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Summer Time Sailing on The Great Lakes--Wet Suit Needed??
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Author:  jimk0157 [ Wed Jun 26, 2013 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Summer Time Sailing on The Great Lakes--Wet Suit Needed??

Planning a trip up to Lake Huron in a few weeks to check out the Port Huron to Mackinac Race and to do some sailing in a new TI with my wife on the lake. The water temps look to be around 72 degrees fahrenheit and the air temps should be in the 80s or 90s. Looking for suggestions on if wetsuits and/or other gear might be recommended to stay comfortable during wet rides.

Thanks!

Author:  kayakman7 [ Wed Jun 26, 2013 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Summer Time Sailing on The Great Lakes--Wet Suit Needed?

Depends on conditions and duration. Two hours and warm weather, swimsuits. Rain suits and fleece for longer trips. I would avoid a wetsuit.

Author:  ByronM [ Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Summer Time Sailing on The Great Lakes--Wet Suit Needed?

I'm thinking about getting an NRS Hydroskin suit for use in conditions a bit colder than that.

Anyone have experience with those?

Author:  PassWind [ Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Summer Time Sailing on The Great Lakes--Wet Suit Needed?

I was out the other day in similar air/water temps - it was blowing a good 15+mph steady with decent chop.

With that wind speed and chop, you will be wet and wet + wind = cold. Even though the sun was beating down on me it wasn't long (15-20 min) before I chilled.

I bought a set of Frogg Toggs a few years ago for camping - they are very light weight and pretty cheap. Since they weren't being used much for camping trips I decided to try them out for sailing.

They work pretty well !! They store in their own ditty bag and pack up into a small package, weigh next to nothing and they're easy to put on - in the above scene, all I did was reef the sail, reach into the hatch and I had them on in less than a couple minutes and was on my way.

They are NOT a dry suit by any means but they work better than I expected in keeping the spray off me without me feeling like I was wrapped in a plastic bag. Sure, alittle water gets in the elastic wrist/ankle bands but in 80+ degree heat thats not a problem

For ~$50 its a good thing to have stored aboard

http://www.froggtoggs.com/store/outerwe ... it-10.html

This is the set I have

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