RE: [Paddlewise] Ice Swimming

From: Sharky <sharky_at_pacific-ocean.com>
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 13:24:52 -0700
Clyde Sisler wrote:
Application of a dose of Canadian Ballast Rocks (TM) would certainly solve
that problem. ...

Actually that is the answer.

In my younger days I worked as a commercial diver (hard hat).  When people 
used the old canvas coffins (brass hats and canvas and rubber suits you see 
in movies), they wore lead shoes (17lbs each).  The back of the legs could 
also be laced up to keep your feet from 'blowing up' and rapidly returning 
you to the surface, which is contraindicated.

I don't know about the Gortex dry suits since the dry suits I've used were 
either canvas (see above) or neoprene, however, you lose most (I believe it 
80%) of your body heat through your head. When I was in the water for hours 
I had a dry head (because of the gear I was using) and although I got cold, 
it was manageable.

My suggestion would be to wear whatever is most comfortable for the main 
activity, under your dry suit, and then wear a hat.

Warmth from a dry suit does not come from its' insulation, it comes from 
the fact that you're dry.  Water transfers heat something like a 100 times 
faster than air.  So if you're wet from sweat inside your dry suit because 
you wore too many clothes, you'll end up colder than if you wore less and 
sweated less.  IMHO.  (When standing around on deck we used to vent our dry 
suits by either holding the neck ring open or the wrist gaskets open to 
prevent the build up of sweat inside the suit.)

Sharky

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Received on Tue Jan 05 1999 - 12:05:33 PST

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