Sailing Gloves

[KestrelBuck]

Until last weekend I learned again why sailing gloves are not just for wimps. Out on Chesapeake Bay I had 30+ knots of apparent wind. While trying to roll in a little more of the genny the furling line got away from me. The line ran through my hand, some skin went up in smoke, some was just carried away.

I say re-learned because some years ago the tack line for my spinnaker got away from me and did the same sort of damage.

When it gets woolly out I'll wear gloves.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by KestrelBuck

Until last weekend I learned again why sailing gloves are not just for wimps. Out on Chesapeake Bay I had 30+ knots of apparent wind. While trying to roll in a little more of the genny the furling line got away from me. The line ran through my hand, some skin went up in smoke, some was just carried away.

I say re-learned because some years ago the tack line for my spinnaker got away from me and did the same sort of damage.

When it gets woolly out I'll wear gloves.

I just always have them on. I AM a wimp and I prefer my skin on my hands and not on a sheet. I have found that I am able to pull, and even winch, considearably harder, with gloves on.

[zeehag]

i wear gloves with a leather palm so i can actually handle lines. mine are gill i found on sale

[Arch Stanton]

I wear these and love them. The black magic material grips very very well.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

I wear these and love them. The black magic material grips very very well.

I've never used gloves with finger tips on them. Don't they interfere with your manual dexterity?

[Amapola]

We now have a trawler and I still have my sailing gloves. They are very helpful in any line handling especially when locking through Lake Okeechobee.

[psneeld]

when the line starts running through you hands...let go or grab tight...

After 50 years working/pleasuring on almost every boat imaginable..the last 10 as a pro captain both sail and power..plus all things mechanical...I've never found a situation where gloves were a help versus a hinderance. Except for picking up hot things...

My desk bound, weekend warrior boating friends wear them...none of my cruising friends do. Plus all my aviation safety training showed me some horrific accidents that were caused by gloves snagging.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Rakuflames

I've never used gloves with finger tips on them. Don't they interfere with your manual dexterity?

No, not if the thumb and index finger are clipped, like in the photo. I always use 3-finger gloves (had no-finger gloves a few times, but never liked them as well.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by psneeld

when the line starts running through you hands...let go or grab tight...

After 50 years working/pleasuring on almost every boat imaginable..the last 10 as a pro captain both sail and power..plus all things mechanical...I've never found a situation where gloves were a help versus a hinderance. Except for picking up hot things...

My desk bound, weekend warrior boating friends wear them...none of my cruising friends do. Plus all my aviation safety training showed me some horrific accidents that were caused by gloves snagging.

Oh no. This is going to turn into one of those boxer vs. briefs fights. Even OSHA can't decide sometimes.

I can say this much; if your fingers have not been damaged by wear and tear by this age you are very fortunate. I have accumulated many micro-traumas thought years of use and abuse (refinery work and rock climbing) and I cannot function without the protection afforded by gloves. Others are more fortunate in their choice of parents (DNA).

As for snagging, you simply can't be careless around a winch or windlass. Duh.

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by thinwater

No, not if the thumb and index finger are clipped, like in the photo. I always use 3-finger gloves (had no-finger gloves a few times, but never liked them as well.

Ditto! I found I was getting a hard callus right at the edge of the leather. I've gone to the full finger and never gone back. And you can still burn the tips of those three fingers. The index and thumb doesn't seem to get the heat.

One more thing. If it's a bit cold and even if they are wet they still keep your hands warm.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

Ditto! I found I was getting a hard callus right at the edge of the leather. I've gone to the full finger and never gone back. And you can still burn the tips of those three fingers. The index and thumb doesn't seem to get the heat.
One more thing. If it's a bit cold and even if they are wet they still keep your hands warm


.

Oooops..forgot...the other good reason to wear gloves...hate it when your hands feel like catcher's mitts...

[sailorboy1]

wuzzies

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by psneeld

when the line starts running through you hands...let go or grab tight...

After 50 years working/pleasuring on almost every boat imaginable..the last 10 as a pro captain both sail and power..plus all things mechanical...I've never found a situation where gloves were a help versus a hinderance. Except for picking up hot things...

My desk bound, weekend warrior boating friends wear them...none of my cruising friends do. Plus all my aviation safety training showed me some horrific accidents that were caused by gloves snagging.

Bottom line for me is that I'm considerably stronger with gloves on. I've found that women wear them more than men. I remember shaking hands with a club member shortly after I started sailing again. His hands were SO calloused. I would never want my hands to feel like that.

[webejammin]

We use kayaking gloves with no finger tips and leather palms sence we had them from sea kayaking before we got our sailboat. I didn't use them one time this year and in a thunder storm burnt my hand on the main sheet when a big gust hit and I let it go, there was no time to open my hand fast enough to not get rope burn. On light air days in hot weather I don't use gloves.

[zeehag]

i have reynaud's disease and i use the gloves to help me keep strength in my hands. never caught anything with em. have worn for over 10,000 miles, and they look it. no i do not race. i cruise. WITH my gill gloves.