Ended 1998 by paddling, and began 1999 by paddling. While the air temp was around 8 degrees F, and the wind chill down around -18 F, the main problem was the ice build up on our PFDs, spray skirts, tow belts, deck lines, skeg lines--basically everything. If we'd had to use a tow line, the carbiners were frozen. Skegs were rendered inoperable by the ice build up. After we got back to shore it was quite an effort to unfreeze the zipper on our PFD for the trip home. Just wondering how others have dealt with similar problems--besides moving to a warmer area, or not paddling in such conditions. Has anyone had any success with preventive icing measures. I was thinking of using a wax, or silicone, or something similar. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks. John Browning Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Lake Michigan is more like a slurpie than a lake *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
>From John Browning >Ended 1998 by paddling, and began 1999 by paddling. While the air temp was >around 8 degrees F, and the wind chill down around -18 F, the main problem was >the ice build up on our PFDs, spray skirts, tow belts, deck lines, skeg >lines--basically everything. If we'd had to use a tow line, the carbiners >were frozen. Skegs were rendered inoperable by the ice build up. After we >got back to shore it was quite an effort to unfreeze the zipper on our PFD for >the trip home. Just wondering how others have dealt with similar >problems--besides moving to a warmer area, or not paddling in such conditions. >Has anyone had any success with preventive icing measures. I was thinking of >using a wax, or silicone, or something similar. Anyone have any ideas? >Thanks. > >John Browning >Milwaukee, Wisconsin >where Lake Michigan is more like a slurpie than a lake it would be real interesting to read tips from freezing paddlers. here's a link that tells how one fellow handles freezing biking... although a post like this for freezing paddling would be a classic for sure, tips from lots of folks would provide a broader spectrum of info. http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/bicycles-faq/part4/faq-do c-39.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Jon Browning asked about ways to prevent zipper freeze in frigid weather. Though I do paddle in winter, I haven't paddled in conditions such as those he describes (and I don't plan to), but my friend and teacher Tom Bergh convinced me to try candle wax as lubricant for drysuit zippers, and it's a very good lubricant for that purpose. That should work, I'd think. If not, why not melt a little parafin wax, the kind used for canning, in the top of a double boiler, and paint that on the zipper? - Bill Hansen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
A caution is offered here for what it's worth. I used bees wax on my technical jacket and guess what? The zipper does not want to hold together. Lack of friction causes both halves of the zipper to want to easily separate whenever. Alcohol rub down via a cloth and tooth brush was needed to restore the needed friction back to the zipper. All in all it seems that a happy functioning zipper (plastic that is) doesn't like wax but rather cleanliness and freedom from fuzz balls. I once ripped the crotch out of my neoprene diving suit during a winter dive (minus 15 below zero) and got the screaming meemies. Now to have a dry suit separate at the zipper would be a horror as well. What does the manufacturer say or recommend? Silicon spray via that tiny little straw tube might be a better solution (I dunno) but gosh I was frustrated over my jacket separating at the primary zipper at 30 below during New Years Festivities. For me the wax turned out to be a poor idea of mine. Now I suspect the dry suit has metal zippers so the silicon spray "might be" a better idea. Cheers, Philip ____________________________________________________________________ Bhansen97_at_aol.com wrote: > > Jon Browning asked about ways to prevent zipper freeze in frigid weather. > Though I do paddle in winter, I haven't paddled in conditions such as those he > describes (and I don't plan to), but my friend and teacher Tom Bergh convinced > me to try candle wax as lubricant for drysuit zippers, and it's a very good > lubricant for that purpose. That should work, I'd think. If not, why not melt > a little parafin wax, the kind used for canning, in the top of a double > boiler, and paint that on the zipper? > - Bill Hansen > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Though I no longer seem to do much winter paddling here in Maine (opting instead to build new additions to the fleet) I used to do a fair ammount of solo winter paddling 15 or so years back. The two problems that come to mind presently are substantial icing on the deck and paddle shafts (near the blades) which would actually make the boat top-heavy. Crossings sometimes get pretty iffy because of this. Also, I had two reasonably heavy FG boats wear through the bow at the water line after cutting through extensive skim ice on the ocean. All considered, it's a dangerous time of year to be paddling out there..... mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Philip - Thanks for the cautionary note on waxing drysuit zippers. Having been a beekeeper for some years (in the past - not now), I have quite a bit of experience with beeswax. It really is too slippery for many things. It also melts at a rather low temp, so I'm not too surprised that it caused trouble. The Kokotat rep said candelwax is okay, and so far candelwax has allowed reasonably free operation of the drysuit zipper with no hint of unwanted unzipping. I haven't used paraffin, which would have a lower melting temp, but apparently one other paddlewise person has used it, and has found it helpful (and not dangerous). Another thing about beeswax - if it gets too near a flame, it's almost explosive. So if you're lighting your cigar and your drysuit catches fires, then you jump in the water and..... Bill *************************************************************************** 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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