Hey ya'll, I am about to buy a wetsuit for winter sailing on my 6.0, any suggestions? I have it down to these three: o'neill, magic marine, and gill......any others I should consider? All info is appreciated, thanks.
Trey

I don't think the brand of wetsuit is particularly important - just get one that is comfortable. My experience with wetsuits is they work great if you capsize and are floating in the water. If you are on the tramp sailing they get soaked with spray which then evaporates in the breeze and you freeze your butt off.

No need to invest in a dry suit though - I just partner my cheap wetsuit with a set of foul weather gear for gulf coast winter sailing. The foulies stop the evaporative heat loss and the wetsuit adds insulation - plus safety if you end up in the drink.

Other essential winter sailing gear is a good hat (with ear covers), some fleece gloves (the windstopper ones stay warm when wet and wind blown), and some good dinghy sailing boots. Happiness is warm extremities!


And remember - there are only two kinds of people - those who pee in their wetsuit and those who lie

Chris.

hhhuuuueeeeewwww GROSS!
LMAO!!!

True though!!!

Sailing in a wet suit in cold weather is not very comfortable. In fact, sailing in a wetsuit in any weather is not very comfortable. If it's too cold for shorts and a spray top, wear a breathable dry suit (don't cheap out here; get breathable or don't bother). Your range of motion is unrestricted - unlike wetsuits - you can add layers if the water gets really cold and if you capsize, you stay warm in the water and after you get back on the boat. You can't imagine how comfortable a drysuit is until you've tried one, but once you do, you'll never go back.

I hate drysuits. Can't stand the gaskets around neck, wrists and ankles. Claustrophobia!

I'm with Chris about windsuit over wetsuit. The wetsuit kind of holds my body together like external muscles and makes me feel like superwoman, protects me from abrasions, gives me extra flotation if I am in the water, and I can wear a lightweight windsuit on the outside of the wetsuit to prevent getting cold from evaporation from the wetsuit.

Actually, I only need a waterproof windjacket on the upper part of my body to keep my torso warm. Legs do not seem to be a problem warmwise. But that's just me.

In cold weather it's super important to keep your head warm -- just as in snow-skiing, and your feet and your torso are next. Again, just my opinion. And in really cold water, fleece-lined booties would be great. Is there such a thing?

Ugh, having sailed our T in 0-5 degrees Celcius in a wetsuit+windblocker, and had the first degree frostbite to prove it, I would choose any non-breathing drysuit over a wetsuit in the cold. A breathable drysuit would be even better..

Fleece lined booties?? That sounds really cold if they become wet. Wool is what keeps you warm, even if wet.

You are right on with regards to keeping your head warm. The head/neck constitutes 90% of the bodys temperature loss to the air (elementary norwegian army winter training course teaches this, the winter survival course teaches you the rest you need to know). Wearing a woolen 'head-over', or loose neck with your alpine cap takes care of your head.

All this depends on just _how_ cold it is when you go sailing, of course
We tend to put the boat in storage when the sheets freeze..

I have an NRS Farmer John and Jacket, and would urge you to check them out at: www.nrsweb.com . They have relief zippers, and are well made and comfortable. If you call to order, the person that answers the phone is likely to have on the water experience, and real product knowledge, not just an operator!

You people are missing the #1 factor behind the decision for a wetsuit.

Drysuits are $texas.

Not only that, but we aren't sailing in 0-5 degrees here. This is for mid-atlantic fall/spring sailing, and winter sailing on lakes. I used a full 3/4 all last years with no issues, and I've got piss-poor circulation.

Wetsuit will work for him just fine. Drysuit is overkill.

Once you try a dry suit (and I'm slightly further south) you'll never go back. Heck, I wore my dry suit during Tradewinds regatta in Key Largo two years ago; they're not just for icy weather but work great when it's 60 degrees out and blowing - just wear shorts underneath! The freedom of motion is awesome.

Jake,

you can't lie here buddy.

I saw your neck at the end of the tybee and what the seal on your suit did to ya :P

yeah...OK....but that was the neoprene neck thing that did that (ouch...I'm still scarred). not the watertight rubber seal...and I wore that thing all the way from Islamarada and was never hot or cold. I had shorts and rash guard underneath it from the start and had a wicking layer underneath (top and bottom) on for the last leg to tybee.

When it really gets cold during the winter here in South Australia, we usually just put on a short sleeved old football woolen jumper, that usually takes care of the 15 or 16 degree celsius "cold" winter days sailing????

Hey Bill R....I seem to remember that you wear an old set of football bottoms while sailing. (although we are probably talking about different kinds of football here)