You don't HAVE to wear your kilt...

**McFarkus** · 24th June 09, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

.if it's blowing 30 knots, there's a 12 foot sea running, I'm solo and tied in with a harness on a jackline, I've got a mess on the foredeck and I'm crawling up there to do a headsail change, I GUARANTEE you that a kilt is not the optimal piece of clothing to wear.

One need's a specialized kilt for this situation. With a UK Survival kilt's "modesty system" in place, one can spare the fishes their blushes.

**Alan H** · 24th June 09, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by McFarkus

One need's a specialized kilt for this situation. With a UK Survival kilt's "modesty system" in place, one can spare the fishes their blushes.

I'm sure you're joking, but I'm gonna run with this as if you're not.

No, a Utilikilt with the modesty system is still not the optimal piece of clothing to wear on the foredeck in 30 knots doing a headsail change. It's got way too much material, which flaps all over the place, and if I'm wrestling down a 250 square foot genoa, the LAST thing I want is more flapping material beating me around the head and shoulders. A utilikilt is not waterproof or water resistant. You say "it dries out fast" and that's fine, but I'm INSIDE that thing and while it's drying it's damn cold. Damn cold makes for damn stupid in short order and there's no quicker way to get hurt or killed on a boat than to get damn stupid.

No, the most intelligent thing to wear in this situation is long polypropylene thermal underwear, over which you have layered properly designed and first-class constructed foul weather gear.