Confused about winter wetsuits

I am looking for a wetsuit for the winter to sail on an inland lake (Farmoor, Oxford) and getting very confused.  One manufacturer recommends a steamer (5/3 mm) while another recommends a semi-dry.  I thought steamers were semi-dry but maybe this is not the case?  We don't need anything for too extreme conditions (cos we won't be sailing then) but do anticipate spending some time in the water as we are newbies.  Any suggestions?  Presumably bum/knee reinforcement is a must so they don't wear out after a year?

As far as I know there is very little, if any, diference.

As for wearing out, a pair of thick lycra shorts over the top does wonders. Ive had the same rooster shorts for about 2 years now and they are only just begining to wear. The vast magority of wetsuits will have reinforced bum/knee areas anyway though.

How long have you been at farmoor for and what are you sailing? If you see someone swimming franticaly after a bright green moth feel free to come and say hi...

As for what you can sail in in the winter: I went through last winter in a set of 3/4 length hikers, a spray top and a few good thermals. I didnt sail that often due to kayaking comitments but on the whole I was OK, if a little blue....

I used to have a steamer ( well what I called a steamer could of been a
semi dry ) made by Marlin. Very good. kept me very warm. But and it is
a BIG but. It was THE most uncomfortable thing on the planet. You find
that the neck comes right up and the stiffness of the zip at the back of
your neck pushed your head forward. It was like wearing a car shock
absorber spring. i.e when you crouched in it it was doing it's up most to
straighten you out!

What I do now is where a thermal 2-mm neoprene rash vest (long sleeve)
under my Neil pride summer wet suit with a semi dry top. and may be a
normal rash vest as well, depends how cold. Much more comfy,
especially if you have to move around allot. If you don't do that I would
get a dry top and wear that on top of you wet-suit. It's much more
versatile. instead of a steamer.
There basically like wearing a straight jacket! Oh and wear a hat!


Edited by Jack Sparrow

Originally posted by turnturtle I always thought a semi-dry had a dryzip on the back, whereas a steamer had a more conventional wetsuit

I've had suits that the manufacturer described as a "steamer" with a rear zip.