Foul Weather Gear

[Apex]

I am looking for recommendations and looking for sales, typical sales timing, and or locations to buy foul weather gear for great lake racing. I am currently 2 for 2 in sailing in some lovely rain, and want some good foul weather gear for racing with an eye towards best prices. Recommended brands to date: Gill, Musto and Henri LLoyd. I am hoping to carry this gear into a first Chi-Mac race next year.

West Marine has all three brands available: With Gill OS2 line of those appearing to be more economic in choice.

 

[dlochner]

Those brands are good choices. For the Great Lakes get coastal gear it will be more than adequate. The heavier offshore gear is overkill. For warm and light rain I often use a lightweight gore-tex jacket from LL Bean.

Defender is a good source. They have frequent sales with 2 big ones each year, in the fall around boat show time and in the spring in late March. Other sources also have sales at that time.

FWIW, I have an Henri Lloyd jacket and my wife has a West Marine jacket. With the exception of a few features (hers is newer) the jackets are identical, the pattern is the same, the construction is the same. This suggest that they have the same manufacturer.

 

[Parsons]

Any piece of garbage bag will keep you dry from rain. What you pay for in foulies is comfort - ease of movement and ventilation. You also pay for rugged fabrics that won't rip or wear through, and a good deal of branding. There's a reason Musto has its name plastered on all those boats! Personally, I wear Henri Lloyd coastals, and find them both comfortable, and tough for a number of seasons. They are definitely cruising gear, so the pants slip easily over jeans and are somewhat baggy. Dingy racing scallopets are tighter fitting and designed for a dunking. If you have the ability to get to a WM or even boat show, try some on and imagine sitting in a rainstorm for four hours with the hood up.

 

[Gunni]

For those cold-sweet water lakes I would want gear that protected me well from hypothermia even when soaked to the bone, or floating in a MOB. I would want a comfortable easy to wear PFD because you go in that water, chances are high that you will lose the ability to swim. I would not give a spit regarding price.

Note: That is different than the foulies we wear in the summer, or down island. I have 3 distinct foul weather sets, summer, cold, and expedition. The last is a modified dry suit. The most important parts of these assemblies are the layers under the fancy outer shell.

 

[Bad Obsession]

I have Henry Lloyd and I have been impressed with their customer service. My jacket started to leak and I sent it to them. They sent me a brand new jacket in return. Just be advised that their sizes run small.

Get your foul weather gear loose enough so you can layer under it. You are in a northern area so you may be wearing a fleece under the jacket at times. Still, if it is too loose it may catch things.

Don't forget to get some kind of boots. Dry feet are good to have

 

[gettinthere]

Do you go to the Chicago Strictly Sail in Jan? We used to go and there were always good sales.

I'll second the Henry Lloyd customer service...excellent.

 

[markwbird]

Try them on. They all fit a little different and comfort is key. I tried Helly Hanson and its a good product but does not fit my body type. I settled on Henry Lloyd and I love it. Comfy and dry.

 

[Ron20324]

+1 on the boat shows if you can get to one. In Annapolis (October) Fawcetts Marine has a different booth for each manufacturer.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

I'm a South Florida sailor, and have WestMarine's offshore foul weather gear. -& it works well. I also have some gill inshore waterproof jackets, and other light weight stuff.

While the offshore stuff is a bit heavy, and bulky, I don't mind it at all if its going to be very wet. it keeps me dry even if I'm on the rail being hit with wave after wave, if I'm hot I'll just wear the jacket. -in other words, when its nasty I want the heavy duty gear, and you will too.

 

[njlarry]

For cold weather sailing, Good Old Boat just had a really great article on the use of dry suits for both cold deck work and survival suit floatation. Still should have PFD to keep unconscious MOB upright. Very well done piece. Glad
I'm a warm fair weather sailor...on the hard by November.

 

[Jumpstart]

For the MAC you need a medium weight jacket and pants that breathe. Goretex is the gold standard although several brands have a knock off version of Goretex. The Annapolis Boat Show is a great place to find a good price on Foul weather gear. The Helly Hansen store in Annapolis has a great sale during the Annapolis boat show. My wife and I scored HH Skaagen 2 jackets for about $185 each regularly $349. Stand up high fleece collar, fleece pockets, breathable and long waisted. Just the right jacket for the variable conditions in the MAC which I regularly race in.

Whoever told you boots is nuts. Go overboard with sea boots is only slightly less life threatening wearing concrete boots when they fill with water. Most guys are wearing goretex socks with athletic deck shoes. Feet stay dry and they don't take up much room in your sea bag. Add silk inner socks if your feet get cold.

 

[Apex]

thanks everyone....looks like Henri LLoyd is most popular. I also see the SBO has Gill available at same prices as other sites!

 

[DougM]

I like my Henri Lloyd jacket for general use.
I also have a Musto coverall type, but haven't used it a lot.
I also have an old Line7 brand that is my "work" jacket. I wish those were still made, because for me it was best fit and comfort for a light weight . Its old and dirty, but still doesn't leak.
As for boots, no thanks. The only time I use them is when washing down the boat in cool weather.