Debate: Dry suit vs hot water suit for long North Sea jobs

Had a guy at the Aberdeen dock last week tell me he ditched his dry suit after 15 years because hot water kept him warmer on 8 hour shifts. I've always run dry myself. Anyone else switch sides on this call?

2 comments

2 Comments

butler.mark1mo ago

Switched over about two years back after a mate convinced me to try his hot water setup on a 10 hour pipe lay job in the Norwegian sector. Always figured dry suits were the only way to go, but that first shift I was sweating while everyone else was shivering during the tea break. Now I run a hot water system with a good flow control valve and I can actually feel my fingers after six hours in the water. The dry suit always left me damp and cold by hour four no matter how many base layers I piled on.

the_robert1mo ago

That hot water setup sounds worth the investment for sure.

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