[Paddlewise] cold water question

The question was when to start (or stop) wearing cold water protection
such as wet or dry suits.  I find that for myself, there is no hard and
fast rule.  I tend to dress for the water temperature, but as it
gradually cools in the fall, how I dress depends on where I am paddling
and what the wind and wave conditions are.  Since I live on the St.
Lawrence River, I am seldom more than half a mile from shore, and am
usually closer than that.  If I am going to be well out from shore or in
rough, windy conditions I will put on my wetsuit once the water reaches
about 60 degrees F.  If it is calm and I am going to hugging the shore,
I will wait until the water temperature drops to about 50 degrees.  In
the spring where the water is usually colder than the air, it is
tempting to take the wet suit off when the air temperature gets up to
the high 60's or even low 70's.  I have to keep remembering that the
water may still be in the 30's or 40's.  If the wind and waves are low,
I will sometimes switch to a shorty wet suit instead of my full length
in these temperatures.
John
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