Jump to content

Foul weather gear misery


Recommended Posts

22 hours ago, The big T said:

Have a set of Musto which has done a Volvo - hand me up from my son. Good as gold apart the neoprene collar and ends of sleeves. And I've thrashed it since then - about 6 years more. Good gear. Simple though - more a smock with a front pocket and no bullshit stuff.

Right, I have pondered this smock thing for a while. Probably a better choice for me and my boat and my kind of sailing than a jacket.

/Martin

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 18/09/2021 at 10:22 AM, MartinRF said:

Banned according to the care label. I have destroyed another jacket by not studying the care label (until afterwards). That time a washed in 40 C (label said 30 C) and tumble dried (label said not). I don't which part of this killed the waterproofing.

Right now I am subjecting this jacket to to a mild (35 C) heat treatment.

Then I hope for some real rain to test it.

/Martin

When you want a deluge they are far and few between... So I did some preliminary testing in my shower cabin: Better but no cigar. The shoulder part still leaks some so I opted for some reinforcement using a spray-on product. Before that I also applied some heat by means of ironing at lowest power. Both seemed to help.

Tonight we got some rain, not heavy though, and I took a longish walk.

OK, much better. It will keep me dry in non-demanding conditions, at least for a while. Inspecting the inside at home I see water is still coming through but much less.

So Nikwax helps but it does not elevate this jacket to proper foul weather gear level again.

/Martin

  • Upvote 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Ive been using the same relatively inexpensive Gill offshore gear from Burnsco - 6 seasons old now. Ive never chucked it in the washing machine but instead house it down in fresh water and hang to dry. First couple of years did nothing to it, but the past 3 years at the beginning of the season i treat it with this - https://www.burnsco.co.nz/stimex-waterproofer-500ml

Hasn't let me down yet (though it didn't keep me dry when i went overboard😅)

Have to disagree with the comment about top end wetsuits above, but i guess that depends on what you class as top end. Name brands like Quiksilver, Ripcurl etc might be marketed as top end, but like most things now are mass produced in an automated thai or Chinese factory. The biggest problem with these are they're made for one body type (sure isn't my body type). If you're not that shape, your suit isn't going to last, and at $400 -$600 for a winter suit that only lasts a couple of seasons there's no value. If you want real to end then buy  a custom NZ made wetsuit - https://www.seventhwave.co.nz/

Yes it costs $800-900 for a fully custom top of the line suit. But when someone like myself, who has the body shape of a D16 bulldozer can still squeeze into a 9 year old wetsuit, remain in the water in the middle of winter for 3+hours and get out feeling warm and almost dry, you then truly appreciate a top end wetsuit. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bought my jacket in 2012 so more than 6 years old but it has not seen heavy use.

But the real reason for posting again is to share this photo of my maternal grandfather trying out his new boat with some friends. I don't have an exact date, sometime in the second half of the 1930s I think. Not quite dressed like we are used to now :-)

Hajmaj3.jpg.04304144d331bcb2909b63c7f148fc3c.jpg

/Martin

  • Haha 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
8 hours ago, MartinRF said:

Bought my jacket in 2012 so more than 6 years old but it has not seen heavy use.

But the real reason for posting again is to share this photo of my maternal grandfather trying out his new boat with some friends. I don't have an exact date, sometime in the second half of the 1930s I think. Not quite dressed like we are used to now :-)

Hajmaj3.jpg.04304144d331bcb2909b63c7f148fc3c.jpg

/Martin

that moustache was a fashionable item in the late 1930's...  😉

Link to post
Share on other sites
2 hours ago, 44forty said:

um yeah …who’s that chap with a death grip on the tiller ? 

Earlier this week I learned that even George Orwell sported a toothbrush mustache for a while.

I don't know who those guys are, apart from my grandfather that is.

/Martin

Link to post
Share on other sites
23 hours ago, MartinRF said:

Bought my jacket in 2012 so more than 6 years old but it has not seen heavy use.

But the real reason for posting again is to share this photo of my maternal grandfather trying out his new boat with some friends. I don't have an exact date, sometime in the second half of the 1930s I think. Not quite dressed like we are used to now :-)

Hajmaj3.jpg.04304144d331bcb2909b63c7f148fc3c.jpg

/Martin

Looks exactly like today, the boys are out for a bash and then some rums!
Great photo thanks for sharing

Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, waikiore said:

Yes there was more decorum in those days -perhaps there is a need for more formal dress again in yachting....

When I started we all had to wear the whites -which was practical in summer.

Watch Luca Bassani - Wally - Founder & Director of Design from 2.50m "You forgot wearing classy shirts and pullovers"

 

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Have some Kaimana gear got sick of having gear that only lasted 2 years it is heavier .Just done 2 offshore trips was dry and warm with the right gear underneath its 5 years old paid 650 dollars for good value is bigger to travel with.

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 13/09/2021 at 8:23 PM, Ex Machina said:

Have been Working with these guys over the last year on a sailing gear range . Have been using the prototypes for a year now  and it’s very very good .  It does not leak and it does breathe and it is also warm .

At the nailing down the styling stage now so hopefully it will make it to market before the end of the year . Supply chain issues have slowed things down massively .

That's good to hear, no product is perfect but I reckon PVC with modern moisture wicking undergarments would keep you pretty snug and dry in all weather. My first store branded breathable jacket was an absolute joke in moderate to heavy rain even when new, now I have a Gill inshore  but I suspect it wont be much better, we will see.

Link to post
Share on other sites
On 26/06/2022 at 7:46 PM, ynot said:

Had anyone tried kaiwaka gear in anger here? 

Yes . I have their stormforce gear that is now my round the farm and work gear and have a set of prototype sailing gear that I’ve been trialling with them . Both sets of gear do not leak , the storm force range is very tough but a bit agricultural looking .
 

The prototype gear is a bit lighter and more ergonomic and the zips are waterproof etc . One thing I got them to develop is bib overalls with an opening for blokes to take piss out of . My boat doesn’t have a toilet se wee have to piss off the transom …if you are in full kit this means taking pfd off , then jacket then bib off last . This is a mission if we are racing and also bloody dangerous as you don’t have pfd/harness on . It will also make taking a leak on a boat with a head easier too as you won’t need to disrobe .  The womens overalls will have vertical  zips on the waist to effectively allow the whole butt section to be a flap and I will leave the rest to your imagination .

really hoping this makes it to market this winter , as with every another business staff and supply issues have been a major handbrake for them .

Link to post
Share on other sites
7 hours ago, ynot said:

Good report then. 

What about negative bouyency? I understand the sailing brand names are designed to be neutral buoyancy for obvious reasons any idea? 

I haven’t been swimming in it yet but I imagine unless you have built in floatation like some of the Baltic jackets expect to have a tough time swimming in any wet weather gear ….always wear a PFD if you put your foulies on 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


×
×
  • Create New...