sailing clothing recommendations?

[themadscientist]

I will soon have my little boat and getting out on the water is longer an "if" but a "when." My life vest is an easy choice, as is my hat and gloves, but I am looking for quality clothing to wear with them. I could go wetsuit as the boat is a small dinghy and as I learn I am sure to flip it, a lot. That seems a bit extreme, though, and I worry I will overheat out on the water under the merciless sun.
I'm a pasty white dude and can catch a burn standing in front of a 100w light bulb, so I need full UV coverage that can protect me out there. Long pants, long sleeved shirt, and grippy shoes. All should dry quickly so I don't prune out and be very rugged.

Do some of the salty ones around here have some gear they could recommend?

 

[RECESS]

Wetsuit skins are made with UV protection and stay cool wet or dry. I do not think a 1mm wetsuit would be too hot either. I would recommend some skins as you will be wet sailing, you can get them in full length legs and long sleeve full body. I have both short sleeve skins and full body skins. They also help when the water gets cooler and you go to a 3mm wetsuit over them. The suits slide over the skins much easier than human skin.

I am a surfer as well as a recreational diver, so I use my skins and wetsuits often.

 

[OldCat]

Where will you be sailing? I would dress a lot differently for dinghy sailing in Florida than I would in California - because of the water temperature difference. Wetsuits can be a good thing to wear, I wore my 3mm longjohn a lot when I sailed catamarans off the CA coast. I often wore a breathable water shedding jacket over the wetsuit. Wetsuits and drysuits are for when you may take a swim in cooler waters. In warmer waters and warmer days you may want something lighter.

Here are some other ideas (but costly): http://www.landfallnavigation.com/4340smock.html

Also - quick dry camping type clothing will work well. I often wear this type of clothing on our Colorado lakes. The flatland lakes are warm enough in summer and the worst case swim to shore short enough that a wetsuit is not needed. Mountain lakes are another problem, wetsuit country for a dinghy.

Wetsuits and camping style quick dry clothing are the less expensive choices. Drysuits and specialized stuff like the Gill dinghy gear is more costly. How far from the beach will you be sailing? What kinds of water and air temperatures do you want to sail in?

OC

 

[themadscientist]

Whoops, locale is an important bit I left out. I'm over in Okinawa, about south Florida latitude.

I intend to stay very close to shore as I work on fundamental skills. The water here is nice and warm this time of year especially on my side of the island. The kuroshio current runs right by.
It's surprisingly hit and miss with the wind here, we must be lower than the jet stream or something. I'm thinking a base layer that wicks moisture and provides UV protection and packing a good windbreaker aboard in case the weather turns quick. I'm sure as I get out there I will tweak my wardrobe to address lessons learned.

I found the Gill website and that is some good-looking stuff. It ain't cheap to be sure but hypothermia and skin cancer are a buzzkill.

 

[lehighsail]

Look at the Dr. Shade Baclava for fisherman. It covers your face and neck and has an spf of 50. I use suntan lotion under it and find it comfortable and not warm at all. You get some strange looks out on the water but its my skin. I also get long sleeve shirts at the SPF Store (?) for under $20 and I remain that nice pasty white.

 

[max7804]

Columbia makes a nice line that sports fisherman here in the Texas Gulf Coast wear frequently, called PFG (Perfomance fishing gear). Colorful lightweight shirts, shorts, and trousers for men and women. Cool fabrics. The great thing is they are vented for hot days, look kind of neat (especially for guys!) and some are made with a built in sunscreen protection. Shirts come in long or short sleeved, and look good enough for the drink afterwards. Plus they dry quickly, and don't wrinkle. Hope that helps.....

 

[themadscientist]

Thanks everyone. I'll check that stuff out. Today's crisis is getting the boat home. They told me they would deliver, now it looks like maybe they won't. I don't have a hitch on my truck either. I was going to build it after I got the boat, but I may be building it today all A-team style. It wouldn't be life if it wasn't all screwed up!

 

[DavidandFlipper]

Renting a hitch

MS,I too lack a hitch and thought about asking a truck owner from the lemon lot for help. This would give me more time to work on a hitch. Let me know if you solve the hitch challenge.

 

[themadscientist]

I called a buddy who had a hitch on his truck. The boat is in the driveway! Look for an intro thread in trailersailors in a few days! Happy happy.