Well, a year down the line from purchase my £500 drysuit (albeit £200 in the sale) has started to give up the ghost in a big way.  I won't name and shame as the manufacturer has been very good and agreed to give me a full refund, it's much appreciated, thank you.

But what are people's thoughts on drysuits?  It seems that people only ever get a few months on them before they start to expire around the seams...trapeze harnesses seem to make things worse and replacing seals can be costly and time consuming.  Has anyone got one that genuinly does not leak at all after a year or two's use?

I'm starting to think about either going down the steamer route or the Magic Marine thermo dry route.  These have been out for a few years now, does anyone have any thoughts on these?  Are they lasting?  Do the seals leak much or not?  Are they warm enough and do your feet get cold?

I know some people sail in conventional wetsuits all year, sorry, tried that, just not for me...I want to stay warm and dry!

Go for a surfing steamer, they are made for bobbing about in the water just like cherubing.

A drysuit is just not damage tollerent for me, one small hole and you are freezing

Now on my second Crewsaver Hyperdry. First one was non-breathable. Lasted 5 years, albeit with replacement wrist seals. This latest one is breathable and I have had no probs in the 18 months since purchase. I replaced first one not because the body leaked but because I needed another set of wrist seals and thought I might be sending good money after bad.

In the same five year period I have gone through two sets of Crewsaver boots and 6 pairs of gloves. The first one I got through someone in the biz. This last one is from wetsuitoutlet.co.uk and have got really good service and price. Cost me sub £200.

Plastic dryzips are not as reliable as old metal one but that's progress for you!

Wow, that's impressive.  Didn't anyone miss you? 

Mike

I will have to look at the BBC News Website - they will have picked up on it

Thanks for all the advice and tips guys, much appreciated.

Still leaning towards a Magic Marine jobbie, anyone got any experiences with these?

Contender443 got a MM Thermo suit a couple of years ago and he's got mixed feelings about it. Despite good layering, he didn't feel very warm and his feet especially were frozen. But the worst problem was the zip: despite good maintenance, it deteriorated fast and, one memorable Sunday afternoon, hubby couldn't get out of his suit! It took 3 people 20 minutes to prise the zip open.

At the Dinghy Show he's switched to a steamer and Aquafleece and he'll give it a try on the 1st April, when the season starts. It's bound to be easier to take off!  

Originally posted by timnoyce I have a RipCurl 5/3mm steamer which i generally wear with dinghy boots, a rash vest and a spray top. I can honestly say that I have never been cold wearing it (obviously hands get a bit nippy but the rest of me stays warm). Most important accessories are good gloves and good boots as it's your extremities which get cold first, then the impaired movement causes you to make more mistakes which when sailing a boat like a cherub causes you to get wet... very wet! Gill Extreme winter gloves and wetsuit socks are a must for winter sailing. ... anyway Iain, you can surely wait till next winter to sort out the Drysuit problem as it's nearly summer eh? Crack out the shorty!

Wear the same with a thermal rash vest, rooster aqua fleece gloves and fleece neck thingy.  I have never been cold, even after several capsizes.  Gotta say this wetsuit is great, have been surfing for 2 hrs in it during the winter.

Can't speak for it's longevity yet - but my Crewsaver HyperDry ProNeo dry-suit is GREAT.  Lighter and less restrictive than my old 5mm steamer, you can put it on over your day clothes when you just want a quick bash round the lake and best of all ....

... no more freezing cold seepage up the legs during launching or down the neck on the first capsize!

Unfortunately, not much use for scuba diving.

Originally posted by landlocked notice all she's interested in is him taking it off!

Whey hey, roll on Friday night

Seriously though the MM Hyperdry is not breathable so I got very sweaty. The zip was the big problem - it was made of plastic and had small teeth. If you opened it yourself you bent the teeth. The zip had to be pulled horizontally.

The last couple of times I wore it I got stuck in it. It relly needs a new zip. Not good on a suit that is about 2 to 3 years old and be used in cold weather only. I have not done a winter series in it so use has not been excessive.

At the dinghy show I bought some nice new Rooster kit including their hot top which is used as a base layer. I have to wait until the 1st of April to try it out. Only problem is I now look like a Laser sailor

Gill breathable drysuit.  Excellent.  Must have had it for 4 years.  Prefer hiking shorts for most of the year, but this is brilliant for when you want to be warm as toast and dry.  Expensive, yes, but worth it.

Originally posted by turnturtle Originally posted by Contender443 Originally posted by landlocked notice all she's interested in is him taking it off! Only problem is I now look like a Laser sailor nope- sorry Mark the laser sailor look's just not acceptable for man of your social stature... unless of course you can combine it with some of the finer laser sailing characteristics: - walking funny due to dodgy knees - arrogant line antics... even when it's not your fleet's start yet - scowling & grimmacing at the water to psyche yourself up - feigning the ease at which you can step the mast in a F6 (showing any signs of physical strain is seen as 'weakness'; laser sailors are not weak, they are strong, they are the marines of dinghy sailing, boo yah!) - tapeing bananas to the mast (v sad- real sailors should eat mars bars and soggy ginsters slices) No, 'fraid the Laser sailor look isn't really it thesedays... perhaps a better analogy is the topper youth squaddie

Should have expected that however

I usually walk funny because my harness is too tight.

Arrogant line tactics - well I wouldn't go that far but have been known to ask other fleets to get off of our line for their own safety.

Guess why I sail boats where the mast is kept raised most of the time!!

Taping things to the mast - bananas are good. They come in disposable wrappers that can be thrown at the opposition.

Fraid I am too old to look like a Topper squad member.

Now people, I want to see an orderly queue! Custard pies only.... No shooting from the back Turnturtle! and NOOOO ISIS, leave the angle grinder alone!

Honestly radixon, I know you're probably right (I've never sailed a Laser and have no opinion in the matter) and I applaud your courage   

Originally posted by radixon Name another boat that has sold over 180,000?? You have to start somewhere and the fact that it is a recognised Olympic boat is more than can be said for a Contender/RS/9er etc etc etc so there (LASERS RULE )

Just because it has sold 180,000does not make it any good - look they have sold more Fiat Pandas than they have Aston Martins. Does that make the Panda a good car?

 49ers they are an Olympic boat and a 9er are they not? Contenders won the Olympic trials long before the Laser ever did.

Originally posted by radixon (LASERS RULE )

there good for fleet racing and they do feel fast on a reach but i wouldnt go that far.

I bought a second hand Musto drysuit around Christmas.  Difficult to get in and out of (but then it might be one size too small).  No leaks but not breathable - a bargain at £20.  I've had drysuits in the past and they all seem to go around the crutch due to the friction and flexing.

However much to hot and sweaty for high performance boat sailing so I'll be back to my steamer any week now.  Drysuits are OK for cruising (or even helming) but if you have to get really physical they are best avoided unless the water is really cold.

Originally posted by Contender443 Originally posted by radixon Name another boat that has sold over 180,000?? You have to start somewhere and the fact that it is a recognised Olympic boat is more than can be said for a Contender/RS/9er etc etc etc so there (LASERS RULE ) Just because it has sold 180,000does not make it any good - look they have sold more Fiat Pandas than they have Aston Martins. Does that make the Panda a good car?  49ers they are an Olympic boat and a 9er are they not? Contenders won the Olympic trials long before the Laser ever did.

Hey Hey don't knock the Fiat Panda!!! they were great cars i had great fun driving it in my younger days, I just couldn't afford an Aston Martin. (I think the panda was more reliable too!)

Back to Drysuits I have an old Musto that is fine but bought aa breatable Gul one a couple of years ago,but I only wear it for Rescue. I just find them uncomfortable when I'm sailing so I wear a good Steamer all through the winter and go back to my summer w/suit in April (approx)