WetSuits vs Survival Suits

Bob5292 · 07-11-2006, 02:57 PM

I have several Survival Suits and I am a pretty serious freediver so I have about a dozen freedive wetsuits with built in hoods. I commonly spend 8 hours at a time in 56 degree water and I am never cold.
I have spent a lot of time reading and thinking about potential problems I will face at sea. The only time I would get into a survival suit prior to being in the water would be if conditions were rapidly deteriorating and I felt like we were going to capsize or have to abandon ship. A more likely scenario would be, the boat capsizing or something else unexpected where we would have to put our suits on in the water. The imperial survival suits that I have, act more as dry suits. If you put them on in the water, you would have up to 20 gallons of water in the suit with you, making them almost useless. I commonly toss my wetsuits into the sound, jump in, then slide the suit on and only end up chilled for a minute or two. I would be cold but not in bad shape floating about for up to 24 hours in a properly fitting wetsuit and life vest. I also figure in poor conditions I would be more likely to don a flexible wetsuit than a poorly fitting gumby style survival suit. And there are no zippers, seals, or vents to fail or malfunction on a wetsuit. In my 22 foot Center Console Rockit Wear would be great but its just not in the cards right now.

Bob

Sling Blade · 07-11-2006, 04:04 PM

I have had this thought many times. Lets see what the jury has to say...? :lurk:

bajadan2000 · 07-11-2006, 04:16 PM

I have both a dry and wetsuit.

Given the option of which one I would rather put on and wear if the "boat capsizing or something else unexpected where we would have to put our suits on in the water".

I vote wetsuit.

Onokai · 07-11-2006, 05:16 PM

I have more wetsuits and dry suits than I need. If I had the choice of donning one dry it would be the drysuit if I'm in the water -wetsuit hands down-that said I'll think I'll throw a wetsuit in the boat as I'm heading 50 miles offshore in am.
If you are spending lots of time in the water the drysiut with underwear will keep you toast for longer-after a 1/2 day the wetsuit will get you colder I know this from being in the water on commercial jobs. 8 hour shift mud sucking a tank for 3 weeks 3 years ago in 48 degree water. Ok I know what your thinking the pay was not enough-period. Mark

USCG Yaquina Bay · 07-11-2006, 05:25 PM

Boats typically don't capsize in calm conditions, so when you are thinking about what type of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) you would like to be wearing, think about what the conditons are which would cause your boat to roll? I'm going to guess it would be a little choppy, then think about just how "easy" its going to be putting that "suit of choice" on (in the water)when it is choppy. Have you tried it? If you are a frequent diver you may be used to putting on a wet suit in 56 degree water, but how many of us are frequent divers? How often do we practice putting on a wet suit or survival suit? For those of us who try to spend as much time as we can on top of the water, I'd bet that that sudden "dip" into 56 degree water may be quite a shock on our system. Take some time to look at the pros and cons of all types of safety equipment, and try them on for size. One last thing, most of the wet suits I see are black or blue, while every survival suit I've ever seen is bright red or orange. Who will be the easiest to be spotted by the Coast Guard or another searcher? R

ogrejager · 07-11-2006, 05:46 PM

How's putting on those wetsuits in the water go when you're wearing clothing? Those gumby drysuits--well, they can go on over clothing.

When the boat I was on sank a few years ago, we put on the drysuits. It was quick, easy and we stayed warm--even floating around at the tip of the Alaska Pennisula. Further, they have a lot more flotation (when not full of water). I was much happier than I would have been in one of my wetsuits.

bajadan2000 · 07-11-2006, 05:55 PM

You bring up very good points. I was looking at this as a hypothetical question about putting suits on while in the water, which in reality would not be often. If the conditions were bad enough to cause my boat to roll, I would have everything on that floats.

So do I have a wet suit on board? Well no.
Do I have a dry suit on board? Again no.

This is what I have for bad weather conditions.

A full float work suit in bright orange with reflective tape.

Not perfect. But a compromise between comfort and safety.

Dan

Bob5292 · 07-11-2006, 06:07 PM

In a perfect situation I would much rather be in a big comfy survival suit covered with SOLAS tape and glow sticks. But I think the most likely scenario in a small boat is getting swamped, losing power, then being capsized in short order. A survival suit filled with water will definitely help but its not going to provide that much thermal protection. Ogrejager makes a good point, it would be just about impossible to get a properly fitting wetsuit on without taking your clothes off. And unless your extremely comfortable in the water that's probably not going to happen. With a wetsuit I will also have a bit more mobility, hopefully giving me a better chance to get back to the boat and its equipment if its still floating.

Bob

Flush Release · 07-11-2006, 06:25 PM

Gumby suits by and far. One does not know just how long one will be in the water before a rescue can be made.

Bright Orange with a multitude of reflectors and strobes is nice also.

I have been on many searches by Air in SE Alaska and a survival suit sticks out like a sore thumb from great distances.

Megabites · 07-11-2006, 06:50 PM

I think the best points are first the gumby suit can go on over cloths and second that it will fit multiple different people. A wet suit to work properly needs to fit properly. A wet suit may work ok for you but what about your passengers that tag along? Lastly the point of visability is a good one. If you are going to wear a wetsuit make it the ugliest bright color you can find. Unfortunatly most wet suit makes do not make them in safty orange.

Tinman · 07-12-2006, 03:45 AM

I sometimes wear a full wetsuit aboard my boat, especially if I am worried about the bar. I also keep a pair of swim fins handy when crossing the bar, so that if I do end up in the water I will have good mobility. The biggest problems are chafing around the neck during a long day, and getting too hot in the sun. Wetsuits are not very comfortable, but I don't think there is an easy answer.

DriftR · 07-12-2006, 09:15 AM

I have the Mustang survival suit and will stay with that brand and style. Practice putting it on with your clothes on and have someone time you. Keep practicing until you have it down pat and feel comfortable.
Like said above, they are colored for a reason. I have a water activated strobe light, mirror, whistle, waterproof Icom M-88 VHF and safety cord/line attached to mine. I also added a safety laser flare recently. Neat little gadget that shoots a diffused beam for a very long distance.

Teton · 07-12-2006, 10:47 AM

After another trip halibut fishing out of Homer, AK, last September when the Captain responded to a question about what happens if we go down with something like, "very little chance of survival in this water", I've committed myself to getting survival suits, and outfitting them with safety gear. Yes, they are expensive, but pale in comparison to the value of a life saved.

Gloucester · 07-13-2006, 05:53 AM

I am a survival suit type of guy :grin: The big gumby style suit! My first tour out of the Coast Guard was up in Homer,AK. "very little chance of survival in this water", humm....I remember this....and I never forgot it the day I watch a shipmate of mine jump into the water with his working uniform on and attempt to get into his Gumby suit. Now...we practiced putting these things on all the time, on deck of the ship, in the local pool, no problems, suit goes right over your boots, (put ziplock bags over them first), over the top of your clothes, (what ever you may be wearing), etc. etc.

Now...back to my shipmate jumping in, well in he goes, and I would say right around 4-5 min. and only with both legs in and the starting of one arm, it was time for the safety team to pull him out. I was shocked

It was a hug eye opener for me, my gumby bag and all the little goodies I had inside became my best friend when we were sailing the Gulf.

When we would train in the water with our suits I felt very comfortable and secure in the fact that I know I could last out here for awhile. Even with the Gumby type survival suit, water would get inside the suit, no problem...the body would warm the water, (I have heard of other ways

won't go there :grin

I have done commercial safety fishing boardings for years, going on commercial boats and seeing some of the setup's has been interesting. It's almost like a personal ditch bag, the Survival Suit(Gumby style) come in a bag. I have seen many modifications. Here is what I have seen in some crew's bag. First of all the Suit, ziploc bags, a package of MRE, expired flares, lights, whistles, PEPIRBS, radio's, strobes, smoke, you name it, it seems like I have seen it.

If I'm on a boat and I know it's going down, the above is what I would want to have. In the heat of the moment I do not want to be running around looking for the EPIRB, flares, a handheld radio, etc. I want to be able to open my personal bag, backpack, dufflebag, whatever I have it in....find all my little goodies I have stored away, put on the suit, throw eveything inside my suit, zip it up and be ready to go in.

If I'm on that same boat and I don't know it's going down, and the next thing I know is I'm in the water, (hopefully with my bag) I will stay calm as one could possibly stay, tell myself immediately, I will survive, pull my suit out, put it on, collect all my goodies floating around me, put them in the suit, and with all my stength, zip it up.! It will be difficult, but with my will to survive, it will be done. Once I am zipped, I will remain calm, I have a lot of water in the suit, I need my body to warm that water, conserve my energy, etc. and wait to be rescued.

This is how I would hope it would happen if it were me. But heck, I'm scared to death of the ocean.... :grin:

CS

Threemuch · 07-13-2006, 09:00 AM

Bob-
I think a wetsuit is FAR better than what 90% of folks carry, which is nothing. Certainly putting a wetsuit on, especially a freediving wetsuit (which usually requires some kind of lubrication) is not going to be as easy as a survival suit, but should be doable for someone with experience.

When I ran my own boat, I kept a wetsuit of mine on board for safety and if I needed to get in the water for some kind of maintenance. The main thing I always thought about when running my boat in this manner was "what about my crew?" I freedive alot too, and I am sure I could get a wetsuit on in the water. My crew? Nope. Do I have a suit that would fit them? Probably not. Watching folks you are responsible for die while you survive is a tough thing to imagine.

The other problem of visibility is even further compounded that my freediving wetsuits aren't just dark, they are CAMO! Easily solved by attaching a couple streamers.

No easy answers. In a world full of money, I would have a ditch bag for every crew member, which would include a suvival suit, flares, strobes, streamers, and personal epirb. In every size. Plus I would have a boat big enough to fit all that stuff. Too bad the world isn't full of money. :depressed:

retaliate · 07-13-2006, 11:33 AM

I also bring out a wet suit or 2(3 mil for now) just in case. they don't take up much room, are warmer than no wet suit, & they float.

CAPT KUJO · 07-13-2006, 08:33 PM

I've been producing drysuits and suvival equipment for every branch of the US military including the U.S. Coast Guard under contract for over 20 years. Maybe you might understand why every customer on the BLACK ROCKET must WEAR a dry suit, get in the water at the dock and be able to exit the water into the boat without assistance or was not allowed to conitnue on the trip and was issued a refund.

If you don't have it on when trouble is looming, you're done!

CAPT KUJO