Yachting Monthly - July 2018

 L

et’s be honest: while we might

think we need oilskins that

can fend off the fi ercest ocean

storm, in reality, most of us

choose to sail in the warmer

months. If a nasty forecast is coming our

way, we’re more likely to be found holed

up in the nearest harbour or pub than

plugging to windward into the teeth of gale.

If you are a coastal cruising sailor, you

may decide that inshore waterproofs will do

what you need for most of the time, keeping

the worst of the weather out without being

too bulky or too hard on the wallet. We’ve

chosen sets of oilskins that all come in at

under £350 for the jacket and trousers

together. If you’re after something more

heavyweight, we’ll be testing offshore

waterproofs later in the season.

The good news is that there’s plenty of

choice out there, and it’s a segment of the

market that’s seeing lots of innovation as

manufacturers compete to stay a step

ahead. It’s not long since only top-end

waterproofs were breathable, with entry-

level sets being impermeably sweaty. The

sets we tested were all breathable, utilising

own-brand fabric rather than branded cloth

like Gore Tex. We’ve included minimum

waterproof ratings (the water pressure

the fabric can withstand in millimetres)

though most claim to exceed this.

As soon as the jackets arrived in our

offi ce, it was clear the suits fi tted roughly

into one of two categories. Some were fairly

substantial garments including many of

the features you’d expect to see on offshore

waterproofs, while others had taken a more

minimalist approach, giving some protection

while keeping things lightweight and simple.

Personal taste will dictate which you prefer.

HOW WE TESTED THEM

We picked a range of the latest coastal

waterproofs on the market, lined them up

and compared the details and features we

did and didn’t like. We looked at the fabric

used and the overall feel and quality of the

garment; the hood and collar; internal and

external

pockets and

handwarmers;

zips and closures;

lining and fi t

adjustment, cuffs and

seals. We also tested both

men’s and women’s versions

of each suit where available.

We then went out sailing and spent

time wearing each of the suits to get

a feel for the fi t and articulation offered,

as being able to move freely without feeling

encumbered is an important factor. We

wore lifejackets over the top so we could

see if the pockets were still accessible and

played around with the hoods, collars

and cuffs to fi nd out how easy and effective

all of the features were to use.

Finally, we donned grey t-shirts under

the waterproofs to show any damp spots

effectively and then poured a large bucket

of water from a metre above the wearers’

heads while hosing down from the front,

behind, in the face and around the cuffs.

We’ve been using them out on the water

over the start of the season to give us more

of an idea of how they hold up in the real

world. Longevity over a few seasons’ use

was the only factor we couldn’t test.

GROUP TEST

GUL

Vigo Coastal

MUSTO

BR1 Inshore

GILL

OS3 Coastal

DECATHLON

Tribord 500

ZHIK

Kiama

HELLY HANSEN

Pier

HENRI LLOYD

Wave

THE

TEST

SEE

OVER

LEAF

After a thorough soaking,

we measured the area

of wet fabric on the grey

t-shirts worn underneath