[Paddlewise] Taking Wetsuit Off On The Kayak

Paddlewisers,

Although I wear a wetsuit for surfing, and rolling/rescue practice, I hate 
wearing them for touring.  However, with all the talk on this list about 
wearing a wetsuit while touring, I decided to wear one today to remind myself 
how much I hate them.  Besides, I was paddling some rock gardens off Corona 
Del Mar and might have the opportunity enjoy the comfort of the wetsuit if I 
blew it.

Anyhow, after about two hours, I wanted the wetsuit off so bad I was going 
crazy.  The wetsuit was a thin, sleeveless, long john, and I was really 
getting hot in the 70 degree air and 59 degree water.  I always wondered how 
hard it would be to take off or put on a wetsuit in a kayak on the water, so 
here was my opportunity to find out.  To make the situation more interesting, 
I was in my Skerray RM, which has one of those tiny Brit cockpits that don't 
let you bring up your knees or even reach your foot with your hands.

What I did was raft up with my trusty kayaking partner, Jim Gabriel.  Then I 
got out of the kayak and laid with my back on Jim's front deck and my ass on 
my front deck, while Jim leaned over on my kayak and held our kayaks 
together.  While I was in that position, we thought that dropping my ass 
between the kayaks would be a good way to take a crap --and no, I didn't!  
Anyhow, this method worked pretty well to get the neoprene spray skirt and 
wetsuit off and get the spray skirt back on.  But I do have to say I had a 
trusty partner and calms seas, where the swell was about 3-4 feet and the 
wind waves were about 1 foot.  I wouldn't want to do it heavier conditions, 
which is why I will never wear a wetsuit again for touring!

Duane Strosaker
Southern California
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