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 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Natalie Wiest wrote: > 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 [snip] > 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. I've spent a couple hours surfing small stuff with a combo exactly like the one Natalie describes -- specifically, using the neoprene neck closure, *not* the latex -- and nary a large teaspoon of water entered. Never got any water entry at the wrists, but did get some "dampness" in the neck. I 'spect she has it nailed -- her wrists are not large enough to ensure good sealing there. I'm a tubby guy (230 lbs), so I don't have that problem. In addition, I suspect that slim folks may not get as good a seal at the waist, especially if the neo band at the waist slides up to their (smimmer) midriffs. Let's hear it for "stored" beer and pizza as insurance for a dry closure around the tummy! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I've got an MEC paddling jacket that has the neoprene neck and wrist closures previously described. I've used it in whitewater for years, and in the surf in my sea kayak, and it only allows in a token amount of water. I don't get much wetter than I would sweating in a waterproof jacket. I've taken long swims in it, and only had to empty maybe a few ounces of water out of each arm afterward, and I've got skinny wrists. I wear pile and/or a farmer john wetsuit underneath. Very versatile and way cheaper than a drysuit. -- Rob Gendreau Oakland, California gendreau_at_ccnet.com *************************************************************************** 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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