Skiff Suits FAQs
What is a skiff suit?
A sleeveless, full leg wetsuit cut for sailing. The name comes from the high performance skiff classes where it was first used, but the design works in any dinghy. It differs from a surf wetsuit in three ways: no sleeves, so you can move your arms freely; reinforced seat and knee panels, so the deck does not wear through it; and a cut that assumes you are sitting, hiking and crouching rather than paddling. Most sailing brands now call their sleeveless suits skiff suits or long johns, and the terms are used interchangeably.
Skiff suit or long john, is there a difference?
Not really. Both are sleeveless, full leg sailing wetsuits. Skiff suit tends to be the name used for the racing cut with more stretch and more reinforcement, and long john for the plainer, cheaper version. On our site they sit in the same collection. Pick by warmth and price rather than by name, and read the product page for the panel layout.
How warm is a skiff suit?
It depends on the weight, and we stock two. The lighter suit covers spring to autumn club sailing with a thermal top underneath. The warmer, thicker suit covers the cold months and frostbite racing. Neither has sleeves, so the arms rely on what you layer on top. If you are buying one suit and sail year round, buy the warmer one and wear a rash vest under it in summer.
Can I wear a skiff suit for trapezing?
Yes, and it is a good choice because the sleeveless cut lets you move freely on the wire. Check that your trapeze harness sits comfortably over the suit, and look for a suit with a reinforced seat, since the harness spreader bar and the gunwale both wear through thin neoprene fast. Some sailors add neoprene shorts over the top for extra padding. See our trapeze harnesses.
How do I look after a skiff suit?
Rinse it in fresh water after every sail, inside and out, and hang it to dry on a wide hanger away from direct sun. Never leave it rolled up wet in a kit bag, which rots the seams and makes it smell. Wash it with wetsuit shampoo every few weeks. Treat it this way and the suit lasts several seasons. Leave it in a hot car boot and it will not.
