Drysuit Replacement

[Noddy]

Not sure if this is a good idea or not.
Our Drysuits need replacing after 3 years of hard use.
Looking at what is on the market at the moment £250 is cheap.
However l have a few friends who are anglers and wear chest waders.
They are made of neoprene(4mm) have integral wellies attached, adjustable straps and are warm as toast. They cost about £50 for a reasonable pair. I reckon with a good dry top they should to the trick for well under half the price? Any comments for or against would be appreciated before I take the plunge(so to speak!).
Martyn

[Polwart]

I guess that "taking the plunge" is the major risk with these. They are not going to keep the water out, will fill with water and weigh you down. I suspect that if the "worst" happened survival time in waders and a dry top would be much lower than a good dry suit.

[Biggles]

I witnessed someone fall in with chest waders on and it took ten men to pull him out. If you go down that route you need to understand that you need to release them once you fall in the water.

I thought the same as you. Indeed I have bought the waders but not used them yet. Glad I haven't, because I slipped and fell in Yarmouth harbour last saturday. Then I was glad I was wearing my drysuit. Its May but the water is still very cold.

By the way how come you worn those drysuits out. Mines older and still going strong. Howabout getting them serviced and having some new seals fitted.

I haven't got to that stage yet and I know mine has been severely abused over the last 3 years since I bought it.

[Noddy]

Thanks for the replies so far. Biggles - that was my one worry falling in and getting bogged down when the waders inevitably fill with water. The ones I thought of getting(Shakespeare) have velcrose quick release straps so provided we are wearing lifejackets(always do) shouldnt be too much of a problem. Wouldnt contemplate using them during the winter so that shouldnt come into the equasion. It is launching and recovery where I think they will come into their own. I could get our drysuits refurbished but to be frank its a pain getting in and out of them when you want a pee etc(I wont elaborate further) Anglers wear them for hours at a time and they definately dont leak.
Martyn

[mark-f]

Originally Posted by Noddy

Thanks for the replies so far. Biggles - that was my one worry falling in and getting bogged down when the waders inevitably fill with water. The ones I thought of getting(Shakespeare) have velcrose quick release straps so provided we are wearing lifejackets(always do) shouldnt be too much of a problem. Wouldnt contemplate using them during the winter so that shouldnt come into the equasion. It is launching and recovery where I think they will come into their own. I could get our drysuits refurbished but to be frank its a pain getting in and out of them when you want a pee etc(I wont elaborate further) Anglers wear them for hours at a time and they definately dont leak.
Martyn

The Best compromise I have come up with is to use the bottom half of a two piece drysuit and have boots fitted instead of the Latex socks, I use this arrangement and have fallen in a couple of times and no water gets into them, ideal for Launching the boat then easy to take off whilst out.

Mark

Ps the only problem with Waders when they fill up is getting out of the Water with all the extra weight of a few gallons of water, but whilst in the water the wont weigh you down as the water inside them is the same as the water outside ( so net effect is neutral) so your bouyancy is not affected, however climbing back into a rib over the tubes would be a different matter

[Noddy]

Thanks Mark
Re-assured about the buoyancy thing. How about the other way round with a good quality drysuit top tight fitting over the chest waders. Im sure some water would creep in but should be negligible?
Martyn

[vince]

hi Noddy, we use IMAX sea fishing suits. They are as warm as toast, completely windproof, and are 2 peice, they can be used together or seperate and have neoprane seals on wrist and ankle, which means they go over a normal welly and we have launched our old sib with water up to the jewels without getting wet. We still have our crewsavers, but these are so much more user freindly. The best part is, they have built in bouency so no need to wear a preserver! They keep you warm and safe in the coldest of water if you have the misfortune to go in. We havnt used the drysuits at all since getting these, would recommend them. Get them from a descent sea fishing store or on tinternet. Its another alternative to think about, we only paid 99 grotes each, which i think is a fair price when its your safety that we are talking about. Please dont go down the waders route, its just not safe enough.

[Andre]

Originally Posted by Noddy

Not sure if this is a good idea or not.
Our Drysuits need replacing after 3 years of hard use.
Looking at what is on the market at the moment £250 is cheap.
However l have a few friends who are anglers and wear chest waders.
They are made of neoprene(4mm) have integral wellies attached, adjustable straps and are warm as toast. They cost about £50 for a reasonable pair. I reckon with a good dry top they should to the trick for well under half the price? Any comments for or against would be appreciated before I take the plunge(so to speak!).
Martyn

Martyn

This is what you should have, the Typhoon WOSS

[benc]

Originally Posted by Noddy

Thanks Mark
Re-assured about the buoyancy thing. How about the other way round with a good quality drysuit top tight fitting over the chest waders. Im sure some water would creep in but should be negligible?
Martyn

I think its not so much a bouyancy issue, but being dragged by the tide/current?

[mark-f]

Originally Posted by Andre

Martyn

This is what you should have, the Typhoon WOSS

HI Andre

Errrm well as i use a WOSS who am i to argue , but in warm weather still like the option of waterproof bottom half.

mark