Drysuits

[Matthew P]

I'm looking for a drysuit to extend the sailing season and use on coastal cruising when I might wear it for 12 hours at a time.   My 35 year old Typhoon boil-in-a-bag drysuit is still functioning but lacks almost all the features below and no longer fits, especially since the recent Christmas. 

"Must-have" features:
1. Breathable
2. Main zip accessible without being a contortionist
3. "Comfort" zip (see 2 above)
4. Fit my freaky 6'5" 100+Kg frame, flexible enough to move in but not hugely baggy
5. Gladys proof - robust and simple

"Nice-to-have" features:
1. Usable with the main zip open, or split into  in suitable circumstances, for ventilation
2. Decent hood
3. Big accessible pockets

The Fladen and other survival suits are interesting but inevitably I end up wading and a proper dunking is possible, so a dry suit is preferred. 

Cost is a factor but for a piece of kit that can significantly extend the sailing season and range I'm prepared to shell-out (must be a pun there somewhere?). 

The Minimal nav + safety gear list for inshore sailing? post in 2016 is helpful - see http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,1400.0.html   

MaxR suggested the Typhoon 330 (https://www.typhoon-int.co.uk/products/surface/drysuits/other/100151/ps330-extreme-drysuit/). This looks a good possibility.

Alternatives might be:

https://oceanrodeo.com/product/ignite/

https://www.escape-watersports.co.uk/clothing/drysuits/palm-cascade-drysuit-detail?gclid=Cj0KCQiA6ozhBRC8ARIsAIh_VC36yAqiDSYxyxuFqJiJhsUS10vSW8FS8hQ1KhtFt4T_B7gSTxTrpD0aAv6zEALw_wcB 

https://kokatat.com/product/gore-tex-radius-drysuit-with-switchzip-technology-dsugras

Has anyone got experience of using any of these, or any alternative ideas?

Matthew
BR20 Gladys

[mark1]

Matthew,
I've a Gul taw which ticks all of those boxes except big pockets (it's got small ones though).

I find the neoprene seals more comfortable than latex, especially if I'm not planning on being in the water very often, and after a whole day in and out of the water I generally only have damp cuffs.

it's a really tough build without being too stiff, and seems quite a big fit(it's a bit baggy on me anyhow....)

[TimLM]

Hi Matthew,
I haven't used the drysuits you link to but have a Typhoon dinghy suit which I have worn for very long days with excellent comfort and indeed also whilst learning to skin and butcher a deer in the rain, so flexible as well as robust. It has none of the outside pockets you require nor the comfort zip but I used to sail with a friend who had one fitted by Typhoon so I would suggest they could add one and maybe a pocket or 2. I like those ideas so will be investigating that possibility myself, thank you for the thought.
I tend to use dinghy base layers rather than the 'wooley bears' usually recomended and find all day sailing in cold, wet and windy strangely pleasant!
I believe they can build to indvidual measurements which might be a plus.
Good luck with your search, Tim

[Matthew P]

Butchering and skinning Bambi had not occurred to me!  Any other (decent) ideas for interesting things to do in a dry-suit? 

Thanks Mark and Tim for your helpful suggestions.  Neoprene seals sound more comfortable and I'll find out if Typhoon are willing to do specials and modifications.

Best wishes everyone for 2019

Matthew
BR20 Gladys

[Nick Orchard]

Matthew
I have a Typhoon MaxB drysuit that probably ticks most of your boxes. Not sure about fitting your height but I assume they probably can manage that. It has a breathable fabric, lots of hard wearing cordura, neoprene collar and cuffs and is relatively easy to put on with a pair of diagonal front zips (an inner one goes one way and the outer one goes the other way). The feet are made of the drysuit fabric rather than rubber, and there's an outer boot cuff that is deep enough to be worn over normal sea boots. The only problem with the feet is one that I'm sure you're familiar with as a long-time drysuit wearer, and that is that with a thick pair of socks and the drysuit feet you'll need boots a size or two larger than normal.

It doesn't have a hood but it does have a high fleece-lined collar. It has a single thigh pocket with a clear plastic window. It's available with a comfort zip, which I didn't get but should have done, and I think I'll look at getting one fitted.

I have to confess that I haven't worn it a lot yet as I haven't stirred myself to going out much when it's cold and miserable. I've worn it occasionally for dinghy sailing, and also for jumping in the dock to scrub the bottom of the boat, and it was good for both. (Just make sure you do the inner zip up the last notch otherwise you'll notice your left hip is getting colder and wetter!). I bought it with the intention of wearing it either in bad weather (my offshore kit is about the same age as your drysuit), or when single-handing offshore, but the weather in 2018 was so good that it wasn't needed.

Drysuits seem to be eye-wateringly expensive nowadays, but I guess if they can last 35 years they're worth it.
Good luck!
Nick

   

[Ged]

I second the Typhoon max B, it's fantastic.
I'm 6'5 and about 95Kg and the extra large is a perfect fit.
There's a knack to putting it on but as long as I put my right arm in first it's fine.
I've worn mine a lot and love it.

[Sea Simon]

What with sailing, as well as applications at work too, I have spent quite a bit of time wearing drysuits of one kind or another. All my suits have been provided for me (good and bad!) so never have had any choice. A few observations may be of help?

Typhoon are widely used commercially (they supply MOD); however hard wearing/durable does not often equate to comfortable. Depends on materials I guess, but can't fault workmanship.
They will fit pockets as and where you need them. Front thigh pockets, and upper arm pockets (not side pockets like "cargo" trousers) seem most popular.

Latex seals are best for keeping the water out, but a only semi-durable. They deteriorate with age, and should be considered to be a consumable. We had a guy who is trained to fit on site. Last time I paid for a neck seal it was about £50 fitted; dooable DIY if you're brave/skint, but awkward, time consuming and messy.
Latex seals are quickly damaged by sun and other skin creams.
I prefer soft neoprene type for the neck and wrists. More comfortable, longer lasting; reasonably watertight.
Latex or fabric socks are versatile, and reasonably durable with care. Good for wearing inside of various types of footwear; perhaps dinghy boots, sailing boots - or in some cases steel toe cap wellies. Socks much better than bonded on boots.

"Comfort zips" - P flaps - are indispensable for the more mature gentleman!
Diagonal front zips essential for domestic users. Across the shoulder rear zips are more comfortable/durable, but you need a buddy to zip you in/out.

Fancy  Goretex stuff is great, but as others have found - they are VERY expensive and less durable/repairable. They de-laminate with age (this appears to not necessarily "wear" related), becoming non-repairable.
I have found that they are OK for intermittent immersion in salt water, but work best as "weather suits" rather than "immersion suits" - not best for dinghy racing at sea. The fabric seems to choke with salt and stop breathing?
Have never tried a top-spec Musto type "ocean" suit; wish I had!

Finally - V strongly advise against being around water in a dry suit with main zip open - its almost impossible to swim, should you fall in. Consequently open suits are a "disciplinary offence" on some sites.

[Matthew P]

Thank you Mark, Tim, Nick, Jed and Simon for your most helpful advice. What an excellent source of useful information this forum is!

Manchester Canoes https://www.manchester-canoes-and-kayaks.co.uk/ is offering a 15% discount until the end of January.  Manchester Canoes is part of a group with similar shops in other parts of the country. The staff were most helpful, gave me advice based on their personal canoeing experience but were careful to say they were not expert sailors, so honest too.  The shop stayed open late so I could visit to try on an equivalent XXL size suit  and examine smaller sizes of the particular models I was interested in. I have now ordered a Typhoon 330 which is expensive and will take a few weeks to be delivered but after taking everyone's advice into account and reading many reviews, it seems to suit my requirements.

Following Tim's point, Manchester Canoes confirmed that Typhoon will retro-fit comfort zips, extra pockets and, of course, replace seals. 

Simon makes some interesting additional points: 

I, and others, have suspected that Goretex loses effectiveness.  On their website https://www.gore-tex.co.uk/blog/alpin-jacket-test Goretex acknowledge performance can reduce but claim frequent and careful washing will prevent degradation. They also say salt crystal contamination used to be a concern but rinsing with fresh water avoids any risk. I like to think this is plausible - so faced with a choice between sweating in a sealed bag and trusting a breathable fabric I'm trusting that Goretex will do the job for my relatively infrequent and careful use.

I also take note of Simon's serious point that drysuits should be closed when near water.  This slightly concerns please because I use "launching trousers" - basically dry suit trousers that come up to my waist.  Obviously they are not designed for full immersion and don't seal around the top. These are very handy for....launching! I always use a buoyancy vest with them and usually have an manually activated inflatable life jacket too.  When the water is warmer I'll deliberately immerse them and in safe conditions to see what happens.  I presume the main risk with a flooded drysuit is the arms becoming unwieldy and losing buoyancy in the upper body.  On a side note, I intend wearing my buoyancy vest (gillet type) inside my drysuit (yes, it'll fit) unless anyone can give me a good reason not to.

Matthew
BR20 Gladys

[mark1]

Matthew,
I've swam in my dry bottoms many times, it's not too much of a problem if they get water in, although cumbersome to swim in if they get really full up, and the weight could make it harder to get out of the water. Are they snug fitting round the top?
always worth a practice tough eh...!

[jonno]

Hi Matthew

4. Fit my freaky 6'5" 100+Kg frame

Mine's made by Dam Watersports. It's labelled Dam X 3000 breathable. I haven't worn it a lot but it performs as it should. It was made to measure - so you can address freaky requirements.

John

[Sea Simon]

Yes....open suits act like a big sea anchor, and while you may not loose buoyancy, any buoyancy remaining may not be where you expect it to be. Strange in water orientation may result!

Even when wearing a lifejacket, an open, flooded suit causes problems for either self rescue, and/or rescuers.

Have never tried it, but i imagine it would be very difficult indeed to climb back in to my BRe.
TBH at 58, that's hard enough in swim trunks!