Where do you put wet foul weather gear?

[NateD]

Where do you put your wet foul weather gear when it is time to retire to the cabin?

This is my first year with my CP23, and I've only had to deal with this once, was only wearing a jacket, and was alone. I just hung the jacket up inside by the companion way and toweled the sole dry later, but it did get the cushions and other things nearby damp. If I had the bibs on too, or there was another person with me, it could get mighty damp and crowded. I've thought of a few ideas, but I'm wondering what others have done.

1. Hang outside under bimini - Stuff won't dry until the rain stops, works best at anchor/marina
2. Place in cockpit locker - Not accessible from within the boat if we have to go back into the rain
3. Stuff it all back into the duffel bag we keep it in - Won't dry out, water will likely pool into the inside of jackets/bibs and make them wet if we need to put them back on
4. Use a waterpoof hanging garment bag - Would keep the cabin dry, allow the water to run down the outside of the gear, but it would pool in the bottom of the bag and the gear wouldn't fully dry out

Right now I think my best idea is the waterpoof garment bag with a small hole cut in the bottom. I could hang it outside from the bimini and the water would run off the gear, and out the bottom of the bag, and they would be ready to go the next time we need to go out.

What have you folks tried?

[jthatcher]

good practical question!   wish i had the answer.. i guess that i will have to check back to see what the others have to say!   we are also new cp 23 owners,  and I am hoping that we will find lots of other answers here as well.. just don't know what questions to ask yet!   jt

[Salty19]

Pat it dry with a towel first then hang and let air dry. 

You don't want to put it away wet.  Too easy to forget about it--then mold will take over for sure.

We use a bathroom rug on the sole when swimming and tracking in water.  The rug gets wet but the sole stays dry.   The rug can be hung to let dry but it will dry out naturally too.

I've installed a small line across the cabin just aft of the dog house front to air dry towels and jackets.  Works well.

[Bob23]

I hang anything wet on the lifelines as soon as the sun comes out. Gives the boat that econo-cruiser look!
bob23

[Shawn]

On a related note what does everyone like for foul weather gear? I just picked up a pair of closeout Gill Coustal Cruise Trousers (at Defender for $45 down from $140) but still need to decide on a jacket. Gill has a few other jackets in closeout but I'm not sure they will be tall enough. On the plus side they have lifetime warranties and are apparently good at honoring them.

Thanks,

Shawn

[NateD]

I've got West Marine (Third Reef) coastal jacket, bibs, and boots. The jacket has worked well and I don't really have any complaints, but I haven't been in any serious downpours for extended periods yet. In some light rain the tops of my thighs were a little damp despite wearing the bibs. Also, there is no way to take a leak without removing the bibs.

In a recent issue Cruising World there was an article about all of these high-tech advancements in foul weather gear and how great it was. In a side bar they asked some long-term cruisers what they use, and most of them used commercial fishing gear. It doesn't "breath" like the high-tech stuff (it's basically a thick plastic), but the consensus was that at least it kept outside water from getting in.

On a related note what does everyone like for foul weather gear? I just picked up a pair of closeout Gill Coustal Cruise Trousers (at Defender for $45 down from $140) but still need to decide on a jacket. Gill has a few other jackets in closeout but I'm not sure they will be tall enough. On the plus side they have lifetime warranties and are apparently good at honoring them.

Thanks,

Shawn