Confused about winter wetsuits

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow 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.

Yes, don't go there!  I too used to have a steamer and while it was warm it was a pain to put on and felt awful to wear.

IMHO if you want to sail in colder weather you can't beat a drysuit. With the right clothes underneath one and decent gloves, boots, and hat you needn't be cold sailing at pretty well any time of the year.

Originally posted by Wave Rider worringly you do actually steam quite a lot!

Fun fact of the day: "Steamer" actually refers to "Steamer Point" in California, where surfers first used this style of suit.

Originally posted by Stefan Lloyd Originally posted by Jack Sparrow 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. Buy one that fits then! They certainly don't have to be uncomfortable. [/ P]

I did.

But unless you are of the perfect average proportions there is always a
compromise unless you get one tailor made. Or get a v. expensive
steamer with stretch panels and anatomically tailored construction. And
I'm not sure it's worth it ( you don't use it that often ) or if they are done.
Mind I haven't looked for a while as I'm happy with the solution I have.

Suits me (pun intended)

Dry suits are good but expensive and it depends on the type of boat you
sail they are to cumbersome on a skiff. The seals are an arse and you get
surprisingly cold ( you sweat buckets and that gets cold, when you hit the
water the temperature transfers very quickly ( and it's hard to go for a
pee!)) if you don't wear thermals and a woolybear suit which means you
can't move to quick.

I've worn steamers and drysuits although I've never tried a breathable drysuit.  In extremely cold conditions a drysuit is better but most of the time a steamer is my choice.  I find drysuits restrictive and a steamer is quite adequate in an athletic boat.  My steamer cast about £120 about 7 years ago, I've had to repair the bum - since it is important to not have leaks and I wear a thermal short sleeved vest underneath, and when it gets really cold thermal legings and wooly socks.  I generally wear a breathable spray top as well.  Keep clear of cotton it wicks away heat when wet.  A hat is a must. 

When I used to wear a drysuit I used to get quite wet from condensation and then cold, but in a sedentary boat I guess that is likely to be less of a problem.  I always thought they were called steamers because you steam so much when you take them off.

I have 2 options for the winter:

1) An all over 3mm wetsuit (sometimes supplemented with a spraysuit). This keeps me easily warm enough. The one I have is a GUL which has got titanium woven in to the neoprene to reflect heat back to the body.

2) GUL dinghy drysuit with a thin wooly bear.

These serve quite well, most of the rest of the year is a shorty wetsuit or shorts and t-shirt.

Paul