rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: <snip> > > Judging by what you are doing and from what I have heard from others, I > think this spring I will raise my own personal threshold of cold water > gear from the present 55 degrees to a new level of 60 degrees. At least > on the upper part of my body with a vest or short sleeve shirt or jacket > of that watersport polartec stuff. > > ralph diaz > - Age enters the equation somewhere. 30 years ago, I used to swim across the Columbia River on New Year's Day (about a mile in typically 38 F water), accompanied by a rowboat. Now, for paddling, I put on a Farmer John most of the time, even if the water is 60 F. If the air is too warm, I'll change to a shorty for 60-minus water. The question is really about water temp for protection and air temp for comfort, and the compromise gets tougher as my 60th b'day approaches. I'll generally intentionally capsize and roll or wet exit every time I go paddling, because I don't like the panicky feeling when it happens "for real", and this keeps me in touch with whether my attire is suitable for current conditions. Roger *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Jan 10 1999 - 08:20:01 PST
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