[quote=nhanson]I sail on Lake Michigan north of Chicago. My season starts in May and ends in November sometimes December. The weather conditions vary a lot from May to July to October. Mid summer the lake is 70 and the are temps are 90. Spring the air temp can be warm, but the late is 40 to 45. In the fall, the air temp drops, but the lake is still relatively warm.
The point is, you need a full quiver of equipment. It's expensive. So don't go buy everything day 1. A full wet suit, a dry top and some booties are a pretty good first start. Get a 2/3mm full from online waterski company like Bart's or Overton's. Just get their house brand. They are usually $99 or so. Any dry top will do, Gil stuff usually goes on sale once a year.
Remember you get wet with a wetsuit. The evaporation of the water in cool weather can give you a chill, which is why the combo with a dry top is versatile. The only time you can't wear a full is if its super hot. If you do get hot, get wet and you will cool off.
A shortie wet suit is good for cool summer days and also makes being on the trapeze more comfortable. Again can be paired with dry top for those big weather summer days.
Early spring and fall (and winter). Don't mess around, get a dry suit and a good one. Modern quality dry suits have neoprene at the wrists and neck versus latex. The body is a cordura like material that is very durable. The slick/garage bag looking ones are usually old/inexpensive. Latex parts of a dry suit last about three years (neck, booties, wrists) and can be replaced. Dry suits need to be cared for. I take mine home after each sail. Wet suits just don't put away wet. I'll leave mine in my box if its dry. Wear booties over your dry suit booties. I actually use a little dish soap water mix to put mine on.
Everything I own gets hung up at the end of the season and put away nicely.
Looks like winter is arriving early, hope everyone's boats on the East Coast are put away.
--Norm<!-- editby --><em>Edited by nhanson on Oct 28, 2012 - 06:20 PM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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