Re: [Paddlewise] Patagonia's Nemo dry top

>Doug Lloyd wrote:
Doug wrote:
<big snip>I don't wear a dry suit, as Vancouver Island is riddled with
barnacles,
and a tear in the suit, if I were to bail, could pose a serious problem, as
could a blown gasket.

Ralph commented:
<snip>I mentioned this before but as Doug knows in the early days of dry suits
>there was a concern that a tear would seriously compromise the suit.  As
>far as I know, this has not been the case.  The materials at one point
>in the European suits was almost shirt weight thin but most dry suits
>are made of super duper weight nylon and gaskets are generally covered
>except some companies not doing it at the neck.  Still, I have torn
>paddling pants made of similar material when sitting up on a dock and
>hitting a jagged nail head.  So....perhaps always a potential problem. 
>I know that Jack Martin on this list advises wearing one of the Polartec
>watersport fleece suits under your dry suit as a second defensive layer
>were a drysuit to tear in its material or gasket.

Ralph has a point in that the newer drysuits are a darn sight better than
the earlier versions, _if you stay with a reputable manufacturer_.
Unfortunately, lightweight material models are still being made by various
private label companies, usually as part of a local wetsuit companies
lineup. They show up at sales from time to time, at bargain prices. Some
companies produce far superior drysuits than other, so buyer beware. My
point was that it is still an issue in your immersion protection strategy -
think through your intended use, will the suit stand up to normal wear and
tear, does in have reinforced knee protection for kneeling on the beach
while loading your boat, is the seat area reinforced, etc. What are you
going to do if it does leak.

Still, I'd rather have newbies picking up cheap suits, rather than have
them out there in the usual garb of boots, fleece, and rain pants, at least
as far as off season paddling is concerned. But as always, do whatever the
heck you want (flame prevention disclaimer).

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd  
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************