Wetsuits

What is a good wetsuit for sailing?

sailing specific with built-in knee pads are best

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Sheet In...Max Out
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the front zipper is very nice! Mine has a two way zipper that zips up from the bottom. when you gotta go... very convenient!

Dave
I bought mine (its just like that) from the Sailing CTR in Des Moines, call Jim 515-554-0680

Andy is right, the front zipper is awesome, especially if you are on the water all day so you can PP.

For full cut wetsuits I like Promotion Wetsuits http://www.wetsuit.com/web/products_page.cfm They are located in Hood River , Or and are made mostly for windsurfers, but also work well for sailors. They are designed to give more arm movement freedom, and have smooth panels for less evaporative cooling.

The downside to having a lot of smooth skin is that your suit will wear out more quickly than fabric coated neoprene. Especially on a catamaran where you have a tendency to bang your shins and you're crawling around on your knees a lot. The fabric coating provides a layer of abrasion and cut resistance. This is why traditionally, smooth skin is only used in the body of the wetsuit.

There's a ton of different wetsuit styles out there available for a huge range of temperatures and a huge price range. As with most things, you get what you pay for.

I'd stay away from dive suits. They tend to be very thick and really restrict you movement. For surface sports, you'll be looking at suits in the 2 to 5 mm range. A 2/3 jacket and john offers the most versatility for a single suit because you basically have three suits in one. One-piece full suits (generally associated with surfing) will offer the most warmth for a given thickness because they have minimal entry points for water ingress.

A decent spray top also goes a long way towards cutting the wind and keeping you warm.

sm

Check out Overton's. They have a killer sale on a 3 mm JG farmer john with jacket. I just got one and it appears to be well made product. Disclaimer - I am not associated with Overtons in any way.

also check Murrays, they sell Gul and stohlquist, and very good prices.

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Bodhisatfa

Hobie sells a few nice ones too.

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Rich Vilvens
F-18 5150
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The more I look the more I find and the more choices the harder it is to decide.

If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend that you try on several suits before you buy rather than just depending on internet sites for info. For one thing, proper sizing of the suit is very critical and there is no standard for sizing between brands (sometimes sizes even vary between models within a brand). You really want to get an idea for how different styles, cuts, thicknesses, and constructions all affect the comfort and effectiveness of the suit. A good sales person will be able to make recommendations as far as suit type and fit.

If you're forced to order online, I would definitely make yourself familiar with the seller's return/exchange policy. There's a good chance you won't get the fit right on the first shot.

sm

J_Eaton, the suit you show in the pic was from what shop? Thanks.

MP

http://www.murrays.com Catalog pg. 10.

Thanks.

I love both my Ronstan "Farmer Johns" (overalls) and my Gill shortie (short sleeves and legs). Will probably add a wet top or spray top to the Ronstan for when it gets cold.

I agree that built-in knee protection is great. That means long legs, either a farmer john or full-body suit, ideally with reinforced knees (and seat area). While my Gill shortie is nice and warm, I got the Ronstan overalls because they protect my knees. I just hate banging up my knees while working on the trampoline. Knee pads are the other option.

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-Roland
Sailing vintage Hobie Cats in West Africa.