Dry suit or not? - Page 2

Pikey Dave · 27 November 2012, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

You're right about water ingress not being too much of an issue with wet suits and the best of them let very little water in at all. Drysuits are ok but are not intended for long-term immersion; they will allow water in and when that happens you will get cold because of the volume of the suit and the fact that it offers no insulation. I have both a dry and (several) wetsuits for my jet ski and I prefer a wetsuit, especially in the winter.

Been underwater for 6 hours in my drysuit, came out warm & dry.

GordyP · 27 November 2012, 21:35

I am usually in a dry suit as I tend to use the rib for diving. Never been wet in it despite whole days in it which include several hours spent at depth. If your getting wet in a drysuit then take it back/get it fixed/stop pissing in it.

That is all.

GJ0KYZ · 27 November 2012, 21:55

I don't think we're comparing like for like here. Wetsuits and dry suits meant for leisure usage are not the same as those designed for diving. Both my dry and wet suits state on their labels that they are not to be used for diving.

GordyP · 27 November 2012, 22:07

A dry suit is a dry suit, whether its for leisure use or not. I used to spend entire days in 'leisure' dry suits teaching sailing and windsurfing.

Not saying your wrong, just that I don't agree with you.

GJ0KYZ · 27 November 2012, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordyP

A dry suit is a dry suit, whether its for leisure use or not. I used to spend entire days in 'leisure' dry suits teaching sailing and windsurfing.

But I'm guessing you didn't spend six hours diving in them?

GordyP · 27 November 2012, 22:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

But I'm guessing you didn't spend six hours diving in them?

No I didn't, but that's not what the op asked. He's asking about what people wear when launching.

In any case you have said your dry suit has never leaked which seems to be contrary to your views on the things.

GJ0KYZ · 27 November 2012, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by GordyP

No I didn't, but that's not what the op asked. He's asking about what people wear when launching.

In any case you have said your dry suit has never leaked which seems to be contrary to your views on the things.

You're saying that all dry suits are the same but clearly they're not else mine would say it's ok to dive in. Mine hasn't leaked because I haven't worn it and done the same things I've done in my wetsuit. It's a case of horses for courses. Ribbers stay out of the water on the whole whereas jet skiers are often in the water. Ribbers prefer dry suits over wetsuits whereas most jet skiers opt for steamers.

willk · 27 November 2012, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

I'm sure dry suits are great if you're only in the water for a relatively short period but for long immersions you're far better off with a wet suit..

Are you feeling a little bored tonight? Recommending a wetsuit over a drysuit for ribbers on safety grounds is a little naughty - especially when your definition of superiority is it's ability to perform after a jetski MOB.

Without exception, the rescue bodies in Northern Europe wear drysuits for surface ops, with the exception of summertime surf rescue.

Your post reminds me of the dreadful Twim's Titanic Post - seriously dude!

mister p · 27 November 2012, 22:42

The OP was about launching.......you shouldn't really need more than wellies, same for recovery. Unless you're going offshore and happen to be wearing a drysuit and then that's what you're wearing. On a stag-do a bloke might wear a DJ or whatever but I don't think that would be the right answer to the OP.
And dry suits need a liner to keep you warm and should stay dry......not necessarily just when diving. A dry suit without a liner will put the heat sapping water next to your skin almost as effectively as if you weren't wearing one, and a leaking one is a lead around your neck and good cause for a serious complaint.

SPR · 27 November 2012, 22:44

most dive suites have air dump valves hence bring dive suites, I think they also have air hose connector to inflate suite too...

S.

willk · 27 November 2012, 22:47

Any dry suit can be orally inflated.

mister p · 27 November 2012, 22:49

Go on

mister p · 27 November 2012, 22:54

Got it, when it's not being worn.
Genius......went straight over.
Takes a while...............

GJ0KYZ · 27 November 2012, 22:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Are you feeling a little bored tonight? Recommending a wetsuit over a drysuit for ribbers on safety grounds is a little naughty - especially when your definition of superiority is it's ability to perform after a jetski MOB.

Without exception, the rescue bodies in Northern Europe wear drysuits for surface ops, with the exception of summertime surf rescue.

Your post reminds me of the dreadful Twim's Titanic Post - seriously dude!

I'm not recommending anything, people can wear what they like; I used to wear my girlfriends tights when I was a fisherman. All I'm saying is that very few of us have ever jumped overboard at speed. If you try it you'll notice that your boat or ski ends up miles away, hitting the sea hurts like a mother f*cker and that you'll probably have considerable neck flush. You'll also feel disorientated and anxious. I would prefer to wear a wetsuit in those conditions mainly, if I'm being honest, because they're easier to swim in. Most ribbers will never go over the side but it's an occupational hazard with jet skis. As for the original query, I reckon the guy should strip off and launch in his shorts and dry off afterwards; he'll save some money if nothing else. And yes, I am bored; I'm waiting for Family Guy to come on.

mister p · 27 November 2012, 23:03

I thought this was all about wellies and how high they went.

Trevor G · 27 November 2012, 23:05

Back to the original question....
We use chest waders - especially in winter. You can get PVC ones from Lidl (when they are doing them) for about £15 each, and they've been as reliable as the more expensive (about £40) rubber ones we also have.
If they do spring a small leak (typically you'll find one sock wet one day) they are easy to fix with the supplied PVC patches or if you get rubber waders bicycle inner-tube patches seem to have worked well!
Trev

willk · 27 November 2012, 23:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

You'll also feel disorientated and anxious.

Yeah, I get that too sometimes - we have more in common than I realised.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

I used to wear my girlfriends tights when I was a fisherman.

That's just the kind of thing I mean - I also used to wear your girlfriend's tights when you were out fishing...

willk · 27 November 2012, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mister p

Got it, when it's not being worn.
Genius......went straight over.
Takes a while...............

Pull the neck seal over your mouth and blow. In through the nose, out through the mouth. It works. Maybe not under water

mister p · 27 November 2012, 23:12

willk, I know.......was just "ribbing" (sic).

AJ. · 27 November 2012, 23:16

Agree, and I am guilty of thread drift too.

Back to the OP, in the summer if its nice I will wade in in shorts and flip flops. The rest of the time I wear these Ron Thompson Neo-Force Waders (Cleated 40/41, UK shoe size 6/7) | GO Outdoors

The reason why I prefer waders is I have a newish car and it is easy to jump out of these quickly to drive the boat and trailer up the slip after launching/recovery without getting saltwater in the car. Did it once in a rush in a drysuit with my wellies on and the wells were full of water when I sat down all the salt water in the wellies went all over the foot well....not good and stains

I suppose a drysuit is safer if you tend to launch in deep water in case you slip over. You will struggle to get up if your waders fill up. As I know the depth of my rib I am never more than knee height when launching/recovering.

Hope this is helpful