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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/12/98 1:29:10 PM EST, waddinj_at_recorder.ca writes: << The question was when to start (or stop) wearing cold water protection such as wet or dry suits. >> Although the Puget Sound area is notorious for paddlers not wearing a wet or dry suits at any time. Over the last two years I have used a Gore-TeX drysuit year around and most people I paddle with do also. A Gore-TeX Drysuit is Comfortable all year around. This is a strong safety plus for a Gore-TeX drysuit. Like the seat belt on the car I just put it on when I get in. The local Clubs have no standard rule in regard to water temperature or time of year. Each trip description will state the type of Clothing required. The Water temp. in the Northwest hovers between 55 and 65 Degrees (F) year around. The air temp., in winter, rarely gets below freezing. Right now the Temp is 47 %F. Tomorrow I going surfing! Tom Cromwell Edmonds, WA. USA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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