What does Waterproof really mean in foul weather gear?

The term "Waterproof" has to be considered very carefully when you are looking for foul weather gear and rain gear.  Does waterproof apply to the fabric or the garment?  There's a big difference.  You must make sure the manufacturer is not just talking about the fabric but the construction of the garment.  Making waterproof fabric is the easy part. What is difficult is making the garment as watertight as possible.

An industry standard, BS 3546, requires that fabric resist water to a pressure of 100cm.  That's really just a minimum and is good for walking in the rain.  But on a boat when you're either sitting in water or it's coming over the deck as though it were sprayed from a fire hose, that may not be enough protection.  Gill and some other manufacturers have a standard of 500cm--five times what's required.

But now that you know the fabric will withstand water as it should, it is critical that the garment is as watertight as possible. That starts with the seams, which unfortunately are punctured by a sewing needle with every stitch. The way to overcome this is by sealing the seams with tape that is applied using hot air to melt the adhesive onto it.

Waterproof fabric is the just the beginning.  First make sure it's up to the rigors of sailing and boating.  Then, you must find out if the garment has HEAT SEALED TAPED SEAMS.  The best wateroproof fabric won't keep you dry if the garment isn't constructed properly for sailing and boating.

We recommend yiou visit www.WhitecapsFoulWeatherGear.com for a complete selection of waterproof and watertight clothing for sailing, boating, and fishing.  Their service is superb and they save you money with sales, free shipping, and free merchandise!

We'd also like to thank Gill, www.Gillna.com for all their knowledge and assistance.