[Paddlewise] Cold water threshold question

Recently in a welcoming open note to a new paddler on its list server,
the head of the Chesapeake Paddlers Association suggested that "On cold
water (water temperature below about 65 degrees F), suitable protective
clothing is also required."

That seems to me to be a higher threshold than I have seen locally where
I live and for what I believe is the practice elsewhere.  By that rule
of thumb for example, one would have to plan to wear a wet suit in New
York City through the end of June. I regularly track the water
temperature ranges and that is about when you can pretty much say that
the temperature starts getting into the high 60s.  Meanwhile, you pretty
much can count on our air temperatures being in the 80s from late May on
and 90 degree days not unusual during June.    Traditionally, in this
area
paddlers here start getting out of wet suits et al in early May at the
latest.  That seems to be the practice in clubs and among outfitters
running commercial trips.  Our winter water temperatures can go into the
high 30s F in the depths of winter and don't inch up over 50 degree F
until around May 1, although some years it lingers a bit longer at below
that mark.  The highest they get is in the 70s somewhere.

I am posting this question to PaddleWise because of its worldwide
circulation.  And it is not to pick any fights or start holy wars.  Here
is my question on cold water thresholds:

For those of you in temperate climates where water temperatures range
widely over the year, what is the practice among clubs and outfitters
regarding temperature ranges and time of year when it is considered okay
to stop wearing cold water protection?  I am thinking particularly at
the end of the cold season when air temperatures heat up while the water
moves slowly out of hypothermic ranges.

I know you can get hypothermic at even 70 F degree water if you hang
around long enough in it.  I am looking for practical levels, i.e. what
is the practice in various places such as the Northwest US and Canadian
coast, Northern California, New Zealand, Japan, Northern Europe, the US
Great Lakes, etc.

ralph diaz

-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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