Debate: Is a drysuit really necessary for harbor work in summer?

I keep seeing guys jumping in with just a wetsuit on jobs around the Port of Seattle during July, claiming drysuits are overkill until the water drops below 50F. But I’ve had two guys get hypothermic in 55F water after a couple hours on bottom, one last summer who couldn’t feel his hands during a tie-off. So what’s your cutoff temp for switching to a drysuit, or do you think it’s more about the job duration and depth than the season?

2 comments

2 Comments

uma_williams6d ago

Ask those guys if they've ever tried to work a knot out of a line after four hours in 55 degree water. I'm curious if they've actually done a full shift on bottom in just a wetsuit, or if they're just talking about quick in-and-out stuff. Seems like a lot of the "drysuits are overkill" crowd are mostly working on surface support or short dives, not the kind of harbor work where you're stuck waiting for a crane for an hour. What's the longest they've actually spent in the water with just a wetsuit during a summer job?

betty_kelly96d ago

Longest I did was about three hours in a 7mm wetsuit on a pier repair job, and by the time I got out I couldn't feel my fingers well enough to unzip my own suit. Those quick dive guys don't get the whole "waiting around for something to happen" part of harbor work.