Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit for cool water

At 02:54 PM 11/15/99 -0800, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
>Mel Grindol wrote:
>> 
>> 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.
>> 
>
>To my knowledge, those survival suits do not have latex gaskets at the
>neck, wrists and ankles and their zippers are not at all the waterproof
>kind.  So they will let water in.  They have lots of flotation built
>into them.  A true dry suit would do a lot better, albeit the stated
>survival times in the survival suits for that degree of water were
>impressive.
>
>ralph diaz
>-- 


The survival suits I have worn in the past were coast guard issue and were
like ralph said. They have sewed in foam for floatation and warmth but no
seals at the feet,hands or head except a hood. On a boat they are great but
in the water I think a wet suit would be better.

Dana
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