Clothing for small rib

[Rob57]

OK - making bit of transition from Kayaks/larger boats to small Rib. My Rib is 275 for solo use so expecting to be wet. Was planning to wear my drysuit for all but hottest days. Now I realise risk of immersion less than with kayak but only too aware of water temperatures for most of year. Question for those with Drysuits - how long throughout year do you tend to wear them? Do you find them a bit too boil in the bag once air temperatures rise? Would I be better just with set of oilskin bottoms and wet feet from launching?

[beerbelly]

I wear my dry suit every time I go out regardless of sunshine ect im not a strong swimmer and even in the summer the sea can be cold so for me better safe than sorry

[treerat]

Rarely use mine, but do use my Palm dry trousers unless it's shorts weather. When combined with the Henry Lloyd coat covers most weathers.

[HDAV]

Drysuit nov-apr then wetsuit with a cag or shorts if it’s properly hot, you get wet but on hot sunny days you dry out pretty quick neoprene boots are a good idea though....

Wind chill is more when travelling at a good lick and your not doing the effort you are on a kayak so bear hat in mind being able to layer up can help

[Highland Haggis]

If you are going out sole I would advise drysuit you only get one chance so better to be safe than sorry

[Spikey001]

+1 for a dry suit. Cold water shock is what you're initially trying to avoid.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Dry suit all year increase decrease layers as needed and jump in the ogin for a cool off

[Gazzago]

For me it’s a dry suit when in the sea. That water is very cold most of the year.

For Lakes I just dress for the time of year. Summer I’d wear shorts. Colder weather I’d be back to my drysuit. It’s nice to be dry after you’ve launched your boat [emoji1].

[Matty75]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Dry suit all year increase decrease layers as needed and jump in the ogin for a cool off

+1 for drysuit.

[Mikefule]

Drysuit or a good wetsuit if you're in waves or there's a risk of going in.

I used to go diving in a small inflatable. I'd spend 30 or 40 minutes diving then climb back aboard and come back in. I preferred diving in a semi-dry suit, which is a thick wetsuit with flush fitting ankle and wrist cuffs. My torso would have 2 x 8mm of neoprene.

A drysuit with a good undersuit and a warm hat will keep you warm in most conditions, at the expense of being too hot in some. If you buy a drysuit, choose one with a comfort zip.

I am in the Dinghy Cruising Association, which is mainly for people who use sailing dinghies. Some of them do cruises of several days, camping and sleeping aboard open dinghies. Many of them prefer to wear two piece oilskin suits for the versatility.

[jeffstevens763@g]

just for info
if you layer up its warmer that one layer even if that layer is thick you need the air gap to prevent heat loss it also works in reverse with heat to some extent but you can just remove layers as required be aware of wind chill at speed even if you have a dry suit a cheap windproof jacket works well.
re a pee zip i find them a bit of a pain but a front entry zips are bang on for peeing and also great for taking off or adding layers whilst at sea especially when boating alone AIMO

[Metz Antenna Man]

Concur with the other replies about drysuits. If you end up in the water for more than a minute or so, your chances of survival increase massively in a drysuit.
As previous answers, just vary the layers underneath.

[Cumbria]

What's best dry suit to get med budget

[jeffstevens763@g]

Typhoon seem to do low cost dry suits my wife had one just the job for the boat

[beerbelly]

another vote for typhoon the easy don looks to be a good budget offering and being as the name suggests easy to get on .I spent a little more and got a typhoon hinge with a waist zip suits me fine in fact id say it is my fav bit of kit

[Gazzago]

Palm, Typhoon, Crew Saver....

Wetsuit outlet have some good deals. But plenty of stores online. I’ve had excellent service from this one.

Which is best?....honestly don’t know. More money = better materials and features basically.

Pick one you like within your budget from a good retailer and you should be ok I’d say. [emoji1303]

[jeffstevens763@g]

+1 for mid zip or front entry zip

[Metz Antenna Man]

I've worn a few drysuits and wasted money on some. I've settled on Typhoon for quality, comfort and customer service. Others who I know, swear by other brands such as Gul (Shadow).
I've done Commercial work wearing my current drysuit for hours at a time as well as on numerous courses where comfort becomes very important. The best one that I've found for me personally is the Typhoon Max B with a con zip. It's front entry which is important when you are getting kitted up alone and has a handy thigh pocket for passage plans on courses.
It's a matter of finding one that is suitable (pun not intended) for you.
Try it on with the maximum amount of layers that you intend to wear in the coldest conditions. Make sure that you can move around and that it doesn't dig in anywhere.
I used Wetsuit Outlet, narrowed down a choice to three makes, rang them and asked if I could order them all but would be returning all but one. Obviously you have to have space on your card to do this, but when they arrive, wear them all in the house, decide which one you want and return the rest (within 60 days) for a full refund. The cost for doing this is the postage cost of the returns which isn't that much. Make sure you do Royal Mail 'Signed for' and that it is insured for the cost of the returned drysuits.
As with anything, you get what you pay for, so don't skimp on anything that you might be wearing for hours on end.

[jeffstevens763@g]

This is where I bought mine a surface dry suit not cheap but very good quality and made to measure which is the way to go IMO a good dry suit looked after will last years I still have a DUI which I used for commercial diving over 25 years ago.

Surface Drysuits - Seaskin Custom Diving Suits