Many people are being driven to explore living aboard due to exorbitant housing prices in SF Bay. There is a plentiful supply of cheap used boats, harbors all over the bay, and it’s certainly a romantic notion to wake up on the water and watch the seals and cormorants frolic while the sun rises. The proximity to water and nature is one of the prime reasons I love being a liveaboard.
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I’ve had my Zhik HydroMerino base layer (top and bottom) for a few years now, and I’m really happy with them. In fact, I haven’t gotten my hands on a piece of Zhik (rhymes with ‘psych’) sailing gear that didn’t impress me.
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Now that I’ve put a few miles on my Spinlock Deckvest 5D inflatable PFD, I will share my thoughts. The big question is usually, “Is it worth such a premium over other inflatable PFDs?” For me the answer is a solid yes, for a number of reasons.
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After spending several days racing in Sperry’s SeaRacer sailing boots, I’m ready to share my opinion of them.
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Footwear is a key component of your sailing foul weather gear, no matter what kind of sailing you intend to do. Sailing footwear’s primary function is to improve your grip on deck. It also serves to protect your feet from exposure to cold water, and the myriad toe-stubbing opportunities a sailboat provides.
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Sailing foul weather gear manufacturers spend a lot of time and effort generating marketing jargon to describe their garments. This article is a brief introduction to the different types of materials used in constructing waterproof outerwear. It will give you a base knowledge that you can use to compare garments between manufacturers, without relying on their often vague and hyperbolic product descriptions.
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I’ve had the chance to race in my Sperry SeaRacer sailing shoes. I opted for the black/blue color, which is currently selling for just under $100 at West Marine. I find them more aesthetically appealing than most of Sperry’s technical sneakers. The fit is true to size, and free of Sperry’s habit of making their toe box a bit narrow for my feet. The upper is mostly a lightweight mesh, and the shoe uses regular laces. The insole is a textured rubber which is comfortable and grippy wet or dry.
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Layering is the time-proven method for tailoring your clothing to match your activity level and environment. It allows you to quickly adapt to changing conditions, ensuring maximum comfort at all times. Sailing on a clear, sunny day in San Diego is going to require very different gear than sailing in the Southern Ocean. This article will cover the basics of layering for sailing foul weather gear. In future articles, I will focus on each layer and give a more in-depth comparison of specific garments.
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