Clothing

[PMFarr]

Not sure where best section is for this but as a newbie, I have just picked up a sib and had a couple of weekends playing with it to try it out ...

https://vimeo.com/455191612

Love the videos of some of the trips especially the Scottish ones around Hebrides Islands - have been touring the islands extensively with my camper van and would love to see more of them from the water.

So, question is before considering embarking on those sort of adventures, I would need suitable clothing. It looks as though most people on the cruises are in dry-suits. Is that the best option or would a two piece dinghy suit - sailing type outfit also be OK?

Thanks
Paul

[Peter_C]

If there is a chance of falling overboard, get a drysuit. If you get a lot of splash, get a drysuit. If you choose your days carefully and only see a little bit of spray rain gear works. Always be prepared to swim in whatever you are wearing. Waders are not so good for swimming in.

If wearing clothing, I would always recommend a change of clothes in a dry bag for longer adventures. Even with a drysuit a fresh pair of undies is nice to have as sweat can make you cold.

Not sure of your conditions but we often boat on the San Francisco Bay and around the mouth of the bay, which can get fairly rough. Taking a wave is often a possibility, and we have done so a few times. Getting drenched by cold water sucks but we have survived in dripping wet street clothing.

Still I own multiple drysuits and have a nice DUI Gortex suit that works great for the days I am not diving but plan on getting wet. Same drysuit I use for white water kayaking. For scuba diving we wear thick 400g undies, and being zipped up is not an option or we would be drenched in sweat. So we unzip and pull the top down driving to and from the dive site. Although you can jump into the water to cool down in a drysuit, temperature does play a part in when to wear one. Cold windy rainy days are best in a drysuit.

[Pikey Dave]

Boating clothing is either one extreme or the other. Shorts/t shirt with a wind proof jacket & flipflops or drysuit & Gecko. There’s no in between especially if you’re self launching. You’re going to get wet one way or the other.

[Allye]

I think it’ll take some time and experience of your setup to find out what you need. Playing devil’s advocate I’m a wetsuit man through and through, I wear a 5mm through the depths of winter. Having said that I don’t generally make long passages like most rib owners and I’m in and out of the water keeping pretty active. Worth noting in anything other than glassy water you’ll be getting wet in a SIB regardless how slick your launch is!

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by PMFarr

Not sure where best section is for this but as a newbie, I have just picked up a sib and had a couple of weekends playing with it to try it out ...

https://vimeo.com/455191612

Love the videos of some of the trips especially the Scottish ones around Hebrides Islands - have been touring the islands extensively with my camper van and would love to see more of them from the water.

So, question is before considering embarking on those sort of adventures, I would need suitable clothing. It looks as though most people on the cruises are in dry-suits. Is that the best option or would a two piece dinghy suit - sailing type outfit also be OK?

Thanks
Paul

Optins to consider on the Boating RIB Clothing front ....WEATHER Forecast! (Inc Sea State! ..take worste case scenario)
Time of year (inc Temp Windchill ect ).....Type /length of Passage....Exertion levels....Headwear-- warmth---wind weather rain proof and Sun exposure Sunglasses/Goggles (inc Gheckos or equivalent) Wind Chill will affect in all temperatures travelling at speed...
Warm comfortable waterproof footwear . ....Water/Wind proof Top layer either Salopettes and Jacket...with good Hood ...Floatation Suit ....Dry Suit..(which will nesesatate head gear) ...either one or two piece.
Adaptability removable and quality made Layering options are the KEY!!..(especially in the Hebredies!)
Proven purpose made and designed Boatiing gear is by far the best option even if costs are higher....Discount stores/Shopping village outlets can mean huge savings!
Things like extra fleece's are easily carried kept dry and stowed...for if and when needed.
If you take out inexperienced Crew do you're best to check and make sure they are suitably well kitted out too for what you have planned ...cold wet miserable crew mates will soon curtail you're activies no matter how toasty and dry you may be!

Cold weather options include chemical hand/foot warmers Murano wool Balaclava and under Gloves ...Ghecko helmets are warm (because of the air bladder and insulation it provides) keep you dry and protect from stinging rain and Hail with the visor ... Good money spent on quality Thermal long johns and base layer top is never wasted!...
A good choice of clothing...head...and footwear will enhance you're Boating and make the whole experience more enjoyable ...less taxing ..and ultimately safer too.
Always worked for me.

[willk]

Originally Posted by PMFarr

It looks as though most people on the cruises are in dry-suits. Is that the best option or would a two piece dinghy suit - sailing type outfit also be OK?

Hi Paul. If you intend to make a SIB passage anywhere in the Hebrides then from personal experience, I'd seriously suggest a surface drysuit. Nothing fancy, just any drysuit. As others have said, a selection of other garments in a bag will flesh out your sartorial toolkit. IMO, sailing wear is worthless in a SIB over distance - you're gonna get wet. Wet is Bad. Pikey Dave is bang on with the Teeshirt or Drysuit!

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

Hi Paul. If you intend to make a SIB passage anywhere in the Hebrides then from personal experience, I'd seriously suggest a surface drysuit. Nothing fancy, just any drysuit. As others have said, a selection of other garments in a bag will flesh out your sartorial toolkit. IMO, sailing wear is worthless in a SIB over distance - you're gonna get wet. Wet is Bad. Pikey Dave is bang on with the Teeshirt or Drysuit!

You can start with sailing waterproofs but you will eventually buy the dry suit anyway!

On a different note - be patient launching, let the car stop properly before walking behind it and sorting ropes. Slipways are slippery, ropes are trip hazards, drivers are trying to look 360degrees whilst the public do stupid things...

[treerat]

Don't forget you can also get canoeing dry trousers and dry tops - used to prefer these on the sib to the dry suit and gives you the options to just use the top or bottom depending on the weather.

[beerbelly]

i have a pair of peak storm dry pants that i use if its hot and im not going far there very good https://www.bing.com/aclk?ld=e8fO_im...161b9d9f88fbec
only mine are the gentleman's version