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Dinghy sailing and small boat Wetsuits
Wetsuits are very popular and are used for diving, triathlons, jet skiing, kite boarding, surfing, kayaking, windsurfing as well as sailing. For sailing you need to take into account, wind-chill, padding, and protect the fabric from harsh deck surfaces which makes the suit construction important. Bottom line buy a sailing specific suit not a diving suit or surf suit which do not have the abrasion protection..
Full wetsuits are ideal for anyone who would like to be in the water longer in colder water temperatures. To ad warmth you can add gloves and hoods in wetsuit material. Steamers usually have a zip to aid entry many times in the back with a long tether so you can pull it up and down. The Gill Hurakan suit left is one example of a steamer. The 5/3mm Neoprene suit has stretchy underarms, behind knees, crotch. The main body has added material for wind protection.
There is a zip closure in the back with a long pull tape to aid getting it on
and off. The collar, ankles and cuffs have low friction neoprene edges to aid
pulling on and sealing. Extra padding is applied to the seat, shins and knees.
These are the features to look for along with a very stretchy material that fits
your body.
There is even have an inside key pocket, very handy so you can unlock your car when you
get in.
Long Johns, cover the torso and legs only; it offers far less
restriction in arm movement and so is better for warmer temperatures and an active
sailor. Popular with Skiff sailors the protection of legs and knees, but with full upper body movement makes the skiff a great choice.
The image right is of Zhiks superwarm Skiff. It is very popular with Olympic
sailors and Robert Scheidt, the Brazilian Gold medalist wears the long john
superwarm in cold waters and the microfleece version in warmer conditions. Long Johns may have Velcro closure on one shoulder to aid entry. the skiff version Zhik has a relief flap
Shorties are wetsuits with short legs and arms. The idea of a shortie wetsuit is to keep your body at a comfortable temperature, during the summer sailing season. Shortie are normally manufactured from fairly thin neoprene, often 2-3mm. Shorties have short arms, usually finishing just above the elbow and short legs usually finishing just above the knee or on the thigh. If you are droop hiking then where the suit ends on your thigh can be critical. If the bottom of the suit coincides with the deck when you are hiking you will feel some discomfort.
Hikers Hikers are not wetsuits per se, but they are made from the same material. Hikers offer protection for the knees and padding for the thigh and designed for droop hiking. The full length hikers from Gul right Features: 5mm Dura Flex neoprene panels, Adjustable elasticized shoulder straps, High waist to reduce drag , Fixed heavy duty baton pads, Dura Tex seat and knees, Durable mauser taped seams, Articulated Knee You can choose a rash guard or another top for the upper body to combat evaporation and wind chill.
Bottoms & Tops Zhik and many manufacturers make just bottoms and tops. For some who only need a small amount of protection this choice is better for them. If you sit down (small dinghy)bottoms are good, if you just stand up (windsurf) a top may work.
Modern wetsuits are still made out of neoprene, but many other layers are added to improve heat retention, ad warmth and flexibility etc. Some modern wetsuits incorporate Merino wool and titanium fibers into the material layers. The titanium layers are designed to reflect heat back to the body, while the wool layers ad warm in the new range of semi dry suits.
The image below shows Zhiks superwarm material.
As we discussed earlier seals at collar, ankle and cuff are most important in preventing Flushing. Even if you have the best wetsuit material, if water can get in and out through your arms or legs you are going to be cold. So when choosing a suit see how the seals work on your body. Seals for come in a variety of forms. A simple hem, plain material cut smoothly or a slippery material sewn around the edge. Some suits have a smooth rubber finish as seals and they fit tightly and at the same time are easy to get on and off. This type of finish is virtually always around the neck seal and in the case of semi-dry suits also around the wrists and ankles.
The Blind Stitch is not as flat as the Flatlock stitch. You may see patches glued on the seam joints and stress points.
Liquid Seam or Fluid Seam; Also called Super Seal. Liquid taping is pretty new
wetsuit invention. Special rubber is used when sewing the neoprene to seal the
inner or/and outer side of the stitches. That makes them stronger and
additionally closes any holes. Some Fluid seams do not have stitching. 100%
waterproof stitches! so better for colder water and seen in high end suits.
Every manufacturer has its own size guidelines, so if you have a brand that fits you and stick with it. You can order online but sizing charts may not reflect your actual size so it is best to try any suit on before you purchase. If you do want to order online take lots of measurements and give that to the e commerce site.
The thicker the wetsuit material the warmer you will be. When choosing a suit you will see the designation 5/3 for example or three numbers like 5/4/3. This refers to the thickness 5 mm of the material for the body and the 3 mm material where flexibility is required. With modern materials a 3/2mm wetsuit can have the warmth of 1mm thicker material these days. Modern 4/3 wetsuits, for instance, may feel as flexible as a 3/2 of only a few years ago.
7mm, 7/5mm; Normal thickness for Steamer wetsuits, and activities in colder waters which require a greater thermal protection but provides a lesser degree of flexibility. For these activities wearing a hood, gloves and boots are virtually a necessity
Some of the benefits of more flexible wetsuits are range of motion, comfort, and even putting on and taking off your wetsuit. A wetsuit that does not fit properly will not keep you warm. Wetsuits can be purchased in a variety of qualities and price ranges. Spring/summer suits can cost between $100-$250 whilst winter suits can cost between $200-$450.
Used
Boat Parts
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The
4 layers of the Superwarm material are;
Blind
Stitched and Glued Seams also known as GBS does not go through the
material. A blind stitch sewing machine uses a special curved needle, which
is designed so it does not go all the way through the neoprene and hence is
better at keeping water out. Hence the Blind stitch is better for
thicker material and colder water. 
