You don't HAVE to wear your kilt...

[Alan H]

One need's a specialized kilt for this situation. With a UK Survival kilt's "modesty system" in place, one can spare the fishes their blushes.

I'm sure you're joking, but I'm gonna run with this as if you're not.

No, a Utilikilt with the modesty system is still not the optimal piece of clothing to wear on the foredeck in 30 knots doing a headsail change. It's got way too much material, which flaps all over the place, and if I'm wrestling down a 250 square foot genoa, the LAST thing I want is more flapping material beating me around the head and shoulders. A utilikilt is not waterproof or water resistant. You say "it dries out fast" and that's fine, but I'm INSIDE that thing and while it's drying it's damn cold. Damn cold makes for damn stupid in short order and there's no quicker way to get hurt or killed on a boat than to get damn stupid.

No, the most intelligent thing to wear in this situation is long polypropylene thermal underwear, over which you have layered properly designed and first-class constructed foul weather gear.

[ccga3359]

Ohhh, a dacron sailcloth kilt!

[Alan H]

Ohhh, a dacron sailcloth kilt!

Heck, why mess around? I want a carbon fiber/mylar composite kilt with the threads laid in on the load-paths! Talk about setting the pleats!

[Nick the DSM]

Well, duh!!

We can wear pants as well!


+1000000000000000 to Alan

[McMurdo]

Well said Alan
For me it's the seasonal "Can I Ride my motorcycle with a kilt on" threads that get me, sure you can, but I wouldn't.

[Alan H]

Heck, why mess around? I want a carbon fiber/mylar composite kilt with the threads laid in on the load-paths! Talk about setting the pleats!

This is where the F-H.C.A.G. pipes up wanting to know all about the "load paths" in a kilt.
Grant, I'll let you explain it.

[Alan H]

well said alan
for me it's the seasonal "can i ride my motorcycle with a kilt on" threads that get me, sure you can, but i wouldn't.

exactly.

[pdcorlis]

As an (almost) daily kilt wearer, I wholeheartedly agree with you Alan. I'm not about to muck out the garden, crawl around under the car, or knock through the thorns, brush, and brambles when I'm fly fishing in one of my kilts. For me, that's just silly.

As with much of the rest of my life, its about balance, its about being appropriate.

[Fit2BKilted]

I will freely admit that kilts are not the best attire for every activity... Any industrial setting where protective clothing is required being the most obvious. Electing to wear a kilt swimming, certainly, is no less ridiculous than wearing any other kind of clothing while bathing. I just happen to believe that going kilted is the most desirable attire to adopt when clothing is necessary. I would much rather eschew textiles altogether; and, I've made a habit of doing so whenever such is practical; but, I admire the kilt greatly for its capacity to provide the greatest amount of freedom with social acceptance in the broadest variety of company and circumstances.

[KFCarter]

And there are even times when life's better with no kilt at all....