How cold is too cold?

Now that I have my Hobie all tucked away in the garage for the winter and everything all cleaned up and stored, we have had two beautiful weekends with good wind. It has been cold, 40's and 50's, but pretty nice out. I don't know that water temps, but they have to be dropping as well, since we are getting below freezing at night and frost in the mornings.

The question is, what temps do people still ENJOY sailing in? I understand that if I buy $2000 worth of gear I CAN sail until the water gets hard, but realistically, what is considered normal?

PS yes, I know about ice boats if I wanted to sail AFTER the water gets hard. The advantage they have is that I don't have to worry about drowning with all the gear on.

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Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

I live in Florida so I would consider sailing in conditions like these two photos as "Too Extreme".

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Tim
84 H16
82 H16
87 H14T
Tortola Sails: 115222
Blue Prism Sails: 88863
Clearwater, FL

I draw the line around 60oF. I've been out when it was colder, but didn't have a lot of fun (multi layer wetsuit, wind pants/jacket, neoprene boots & cap and full finger gloves). I'm getting a dry suit this spring, so I might give the 50's a try again.

Take a look at this link and then try to decide how cold is too cold.

http://www.helmdesign.com/polar-01.html .

I saw a video of this on PBS some time ago and would like to see it again.

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Howard

I'd probably have to agree with 60 F as the lowest comfortable temperature. Personally, I've enjoyed sailing down to 8 to 12 Celsius, (46 to 53 F) but I have two things on my side, good clothing, and I'm Canadian. I know people in Florida who would think I'm crazy to sail at around 10 (50 F) but on the right day, on the right lake, it's not too bad with the right clothes.

The biggest thing to remember is that the air temperature is usually manageable, but it's the water temperature that can literally kill you. The Spring is worse. The water takes a long time to warm up, where as the Fall, the water takes a long time to cool down. A good fall day can have cool air temperatures, but manageable water temps.

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Yes, spring vs fall water temp makes a big difference (I sail in the Columbia River in Washington State). In the spring the water is nasty cold, just the spray can be an undaunting slap in the face. In the fall just the opposite, where the air feels much colder and the water comes as 'relatively' warm splashes.

Wow, thanks for all the posts. I really read thru all that information on the Northwest Passage, very interesting.

So for now, I will accept that the season is done, and look forward to next year. Next fall, however, I may have to leave it available until Thanksgiving is past!

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Steve
2017 Hobie 16 "Cayman" sails 114795
1985 & 1973? Hobie 14 "Sea & Ski"

i live in fl and the most i wear is a spray top-pants NEVER gloves sometimes boots almost never a wetsuit. the coldest i have been in is 50f with 25kn wind

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http://youtube.com/optikid16030

1983 Hobie 16 Cat fever #55697
2008 Laser Radial/4.7 #190471
S.S.S.
S.Y.S.P

I agree that it is the water temp that eventually stops me. I sail in the fall and spring with a full wet suit, booties and fleece hoody. It is just too scary when the water gets below 50 farenheit. The wind changes so quickly on the Great Salt Lake that the chance is always present that you'll go over. I do push it a bit, but that is why I am a Hobie sailor. At 50 degrees I am done for the season.

It is going to be 65 degrees here in So Cal this weekend - too cold for my sailing taste.

Looking at the pix on the previous posts of Hobiecicles makes me feel pretty wimpy. Sailing in that cold weather is hard core.

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1980 18 foot class A Unicorn catamaran
1977 Super Sunfish (sold)
1979 Hobie (sold)
1983 Hobie 16 Hawiian Sunset (sold)
1981 Hobie 16 Tequilla Sunrise (sold)
2008 Hobie 16 (sold)
2023 Hobie 16
Founding member of the "San Dimas Yacht Club"
John

ASDASC :
As a Canadian living in Florida, I have the best of all worlds, my body naturally warms me in cold conditions so when I go out down here when its in the 50's and 60's with a swim suit and light shirt people look at me like I'm nuts, they are all wearing parkas, and gloves at those temps ( I don't own a coat). Even when I lived up north I would never wear gloves or hats, didn't need them. My wife who is native Floridian gets cold even in 60 degree weather. Her hands and legs become ice cold, where my hands become very warm to the touch. My ears nose and feet also get quite warm where my wifes do not. We got married ten yrs ago and she moved up north but could never get used to the cold so we had to move her back to Florida 3 yrs ago. I suspect it takes a lifetime for your body to modify itself to suit conditions. I'm out on the water every weekend all year round, but even I would be uncomfortable in windy and wet conditions below 50f degrees being out all day, even with my wet suit on.
So to make a long story short ( too late), I am agreeing with most everyone else, about 50f....below that and the fun is gone. However for safety reasons if the gulf water gets below 60f I stay home that the lower safety limit on my wet suit (two 3mm layers over my core).
Bob

Years ago I sailed in a regatta at Northshore Lake Tahoe. We woke up Sunday morning to six inches of snow. The local Safeway was completely cleaned out of dishwashing gloves in about ten minutes.

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Near Kalamazoo, MI, I ceremonially go for a 'thanksgiving sail' before putting the hobie in hibernation for the winter. The water is typically in the 40's by then, and I've sailed with snowflakes blowing by. Definitely less aggressive sailing-no dumping!

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'77 Goldfinger, blue hulls

I have a dry suit and went out a few weeks ago in50 deg weather and a nice breeze and was comfortable except for my hands. Anyone have suggestions for keeping the hands warm and still keeping a good grip on the sheets and tiller? I have looked at kayaking gloves and they will be warm but I am afraid I will tear them up with the sheet. A budget option would be nice. I have heard of folks using dishwashing gloves over liner gloves but again I might tear them up.

You could try neoprene gloves with leather work gloves over.

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Marc...
1978 Hobie 16 Keoke, sail# 36 84