RE: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit for cool water

  While I don't know any of the details about this incident, I can comment
that the usual "survival suit" found up here is typically of the "marine
work suit" variety - not a dry suit, but rather a foam insulated exposure
coverall - designed to be worn while working onboard.  They have wrist and
ankle closures to limit the flow of water in and out of the suit, along with
a hood and enough flotation (with the built-in inflatable bladder) to
qualify as a CG (US)approved PFD while onboard _as long as it is being
worn_.  Mustang and Stearns are the two most common brands for these suits
up in this area.
  Some commercial fishing boats carry full "immersion suits" onboard -
basically neoprene drysuits with FULL coverage, hands, feet, etc and a "dry"
seal around the face.  Pretty similar to being encased in your own private
little insulated life raft.  The problem with these things are that you
CANNOT wear them and perform any functions (other than bodily) while on
board ship - they are a true "survival suit".
  In any event, fall and winter shipwrecks and deaths are far too common in
our Alaskan waters and I'm glad to hear that these folks survived!

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska

-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Grindol [mailto:grindol_at_my-deja.com]
Sent: Monday, November 15, 1999 9:54 AM
To: Paddlewise
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit for cool water


On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 21:50:27   Ralph Diaz wrote:
>
>And remember the bottom line...this is all in the non-dry suit realm. 
>In a _dry_ suit with a decent amount of fleece underneath and hand,
>neck, foot and head protection, you could hang out for an incredibly
>long time in water in 40 degrees and lower.  

Reading the paper on Sunday I read about a shipwreck in the gulf of Alaska.
A 52 foot boot sank in 20 foot seas.  From the time the boat sank till the
rescue helicopter appeared to pluck three men from the water was 80 minutes.
All three were wearing "survival suits."  I'm assuming this is some form of
dry suit?  They all had mild hypothermia and were released from the
emergency room.

This is a long time to stay in the water that was undoubtedly below 40F, and
probably closer to freezing than 40, and have only mild effects from the
exposure.  Definitely a testament to the ability of a good dry suit.

Mel
---
There are three types of people, those who can count and those who can't.




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