help.

Robert.

I've invested in a pair of hiking shorts:

http://www.sailboats.co.uk/Product~Magi ... 63045.html

As I've found my drysuit rather baggy when hiking out sailing unarig - the crotch seems to ends up down by my knees or which I?m sure is not good either my sailing or the drysut. Being more used to sailing sports mode I?m used to the trapeze harness keeping it all tidy.

Mike

Might this result in the crotch and the shorts sailing half mast, or do you have some very strong blu-tak?

I'm quite envious of George's stretchy rubber ones.

Robert

(ps Let me know how you get on with them)