Best clothing for the Sea

After getting a pair of neoprane chest waders for christmas for launching and retrieving the boat i thought my prayers were answered. No more wet feet and should stay warm.

Recent boat trips have proved different after getting a soaking in heavy rain the chest waders are bloody freezing but at the same time your still sweating inside them which isnt that great when your out at sea for 8 hours.

After talking to a very helpfull outdoor clothing store i was told that gortex garments arent worth a dam when the salt water gets onto them it clogs up the fibre thus stopping the air getting out.

I was told that the best sea gear on the market was EVENT clothing as used by the RNLI crews.

So id like to hear your opinions or your experience with your sea clothing. Not really interested in floatation suits as they can be a life taker rather than a life saver if your unconcious in the water.

Have been told this info by a RNLI spokes person how did a satety at sea chat recentley which i attended. He also couldnt stress enough about wearing your life jacket at all times and making sure everybody aboard does too. Also to wear them as tight as possible and if your jacket is compatable with a crotch stap its in your interest to get one. And he added always check your jacket for faults only takes about ten minutes one place in particular is the little rubber seal which the gas canister screws up to if its worn or broke the jacket wont inflate automatically try blowing it up when u fall overboard!!

If your buying jackets for kids make sure there the proper size for them not two sizes too big cause there gona grow outa them for the sake of 50 60 quid every couple of years, what the first thing a child is gona do when they go overboard Reach for mummy or daddy then what happens they slip outa the jacket.

I know this post was about the best clothing for the sea but after that talk i got it really hit home how important your life jacket is thought id share a few things with you's

So lads what u thinhk for the clothing?

Would a floatation suit and a life jacket not make sence??

You'll be warm and dry and if you ended up in the water the life jacket will flip you on your back.

IMO you are spot on on the importance of a good fitting life jacket to be worn at ALL times.
Something else that I picked up on is the fact that you keep the chest waders on in the boat. This is a big no no. It is asking for trouble if you go over. Apart from them being uncomfortable they will fill with water making you less buoyant and your life jacket will struggle to cope with the extra weight.

Chesties are a bit of a hazard alright, the danger comes from a different source with them though. If there is air trapped within them, it makes your legs more buoyant so maintaining a stable upright position, even with a lifejacket on, is compromised. Fact of the matter is that water in water has a neutral buoyancy and will not drag you down or anything like it, what it will do however is make life, trying to get back out of the water extremely awkward.

Try a lightweight waterproof suit witha life vest in the better weather and look for a self righting floatation suit for the colder days or as another poster pointed out a floatation suit and life vest together.