Re: [Paddlewise] Dry Suit Field Test

After reading Clyde's thoughtful writeup, I think we should nominate him
as the Equipment Check Guy on any trip.  :-)

On a more serious vein:

 
> Observations:
> 
>     Check equipment (batteries) before leaving home.

Yes, but we don't always do that.

> 
>     Secure equipment (thermometer).

I never trust bungee deck cord for any thing more than what it is, i.e.
a device meant to press down temporarily loose stuff and to keep stuff
from slipping around.  It cannot SECURE it, just hold down a bit.  My
paddle float and bilge pump are under deck bungee on my rear deck, _but_
I also strap 'em down.  Most paddle floats have a webbing strap and I
use it to connect to a D-ring and I run the strap also through the
handle on the pump.
> 
>     Drysuit usage: While there is a lot of information about care and
> feeding and benefits, I don't recall seeing anything about proper use of
> one, ie: Gaskets go next to the skin.  Don't put them over booties, socks,
> watches, gloves, etc.  Get wrinkles out.  Zip the damn things up!!!  Common
> sense?  Maybe.

When I bought my dry suit 10 years ago, I never thought for a moment
that its latex gaskets should be against anything but skin, painful and
irritating as it might be at times.  But no body mentioned that but I
can certainly see why there might be confusion.  Like the case of the
fellow here in New Jersey a few years back who know enough to get a dry
suit but not enough to know to have some kind of insulation layer
underneath and that it would work better fully zipped up...he died when
he fell in just a 100 feet or so from shore in fairly moderate
conditions not the dead of winter.


>     Paddle leash: I know there are strong feelings against these but I
> haven't made up my mind yet.  I feel they provide a lot of advantages
> although I now think it's possible for one to kill me.  Risk assessment?

I think that the pros of a paddle leash outweigh the cons.  Your boat
without your paddle is limited in usefulness but you could easily lose
your paddle while stopping for a break in wind.  If you capsize and know
enough to hang on to your paddle you also have your boat if the leash
tethers it to the boat.  Entanglement is an issue.  I am wondering if a
coil type is better than a bungee one or a cord one.  Regarding bungee,
it can wrap around in a stretch position and hold tight but it may also
be easy to loosen.  The cord type would depend on the stiffness of the
cord; parachute cord is too thin and likely to get as knotted up on you
as thin shoelaces do.  A coil probably would not wrap as tightly on you
and most likely would be out of the way in its coiled position.

BTW, the kill switch PFD attachment that jet-skiers use to cut their
engines if they fall off, make an excellent paddle leash.  I recommended
that and other jet-ski stuff in a recent newsletter.  It is cheap, has a
wide opening snap hook, which jet skiers attach to a PFD strap but we
can use to attach the leash to a deck D-ring; the loop on the other end
of the leash which holds a key that cuts the engine, easily loops over
your paddle shaft.
> 
>     Previous discussions on safety suggest gear and skills may provide a
> false sense of security causing serious problems.  This experience might be
> such an example.
> 
>     I let that woman walk away knowing she wasn't dressed properly, couldn't
> roll or perform assisted or self rescues.

You know, it is something we are seeing around here at the start of good
weather that is luring people out on what is still cold water.  I have
run across several individuals in sweatshirts and jeans going out when I
water was about 48 or so.  And I have heard from other experienced
paddlers running into individuals making 3/4 mile crossing of the choppy
Hudson in T-shirt and jeans, no sprayskirt, etc.

It is so hard to control that urge to get out into this romantic
exciting activity called sea kayaking.  

ralph

enough of this.  I am going paddling.
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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