Re: [Paddlewise] Cold water threshold question

Ralph wrote;


>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."

Ole Ralph may be baiting me as we had simlar discussion on the WaveLength
list some time back when I suggested the "Rule of 100" where one adds the
water and air temperature and if they are less than 100 (all in Farenheit.
You could use 38 centigrade) you put on your cold water stuff if you got
'em and if you don't you stay ashore.

Now, the number 100 has no magic. I view it like a kind of warning zone and
simple math that you can use to see if the conditions warrant the gear. So
may factors impinge on ones decision. Tired people or thin people or scared
people might be well advised to exercise more caution. So should people
paddling across open water when the chance of a weather change could be
higher (difficult to put on a wet suit in a kayak on open water). No doubt
the number of extenuating circumstances  could go on at great length.

I cannot recall ever using a thermometer though. Once paddled on a
partially frozen river with nothing but a life jacket as part of a photo
shoot. The picture was cropped to take out the snow covered banks so it
looked like summer. Also remember participating in  a Polar Bear Club fund
raiser (never did that again!) I suppose one can always find a reason to
break "rules".

In Labrador we wore no wet suits or dry suits even though the water was
bloody cold (icebergs all around). What good would a wet suit be with help
over 500 kilometres away and no way to contact them? Although I feel I
exercise a great deal of caution in my paddling I never felt at risk just
because I had no wet suit of dry suit even though I commonly wear my dry
suit when paddling in conditions where a capsize might be a possibility.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/







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