[Paddlewise] Neoprene gaskets at the neck

To add to your one piece/two piece dry suit thread, my experiences with my
Kokatat Goretex paddle jacket would tend to reinforce what you're saying:
not a good choice if really staying dry is your requirement.

My jacket (and it's advertised as a paddling jacket, not a dry top) has
rubber wrist gaskets, neoprene waist "gasket" and for sure a neoprene neck
closing.  I knew the super tight rubber neck gasket would drive me nuts and
as most of my paddling is here on the Gulf Coast of Texas (with occasional
Alaskan trips an obvious exception), this seemed the choice for me.  Just
took the ACA Coastal Kayaking Instructor workshop and exam, and spent a lot
of time in the water so I wore the jacket over top of a lightweight
wetsuit.  Water temps in the 56 to 58 range and air somewhere in the 60s so
this worked well for me. I do note, however, that after considerable time
working rescue drills (i.e., in the water a long time), I pulled the wrist
gaskets away from the wrists and emptied several cups of water out of my
sleeves.  I was wearing a unisex Medium size, and I'm not exactly a large
female (5'1") so perhaps the wrist gaskets were a bit too big but, FWIW,
there was certainly a quantity of water admitted.

I still like this jacket better than the home-made ones I've been wearing
for years and it's going to be my jacket of choice for any cool weather
paddling I do.

Natalie 

Houston, Texas
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