Foulies

[Pikey Dave]

The "running all winter" thread has got me thinking. Last time out in the usual goretex jacket & overtrousers we all got chilled. What with the Bass fishing trip coming up, I don't want to give the missus an excuse not to go, so I'm on the lookout for some decent foul weather gear. Seeing as our local TK Maxx's are sticking to the usual pink shell suits & pre ripped jeans, I ain't going to get the Mustos. So, I've been looking at the Fladen immersion suits, the Bogmeister recommends these highly & at £80 they seem to good to be true. Anybody got any other recommendations without having to sell a kidney? Also I'm leaning towards the 1 piece suit rather than the jacket & salopettes, thoughts?

[ashbypower]

Why not just get a diving undersuit (Wooley bear) and keep the foulies more virsatile then . Add Undersuit for cold or just foulies for better weather

[Pikey Dave]

We've got various undersuits, it's more the outers that I was looking at, We've got the usual hiking waterproofs but when the water is coming in all directions (including uphill) it eventually gets through. I don't particularly want to wear my diving drysuit when we're fishing as,
a, it can get too warm &
b, I don't want a fishing hook in a £700 quid suit.

[Razorbill RIBs]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

I don't particularly want to wear my diving drysuit when we're fishing as,
a, it can get too warm &
b, I don't want a fishing hook in a £700 quid suit.

Know anyone on a LB crew your way? There were quite a few ex service drysuits in the last clearance round....often need a bit of repair, but cheap

[Polwart]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

The "running all winter" thread has got me thinking. Last time out in the usual goretex jacket & overtrousers we all got chilled. What with the Bass fishing trip coming up, I don't want to give the missus an excuse not to go, so I'm on the lookout for some decent foul weather gear. Seeing as our local TK Maxx's are sticking to the usual pink shell suits & pre ripped jeans, I ain't going to get the Mustos. So, I've been looking at the Fladen immersion suits, the Bogmeister recommends these highly & at £80 they seem to good to be true. Anybody got any other recommendations without having to sell a kidney? Also I'm leaning towards the 1 piece suit rather than the jacket & salopettes, thoughts?

Flotation suit gets my vote unless you are planning to go in the water or get waste deep when launching. Only problem may be its too warm in October! I have a one piece (not a Fladden, but I've worn a fladden before and nothing wrong with them). I don't regret my one piece decision but if Mrs P was getting one i'd go 2 piece as she's harder to keep happy (with temp, toilet stops etc...). The only downside could be the the 275 v's 150N lifejacket question when wearing one.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Mrs P was getting one i'd go 2 piece as she's harder to keep happy (with temp, toilet stops etc...).

Mrs P needs a toilet stop

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

Mrs P needs a toilet stop

Or a fish box.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Mollers

Or a fish box.

Lucky it wasn't Mrs S then

[D Mainwaring]

Do not use ordinary Goretex suits (mountain climbing clothing) on their own, as the salt destroys the pores of the Goretex. You can buy specially treated goretex from companies like Henri Lloyd or the Musto HPX but these are meant for offshore sailors and RNLI crews and they cost between £350-£450.

The XM range is not bad for its price, and don't knock this suggestion but Lidl do a decent range - depends on if it is still a manager's special, I know of a crew on a classic gaff ketch where the skipper has a Henri Lloyd suit and his crew has a Lidl suit and there is no difference in the quality of the material and its finishing and its performance, only the price is the massive difference.

D Mainwaring
Safety Boat instructor/ Advanced Powerboat helm
Dinghy Instructor

[Starovich]

Originally Posted by D Mainwaring

salt destroys the pores of the Goretex.

I may be wrong ( but i dont think so)
Pores are just holes in the fabric, many many times smaller then a water droplet, so water vapour can pass through, not water drops though.

To that end you cant destroy a hole, you can block it or make it bigger. Salt will block the pores, as will sweat, dirt, or many other things. you need to wash goretex regularly to maintain performance.
In addition a new goretex jacket will come with the outer fabric having a water replant coating to allow the water to "bead" off, over time this gets washed off to the outer nylon/cordura fabric starts to hold water, making it look like the garment is no longer waterproof. The gortex layer is unaffected by this and the garment reamins waterproof.
You should wash it in a re repellent solution periodically to allow the beading to re occur this stops the outer soaking up water.

I don't believe WL Gore use different bonding agents to stick the goretex to the nylon (i could be wrong), however to my knowledge the actual goretex fabric remain waterproof even if it de laminates from the nylon.

There is an old wives tail about marine goretex and non marine goretex.