Foul weather gear

[gambol]

Hello all,

I'm thinking about getting back into blue water. I need some foul weather gear-- jacket, pants, etc.

I'm not particularly interested in shelling out $500 (or more) on the gear (though I will if I have to).

I have read/heard that people buy high quality outerwear from other sports (i.e. moutnaineering) or find other ways to get basically the same quality at much lower cost.

Any ideas? If I were to buy something from REI or equivalent, what is a good example of something you think is adequate for a range of weather and sailing (as a cruiser).

thanks much.

[delmarrey]

I believe the high end marine stuff is designed more to breath and dry out a bit faster. The stuff at REI isn't really that much cheaper and it comes in more outdoorsie colors.

Plus, on the marine stuff they have rubber and/or velcro cuffs to keep the water from running down the sleeve while working overhead (handling lines/rigging).

[Pblais]

I'm not particularly interested in shelling out $500 (or more) on the gear (though I will if I have to).

I've been doing foul weather gear since 1979. The good stuff can cost that much. There is a reason. It lasts - it works.

We just bought some at last years Annapolis Boat show. Gill Key Key West pants and jackets. Little did we know we would use them bringing the boat home in late October a few weeks later. 25 knots gusting to 40 knots. The stuff may have save my marriage. My wife get cold at the thought of getting cold. She was warm. It paid for itself.

I was a mountaineer for a lot of years before sailing and I learned the meaning of being cold and wet. There is no worse feeling than being cold and wet. Buy the good stuff and pray you never have to test the limits of what it is good for.

[Auspicious]

REI and similar outdoors / sports stores are a good source for long underwear to use under marine foul weather gear. I've got medium and heavy weight synthetic. The medium underwear, a sweater, and Gill Offshore foulies kept me warm and comfortable in the Skagerrak Strait and North Sea in April 2006 and during lots of winter sails on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomoc River last winter.

Get good socks also. <grin>

[Pblais]

Get good socks also. <grin>

Boots too!

[Weyalan]

If you aren't afraid to eBay, there have been some great deals on musto & henri lloyd pants... I bought a set of the coastal pants for less than $100 including postage, and they are great. I always had the old style non-breathable stuff and the difference with breathable is almost unbelievable.

[Pblais]

The breathable stuff is clearly wonderful. They work well with cold weather too. I started with the b=mountaineering stuff back in 1979 when it first came out the new stuff is even better and the marine stuff is better than that when you are comparing the top end stuff. The basic Gortex membrane technology has been well demonstrated for more than 25 years but the design, construction and the specifics on the various laminated fabrics varies greatly.

We also have some really cheap gortex jackets and pants from Bass Pro (complete with hideously ugly logo's) that are nice but only in fair weather. It was $69 for pants and $69 for jackets on sale. It's not the same as the better marine clothing but you need light weight stuff in addition to heavy serious weather gear. Details like the fit of the hood are only really nice in the better gear. You need a lot of adjustment ability in the hood to be able to see and stay dry. You can spend a lot of money on good foul weather gear. You could say hey we are going to low latitudes and won't need them, but when you need them, if you need them you'll be glad to have them.

[GordMay]

We were surprised at how often we used our Mustang© Floater coats and suits whilst in the Bahamas. In fact, we almost always wore them, for warmth, during night crossings.

[bill good]

Guys, I would like to see if anyone has had trouble with henri lloyd jackets? I have found the yellow behind the head & other spots has "broken down" loosing the water proofing. The supplier offered the advise suncream may have caused it. I did point out that the chance of suncream & wet weather gear getting together was slim to say the least but got no help. I noted only the yellow material was effected. has anyone had like experence?

Regards Bill Goodward

[dkall]

Just picked this up in Project BlueSphere - A solo circumnavigation & video documentation of the globe. "It wasn't more then 10 minutes before my "breathable" $500 gill fowlies were soaked threw. I never did like them and they have never kept me dry!!! "

Thought it fitting here

[Moonchaser2304]

"It's not the same as the better marine clothing but you need light weight stuff in addition to heavy serious weather gear"

I agree...the only times I've needed TRUE foul weather gear, I've been able to borrow somone's extra one onboard...BUT for my recent trip to the Pacific NW to transport a boat, I bought a Marmot "membrane" (like Gortex) coat. It was under $100 at Sun and Ski sports. I looked all over all the typical places to look, West Marine, Bass Pro, Boat stores etc..and our sports store at the mall had the best deal...my Marmot coat is REALLY waterproof, and if you wear a ball cap under the hood the hood is a great fit, it's light weight too. I got it one size larger than needed so I can wear it OVER many layers. This coat would tear if you caught it on something, so this is not a replacement for true, heavy foulies for the worst weather but for cold, windy, wet days you can be outside all day and not get wet...it wads up into a small ball so now I stash it on my motorcycle too.


Here's a picture of me (in blue) in my Marmot and the owner of the boat in more traditional (heavy) foulies:




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