Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit for cool water

Ralph wrote, "... 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."

Probably too impressive for a wet suit, Ralph.  My experience with suits rated as SOLAS "survival suits" is that they are well sealed and "dry", with integral boots, a neck or face seal --- usually with an integrated hood --- and wrist seals with integrated mits or gloves which are "wet".  There are two types --- quick donning which are dry coveralls with no insulations other than what you're wearing when you put the suit on --- and true "survival" or "immersion" suits which contain a lot of insulation.  The quick donning suit is sometimes carried in aircraft for non-crew protection; the fullup survival suit is more a maritime industry product.

There are insulated coveralls available which provide some wetsuit-like protection, but not as much as a good neoprene suit; these coveralls look like flight suits and are regularly worn by Navy and Coast Guard boat crews.  That might be what you were thinking about.  Or maybe that's what that crew was wearing --- and they're just really tough Alaskans.  But I doubt it.

Jack Martin

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