Mustang Catalyst Flotation coats

[Vincent DePillis]

Has anyone tried using Mustang Survival's Catalyst flotation garments? (see here)
These have a foam insulation layer, and a waterproof/breathable exterior.

I have trouble staying warm in winter sailing in the pacific northwest, and wonder if this might be a good addition to my sailing wardrobe.

 

[Rasputin22]

Ask Capt Don Lawson!!!

 

[kent_island_sailor]

Has anyone tried using Mustang Survival's Catalyst flotation garments? (see here)
These have a foam insulation layer, and a waterproof/breathable exterior.

I have trouble staying warm in winter sailing in the pacific northwest, and wonder if this might be a good addition to my sailing wardrobe.

I would die from heatstroke here in the summer, but really made good use of one in San Francisco. Great cool/cold weather gear IMHO.

 

[Veeger]

I highly valued this one when I worked offshore in SoCal.

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I much preferred the elastic knit waist that kept the drafts out.

 

[cyclone]

I bought the Catalyst to wear iceboating. It’s warm, not too bulky, and the foam padding is nice when you’re getting bounced around.

 

[Jono]

Baltic do really good floatation jackets too. I've had a couple over the years. Some are cold temp rated.

 

[eric1207]

Vince, skiers and hunters use heated garments. I love my Lenz socks for skiing. Might not be super durable in a marine environment but the Lenz is high quality. With a heated jacket a nice thing I imagine is you can turn off or adjust the heat level rather that shedding or donning layers. Thats a pain with foulies, PFDs and harnesses while holding the tiller and mainsheet.

 

[Startracker]

Vince, skiers and hunters use heated garments. I love my Lenz socks for skiing. Might not be super durable in a marine environment but the Lenz is high quality. With a heated jacket a nice thing I imagine is you can turn off or adjust the heat level rather that shedding or donning layers. Thats a pain with foulies, PFDs and harnesses while holding the tiller and mainsheet.

I think the floater coat might have lots of nice benefits from minor bumps and scrapes, plus the edge in durability. But heated jackets in the tool brand of your choice work nicely on the surface and seem to be durable enough I haven't managed to break them, after all they're expecting a lot more wear and tear on a job-site than a ski hill. I have a small adapter to connect to 12V outlet that works well when I'm sitting in one spot, and otherwise it works well off the batteries, I get about 8 hours wearing it as an inner liner. Worth getting the multi-zoned ones, I tend to crank the hand warmer pockets up higher, and leave the chest/shoulders on low. You can press the controls through the rain gear without access with a bit of practice.

 

[SloopJonB]

When it's cold enough to require heated clothing I put the tarp on the boat and wait for spring.

 

[eric1207]

Us USAins south of the border can't take the cold like you in the great white north. I don't think OP wants to stop sailing just because it feels like winter, (as you know spring and fall, even summer, on our water often feels like winter) Even though I'm a skier, being significantly on the other side of 60 the tolerance for cold is reduced noticeably.

PO of my boat out for a nice winter daysail on Dillon Reservoir in Colorado.

 

[seaker]

I have a full coverall of that type. I bought it from a ex USCG auxiliary. It's nice and warm in the fall and spring in Maine. I am thinking I'll take it on my trip to Labrador in July. Might not use it but it can even feel cold when it's damp and in the 40s and 50s.

 

[hdra]

I've got one of these work suits: https://pro.mustangsurvival.com/products/classic-flotation-suit-ms-185
It's really nice - a good insulation layer, relatively waterproof, and fairly comfortable. I would imagine that a jacket of the same style would be nice too. I wear it in the winter here in Pacific Northwest, and have worn it in Maine winter & Greenland summer as well.

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

When it's cold enough to require heated clothing I put the tarp on the boat and wait for spring.

I book a ferry ticket and head off to annoy my adult children...

Less than a month to winter solstice, time to look at the ferry bookings.

FKT

 

[TradingUp]

At what point would it be too hot? I’m considering this or a fladen jacket for spring/fall sailing north of the 49th. Thinking 10c and 15kn. Too warm?

 

[thinwater]

So many choices. These I wear below 40F.

• Drysuit with fleece. Doesn't even matter if you wade or fall in.
• Goretex Polar Guard alpine climbing jacket plus Goretex snowboard pants. Wear a tether and don't fall in. Very, very warm, well below freezing.
• Layers under whatever foul weather gear. But the first two are warmer because they control drafts better, and less bulky.
• Waterproof socks. Gill makes some really warm ones. They also make great winter gloves that you can actually sail wearing. Balaclava under whatever hat. Ski goggles. The details can matter more than the garments.

I'd love to try one of those jackets ... if I was not satisfied with other combinations. And the price is absurd for what it is. Typical of marine stuff.

This was about 5 hours into a 6-hour cold water test. Yes, that is ice.

 

[GlennP]

Used this Stearns anti exposure suit for a couple of seasons commercial fishing in Alaska and sailing here in the PNW. It’s very good, all around deck gear. Iam retired now, have no use for it. $100 bucks. seattle area… PM and come pick it up.

 

[GlennP]

The mustang float coat is very similar material and insulating value. Both have pluses and minuses. The float coat was an insulating flap you can pull up around the crouch to keep warm (er) if you know you are going into the water. Different tools for different jobs... $40 bucks. Seattle area.