Do you sail in the rain?

[Ken Cross]

Here in the pacific Northwest we are known for lots of rain. The Admiral and I are interested in getting a boat better suited for rain. The one we have has no protection in the cockpit.

We are thinking full canvas or pilothouse depending on what we find. We want to trade up looking for hot water, oven, and a few other things.

The question: How do you manage the rain?

Ken

 

[justsomeguy]

They're affectionately referred to as "foulies".

 

[Chief RA]

Ken: I have been up in your neck of the woods and that makes my home port seem like Arizona! (Which I am headed for the end of the month!) I would definitely want about a 40' pilot house S/V! That would get you out of the rain in style but, don't even put up a sail! ha Happy Holidays, Chief

 

[Jackdaw]

A member of our racing crew (from Sweden) has an favorite expression:

"There is no such things as bad weather, just bad clothing."

Quality foulies will make a huge difference. But I also get the drag of sailing for a week in the rain.

 

[Ken Cross]

Actually I still wanna put up a sail. Did I also mention I'm a cheapskate too?
Fuel consumption is also for me a great reason to go sail. I can't see burning fuel I don't need to burn.

I too have foulies, but it's more comfortable to not need them.

I was just curious how many folks venture out knowing it's going to rain.

Ken

 

[31seahorse]

A dodger and a bimini might help. Side curtains are useful too. If you shop "leaning toward the less costly items", I would suggest finding a used boat equipment store in your area or frequent any nautical flea markets you can drive to. We bought a perfectly serviceable dodger for our Oday 30 in a second hand store. The shop owners allowed a 5 day return if it did not fit, and they delivered it to the dock because we had borrowed bicycles to go to the store!

 

[Kermit]

I sailed my AquaCat 12.5 in a downpour this summer. Loads of fun with great wind. The only thing that made me go in was the lightning. Then I found out I had left my car windows open. And I mean all the way down. All four of them. But great fun sailing. Funny thing, the rain didn't bother me at all. Just the lightning.

 

[Gunni]

What Jackdaw said. Base layer of quality polyester, or silk; polyester fleece mid layer if cold, top-quality, breathable, tailored outer layer specific to boating. NO cotton.
You should be able to comfortably sleep in this kit. I'm a big fan of Salopettes. Hat with wide brim to shed water clear of your collar.

A dodger that sweeps well aft the cabin top and provides a dry seat at the front of the cockpit comforts the watch and that is where I singlehand from.

If you ever plan on passagemaking you need to be able to live with rain. And you never know when rainy weather will catch you out there. Nothing kills the crew's morale quicker than "cold and wet". So you need to get it right.

 

[RichH]

Indeed good foulies !!!!

The problem with BIG dodgers, (grandmother type) 'enclosures', pilot houses (without windshield wipers) is that the water and crud that form on 'the windows' make it very hard to see with beads of saltwater on them. Theyre even worse when they're loaded with dried salt crystals and your heading into the sun near the horizon.
Much better for visibility and safety to wear 'good foulies' ..... and learn how to 'squint' or wear swimming goggles or a ski goggles.

 

[Chief RA]

Rich: don't forget to spit in your goggles so they won't fog up! ha Happy Holidays, Chief

 

[RichH]

anti fog compound .... or the newer goggles with teeny little fans inside them.
and happy holidays to you and yours too, Chief !!!!!!!

 

[Mikem]

Hi Ken. Call me a wus but our full enclosure allows me to sail 12 months of the year. I think it also extends the life of all electronics in the cockpit as well. The memory of passing sailors here in the PNW huddled in the open cockpit or behind the dodger in horizontal rain and 34 degree weather makes me thankful for my full enclosure. Sailing in the snow is no problem either. I have proper foulies and in inclement weather and any exertion I find myself almost as wet due to sweat. With the full enclosure I am more inclined to sail in marginal weather, am less fatigued, and can keep a better lookout as I am not as fatigued. If the dodger gets too wet to see, with my proper foulies it is no problem to wipe it down. Cheers and happy sailing.

 

[Kestle]

Try Rain-X on glass windows. It helps a lot.

Jeff

 

[Scotty C-M]

I would think that a pilot-house design would make a lot of sense for that area. Particularly one that had an outside steering station and another inside. I sail my boat in the rain. It has a dodger and bimini, and I find that it gives me a great deal of protection from the rain.

 

[gettinthere]

We love our full enclosure, tho more for temps vs rain. We feel real guilty zipped up comfortably on a 40d day wearing light clothes while others around us in open boats are bundled up in 50 layers.

 

[rgranger]

One nice thing about sailing in the rain are the rainbows. Here is a pic I took with my son at the tiller, running under storm jib only in advance of a nasty thunder storm. It blew over us in about 20 min... just as we pulled up to a pier in Columbia N.C. The second pic is the rainbow that came out as we were tying up.

Very cool day.

 

[njlarry]

Motor in rain, anchor in storms. Truthfully, if our weather was colder and wetter i would cross over to power boating.

 

[Benny17441]

Sailing is not an indoor sport. We go out when it rains and just get caught in storms when we are out. When temperatures are high the rain refreshes but sailing in the rain in cold weather is not fun. I find the Pacific Ocean cold all the time so perhaps a dodger with full cockpit enclosure would be your best bet.

 

[Terry Cox]

PNW Weather

Hi Ken, we've been sailing PNW waters for years and have had both. We cruise year around and have settled on some things that work for us. If you are into sailing rather than motor sailing, a full cockpit enclosure makes things a bit difficult when it comes to making tack changes, trimming, etc. Likewise, weather can get dicey at times, so a boat without a dodger makes cockpit time miserable in a snow storm even with foulies.

Our boat is equipped with a dodger and bimini, plus I keep foulies on board. So, when weather turns sour, at least I have the protection of the two. During the summer the bimini helps with sun exposure. When you're at the helm for a few hours in the sun, the bimini shade makes matters much more comfortable.

As far as the other stuff goes, we have an oven, three burner CNG stove, diesel forced air furnace, freezer, refrigerator, etc. That way we can cruise for months on end and still have the comforts that make for a pleasant time on board.

Lots of boats with the amenities that you need or want. Belle-Vie is our second Hunter and would do it again with no regrets. We've sailed her all over PNW waters including several two month cruises and regular winter cruises, even some in snow storms.

Some people like the full cockpit enclosure. Our first boat had one and I sailed with it once on a lumpy day from Poulsbo to Everett in a southerly. I did not like the enclosed echoey feeling. I much prefer just the dodger and bimini with foulies if necessary.

 

[Terry Cox]

PNW Weather

Hi Ken, have patience. Our first boat, an H28, we bought it from the PO in the Everett marina on E dock. Sailed her for three years, then upgraded to our current boat that we purchased from the PO in Semiahmoo.

We did not get along with the Everett marina staff of the time, so we moved to Shelter Bay and have been happy ever since. Look around, check the ads, make a list of the things you want or need on your new boat and before long your dream just magically appears. Good luck.