Keeping Warm under Foulies

[Kings Gambit]

I'm sure many have noticed that while foulies can keep you dry, they're not that good at keeping you warm in cold, wind-driven rain. Without having to bulk up underneath to the point of looking like Michelin Man, what are the practical solutions that some have had success with? I've been looking at SmartWool underwear (shirts) as a possibility. Anyone try 'em? Anything better short of donning a full-sized exposure suit?

 

[justsomeguy]

Plastic underwear, such as Olefin or polypropylene, can go a long way toward keeping you warm.
These are available in garments made for everything from heads to toes.

 

[Johnb]

A collateral benefit of the ordinary vest type life jacket is it helps keep you warm. I like fleece under foulies. Also get a neck gaiter, gloves, hat, insulated boots (thinsulate) and warm socks. Keeping warm starts with preventing heat loss from every part of your body.
How cold does it get in Ventura?

 

[markwbird]

Thermal underwear.

 

[Kings Gambit]

A collateral benefit of the ordinary vest type life jacket is it helps keep you warm. I like fleece under foulies. Also get a neck gaiter, gloves, hat, insulated boots (thinsulate) and warm socks. Keeping warm starts with preventing heat loss from every part of your body.
How cold does it get in Ventura?

In yesterday's wind-driven rain storm at Ventura I was outside wearing my HL jacket with just a shirt underneath in 30-35 kt plus (not outside of the harbor, which is closed now due to sand shoaling) and I'm thinking the wind-chill w/rain put the temp around 45-50 deg F. True, if I had been outside of harbor in the ESB Channel in those conditions I would have had the vest on, and I would not have felt the wind chill in the same way. However, I may be coming your way this summer! [The wind still blowing in Ventura today!]

 

[uncledom]

Merino wool long undies. They keep you warm and dry. I like a fleece watch cap under my foulie hood.

 

[Brian S]

+ 1 billion for Smart Wool long underwear, or whatever generic merino wool brand you can get. Everyone always says to get a wicking long underwear for next-to-skin, whether it's polyester or polypro, but I often feel kinda chilled... Not so with merino wool. Wool is interesting in that it generates heat (exothermic) as it gets wet. Merino wool has finer strands so doesn't feel as itchy as regular wool. Whatever you do, don't wear cotton or cotton blend against the skin. If it gets wet, it will absorb water and take forever to dry. And while it's wet against your skin, it's sucking heat out of you.

After you put on your woolies, try a fleece over that. Columbia makes fleece tops with little shiny silver dots inside, which are supposed to reflect heat back to you. I think it works to an extent. I think these REI zip pullovers are pretty nice for the price: http://www.rei.com/product/883349/rei-co-op-quarter-zip-fleece-pullover-mens I feel a polyester fleece is far better, and stays looking better, than some acrylic or acrylic blend fleece. Fleece ought to be less bulky and lighter than a wool sweater.

If it's really cold, consider a puffy pullover insulated with Primaloft insulation. Patagonia Nanopuff or North Face Thermoball are some good examples. Primaloft is a synthetic insulation that is hydrophobic, and mimics the branch structure of real down - but will keep insulating if it gets wet, unlike down.

 

[kloudie1]

Fleece, Navy watch hat (wool) and leather gloves.

 

[Calif. Ted]

The boat is OK but that wind started lifting shingles on my house in San Clemente, we're not used to 50 kt. gusts in the harbor down here. I've got some fleece lined cargo pants that work well against the chill.
http://www.wrangler.com/webapp/wcs/...jf-hdWpESmZgBidU4g4ZbBt_DWX4s3Jzq4aAi_L8P8HAQ

 

[Kings Gambit]

The boat is OK but that wind started lifting shingles on my house in San Clemente, we're not used to 50 kt. gusts in the harbor down here. I've got some fleece lined cargo pants that work well against the chill.

Yeah, the Ventura HP reported 65 MPH (ca 56 kt) coming across the harbor entrance to where they are. Down in the basin close behind the mole the weather station on our mast saw gusts > 35 kt, but I assumed it was under b/c the rotator has been sticking lately. Nevertheless, I doubt we got over 40 kt or so in there. Boat is covered in beach sand for the second time this winter season!

 

[Calif. Ted]

I've seen the streets on the strand filled with sand but it never occurred to me that it could keep going and make it all the way to the boats. We had a lot of waves coming over the outer breakwater where they've just begun "emergency dredging" where it is shoaling and trying to choke off half the harbor from sand being pushed thru the breakwater, luckily not my half. Thank goodness it's supposed to be back in the 70's again soon.

 

[Bill Roosa]

You must have a small boat with no enclosed cockpit. I find that foul weather gear is kinda useless unless I have to get out of the cockpit. I find a first mate to be excelent at getting warm for those few times I do have to do something on deck in the rain/wind.
With an enclosed cockpit it can get to 40 degrees F and 20 knots apparent wind before I even consider putting on a second layer.
Soooo this is your chance to talk bigger boat with the admiral.

 

[Sailm8]

Florida

 

[toliver]

Wool is the only fiber I know that keeps it warmth next to skin even when wet (inc'd body moisture)...Cold conditions usually dictate wearing an allover wool base layer...hat, neck gaiter, top, bottom, socks and thin glove liners. IMHO lightweight or thin layers of wool transport the moisture away from the skin faster than thicker layers.
After that it comes down to "loft" (or thickness) of the middle clothing layer..and the thicker it is, the warmer it will be (I am sure that Michelin Man is nice and warm).
Obiously, an allover breathable waterproof outermost layer (Jacket w/ attach hood, pants, boots, and gloves will complete your warm foulies.

 

[thinwater]

Two sets of fleece? The conditions you report are barely cool fall weather by my way of thinking, so I think you need to re-calibrate your dress standards and embrace the Maineism:

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

And really, wool is a dated answer. It does not dry and there are far better, modern materials. Perry's men died on the south pole because they had wool they could never get dry. Wool is OK for day sailors, but not if you are going to be out for a long time in actual cold conditions.

 

[jwing]

... Wool is interesting in that it generates heat (exothermic) as it gets wet...

Interesting; I never heard that. What regenerates wool's exothermic potential - or does it just stop being exothermic after a number of reactions?

 

[Kings Gambit]

That's what I like about this forum. Seems no limit to what a person can learn in these exchanges. Evidently, there's such a thing as "heat of sorption" that applies to wool fibers. When water vapor "reacts" w/ the protein of wool fibers there can be condensation which, of course, releases some heat. The relative dryness of the wool prior to sorption of vapor determines the amount and duration of the release of heat. Once the wool is saturated heat production slows and stops, according to what I could find on this topic w/o too much investigation.

 

[Brian S]

Thanks, Kings Gambit! That's more than I remember from some Discovery channel TV show I must have seen years and years ago about wool! All I remember is the releasing heat when wet part.

 

[Kings Gambit]

You must have a small boat with no enclosed cockpit. I find that foul weather gear is kinda useless unless I have to get out of the cockpit. I find a first mate to be excelent at getting warm for those few times I do have to do something on deck in the rain/wind.
With an enclosed cockpit it can get to 40 degrees F and 20 knots apparent wind before I even consider putting on a second layer.
Soooo this is your chance to talk bigger boat with the admiral.

Boat's not all that small; 40 ft LOA. Admiral likes to stay warm so no need to convince anyone of the desirability of full enclosure. However, it's generally not cold, or rainy, enough in Southern California to justify it IMHO. Nevertheless there are times during the day or evening when more effective insulation against cold wind is welcomed, especially when cruising in the western portion of our weather zone, or even further west around Santa Rosa and San Miguel islands. I'll be trying those fleece and woolen underwear suggestions b/f this winter is out! Normally for me during day it's only cotton/polyester LS tee under 100% cotton LS shirt, fairly heavy. That's good into the mid- to low 60s of F.

 

[woodster]

Smart wool is a very good choice along with Pendleton wool clothing and carhartt makes a new line of storm defender outer ware you may want to take a close look at the key to staying warm is to layer you clothing so you can adjust to the temps as the day goes by....also wool does not soak water it sheads it ....if you don't think so just ask the sheep what they ware