----- Original Message ----- From: <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com> > > > Good to around 45-47 degree water---3 mm farmer john with a full sleeve > top of medium weight capilene or similars underneath the top portion. > Over that a dry top and some kind of paddling pants. Booties, polartec > beanie, gloves. > > Good to low 40s: Full 5 mm suit or a full 3 mm suit with some kind of > jacket or vest of similar material and the rest of the stuff from above. > > Fundamentally, a wet suit to dry suit switchover should occur in the mid > 40s or sooner if you wish; and especially if the air is cool. > > ralph diaz > -- Thanks for the reply Ralph. I understand about differing metabolisms, as my wife's hands and head feel the cold more than mine, so she starts adding extra layers before I do. When out of the kayak we put on wind proof overtrousers, otherwise it can get very cold in a wetsuit (our paddle jackets protect the upper body). Average sea surface temperatures in New Zealand in winter range from 48 degrees in the south to 59 degrees in the north. In summer the respective values are 59 degrees and 69 degrees. We normally paddle in the northern half of the North Island, and the coldest water we would encounter is in hydro lakes, down to 50 degrees. We switch from 3mm to 6mm farmer johns below about 55 degrees - more conservative than your figures, but better that than the other way around. Also, considering what gear we already have, it was nice to have you confirm that we don't really need to get another mortgage to go and buy dry suits! Allan Singleton Hamilton NZ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Nov 12 1999 - 17:22:56 PST
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