To wetsuit or not to wetsuit..that is the question

Hi.
I've been trolling through previous posts but not really found the answer I'm looking for.
I'm a novice AI'er and am still building up my kit. I've been out on the water a few times and so far survived in a hat, swimming shorts and shirt. I've seen a number of posts about the benifits dry suits but have just seen the price of them. I'm currently absorbing the cost of the AI, cart, tramps etc so a grand on a dry suit is not possible at the moment. I am wondering at this stage if I should go the wetsuit or rain gear route. I live in northern California so the weather and water temp aren't that bad.
Any advice that wont kill my bank account?
Pete.

I'm in a similar climate and haven't got past board shorts and a rashie, even through winter (the good days). I have been a bit chilly at times but just jump on the peddles to generate a bit of warmth.

I'd only go up to a Spray Jacket in my situation and I must remember to stick one in a hold. My daughter wore a 3/4 wetsuit the other day and was quite comfortable out on a tramp.

The AI's a wet ride as we all know, and I think we should just go with it. My thoughts are that if I had a dry suit I'd get annoyed if it leaked. I'm quite happy in the boardies getting drenched !

_________________
Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.

I bought a wetsuit last winter and have never used it. The thing about a wetsuit is it needs to be wet to be effective. The AI is a fairly wet ride, but not always that wet. A spray jacket and sweater plus or minus thermal t-shirt should cover most Californian conditions. Those guys further north need drysuits for safety, to avoid rapid hypothermia if they end up in the drink.

_________________

We will be looking for some dry gear as the seasons change here in the coming months. Wet suit material is good, but strikes me as too constraining and not loose enough for the freedom of movement I require.

_________________
Mitch

2010 Tandem Island
2010 Revolution
Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore

My sailing blog
Our sailing videos

I'm using "Sharkskin" and "Lavacore" stuff. Thinner and more comfy than a wetsuit, meant to be worn under some dry outer layers - but I'm not - and it's perfect in my Winter in Northern NSW, Australia (probably similar to CA?)

_________________
Cheers, Max ● TI: the "Yella Terra" ● Website: www.MadYakker.com ● YouTube: madyakkermax

I live in a more northern climate the the California like weather that has been mentioned. I too have found dry suits to be a little bit too expensive for my kind of sailing. I wear various levels of wetsuits, and they seem to work.

I should point out that I'm not overweight and have the type of body that fits into a wetsuit quite well. I can see how wetsuits aren't for everyone, but here's how I started. On the AI, your butt gets wet. If you're in cold water, that can be uncomfortable. I bought wet suit shorts. I almost always wear these, they feel like bicycle shorts, just a bit thicker. I'm never uncomfortable in them, and to prevent others from having to look at my body in skin tight clothing, I wear a bathing suit (board shorts) overtop. For most of my summer sailing, these are quite comfortable. They take the shock out when you're getting wet out on the tramps, and when I get going in big wind out on the trampolines, and the cockpit gets full of water, one big splash with my butt into the seat clears most of the water out of the seat, and you don't feel a thing from cold water.

On days where the water is a bit cooler, and maybe the air temperature is also a bit cooler, I have a thin 2 and 3 millimetre wetsuit vest. It still provides full range of movement, and I often throw it on overtop of the dry-fit type T-shirts that I wear when I sail. The vest is usually with me in a dry bag and I'll furl the sail, remove my life jacket, throw the vest on, life jacket back on, and get going again. It's nice to be able to add that if you sense that it's cool.

As it gets colder, I have a full wetsuit. This isn't a good solution until the air temperature drops a bit. The suit that I have, has a rubber front chest. That helps keep you warm from the wind.


The wind is the biggest enemy, I don't mind getting wet, but what I've done in the past is wear a rain type bicycle jacket, with venting under the armpits and down the side. This keeps the wind down. It's not a dry suit, but keeping the wind away from a wet wetsuit helps the wetsuit work to keep you warm.

The other reality is that, until I have a dry suit, my season is a little bit shorter. But a good wetsuit, that fits properly can be quite comfortable, and relatively effective.

I also have neoprene socks, gloves, and a rubber like hood that keeps my head warm but looks a little funny! But my wife would say that I look a little funny without it too!

_________________

Josh 'Yakass' Holmes spends a lot of time out in his yak, and he doesn't like to get cold - like me.

His website has some good articles, see Kayak Clobber.

Great details on the wetsuit solutions augaug, thanks! I have a full suit and a spring suit, boots and gloves, but not a hood but I've thought about getting one. Anyway, it's good to hear the reality check on the pros and cons. Thanks again.

_________________
'81 H16

If it ain't a blowin', I ain't a goin'

One more thing. Bring extra drinking water! If you're wearing a wetsuit, you don't notice yourself sweating. You can lose a LOT of fluid to sweat, so stay hydrated for your own safety. That's important to every sailor, but more important if you're wearing a wetsuit.

_________________

Great, thanks all for your advice. In 15mph winds I had noticed a couple of times that the water splashig over my bare legs and feet felt warm, this was when the water I would guess was in the 50's. This leads me to conclude that I was getting a chill from the wind hence the orginal post.
Augaug, (or anyone) you seem to have a number of configurations depending upon the weather conditions which sounds like a very good idea. Do the shorts/jacket combination that you use hold water? One of the ideas behind a wetsuit is that they hold a small layer of water that is heated by your body and acts like insulation. If this water is constantly being replaced (run out the leg holes then in through the top when a wave comes) do you think that you are cooler as you are not using a single piece suit?
Thanks all...venturing to the Ocean this w/e!!
Pete.

The shorts and vest do hold water the same as a wetsuit. They're all made of neoprene, but I would agree that having two pieces (vest and shorts) as opposed to a single shorty suit (which would cover the same area of my body) is a cooler option. I really like the flexibility of being able to add and take away layers mid sail. A shorty suit wouldn't let me lose the top. That's a great solution for me.

It think that the vest, near my waist, may experience the "replacement of water" that you mention, where a full suit, or 1 piece shorty suit may not have that, but I haven't really thought of the science behind it. I just like the fact that I can throw the top on, or off, without much difficulty.

My full wetsuit is QUITE a bit warmer then the vest and shorts combo. For most of my sailing, I find the shorts to be mandatory (in Lake Ontario) as they have yet to make me too warm, and the vest is always with me. On occasion I'll bring my neoprene socks with me if the water is very cold, because sometimes early in the season my toes got cold, and I had a tough time getting them warm.

Hope that helps.

_________________

The tradeoff between flexibility and slight loss of warmth seems reasonable to me. I think I may take the same route.
captain-max the link doesnt work for me....where should it take me to?
Pete.

I just got my used AI in Nov. 2010 in NW FLA. It gets cool out on the water so I got a sailing top that I wear with light weight breathable stocking foot waders and a PFD of course. I have neoprene waders for colder water but haven't used them yet. Either choice is way cheaper than a dry suit. $70-$150.

Get out there!

more info?

_________________

Might be talking about a Dinghy Top.

I've got a Gill Brand Dinghy Top that I wear when the wind's a bit cool.

Basically a breathable shower proof fabric with neoprene cuff, collar and waist closers to keep the water out. Pretty much a Spray Jacket but with the benefit of the neoprene cuff, collar and waist for actual spray.

Usually about $80.

I think Hobie offers something similar in their clothing range.

_________________
Yellow 09 Oasis
Red 2010 AI /Grey tramps.