RE: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the Romans do?

This seems to me a prudent policy. The absolute insistence on dry suits or
any other specific piece of equipment is not good policy. Flexibility for
the occasion and discretion are far better not only for kayaking, but for
most endeavors in life.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Mattson,
Timothy G
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 9:14 AM
To: 'Tomckayak_at_aol.com'; hlevin_at_jlc.net; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the Romans do?


Oh I just couldn't resist jumping in on this one.

I live and paddle in the Northwest.  "Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with"
almost never wear full wet suits or dry suits.  Of course we wear them when
playing in the surf and in unusually rough seas, but for the most part, its
just poly-pro with maybe a light neoprene vest and a light paddle jacket for
winter conditions.

"Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with" have solid combat rolls and dress
appropriate to the few seconds of  immersion rollers have to deal with. If
we come out of our boats and get separated from them, we would die.  Given
that the "Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with" practice their rolls regularly
in all conditions and all states of dress (ok,  not quite all.  We've never
gone out to work on  nude rolling), the chances of coming out of our boats
are vanishingly small.

"Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with" paddle hard -- many of us  race.  We
would die of heat exhaustion if we wore wet suits or dry suits.

"Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with" always wear PFD's and spray skirts.  We
carry knives, towing harnesses,  throw ropes, paddle floats, flares, VHF
radios and a full assorment of saftey gear.  We are VERY saftey consious.
When a capsize means at most ten seconds in the water, we just don't see a
dry suit or wet suit as appropriate for most paddling conditions -- even in
very cold water.

--Tim

P.S. Of course, this all changes when unusual circumstances are at play.  If
"Serious Sea Kayakers I paddle with" are going to play in the surf zone, run
white water rivers, or go out alone in rough conditions, a full wet suit  or
in the winter a dry suit would be worn.


> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Tomckayak_at_aol.com [SMTP:Tomckayak_at_aol.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, August 05, 1999 7:52 AM
> To:	hlevin_at_jlc.net; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the Romans do?
>
> In a message dated 8/4/99 6:59:54 PM EST, hlevin_at_jlc.net writes:
>
> << Additionally, the outfitter from Friday Harbor instructed the newbies
> to
>  put the spray skirt  over the pfd.  I know it was near a full moon but I
>  was very surprised. In a week of traveling around in Southern Alaska and
>  Washington I never saw a wet suit or dry top. >>
>
> Serious sea kayakers in the Northwest that I paddle with wear Wet or dry
> suits. I just completed a two week trip in SE Alaska and spent every
> minute
> on the water in a Gor-tex dry suit.
> On the other hand, the only requirement clubs have is to wear polypro and
> no
> cotton.
> Outfitters in general are driven by greed. The big rental outfit on Lake
> Union, in the heart of Seattle, does not even give out spray shirts for
> kayak
> paddling on the lake and their one of the best operations.
>  This has been going on for years and the body count is very low.
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