Re: [Paddlewise] drysuits

I think a lot depends on the person.  Similarly equipped persons will react
differently to cold.  In mild conditions, I don't think you'd have much
trouble recovering from a spill in 50 degree water with a dry top and a
farmer john.  I had a bit of fun in the middle of a river when I was
seperated from my boat with water temps in the 50's.  It took 30 minutes or
so before I started to really feel the cold.  I did get water in my dry top
that wicked in through the wet suit material.  Once I was back in the boat,
I was able to recover from the cold fairly rapidly; having the dry top on
helped a lot.

A thought on dry tops/suits.  Get what you can afford.  If you live in a
place where dangerous water temps are only really encountered in the winter,
having a coated fabric suit is plenty good, I think.  If you are paddling in
cold water, especially alone, you'll never regret spending the money, but
you may well regret not.

If you lose track of the boat and have to spend a long time in the water,
survival has a lot to do with how well you can keep your head out of the
cold.  I once read of some WWII era experiments where it was found that
chances of survival were much better if the back of the head was kept out of
the cold water.  For this, your PFD will play a big part and a neoprene
balaclava can help.

Anyone ever thought of one of these for extreme cold water paddling - an
insulated floatation suit: http://www.wiggys.com/html/new_products.html

Glenn

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Seng" <David_at_wainet.com>
To: "'Robert C. Cline'" <rccline_at_swbell.net>;
<PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2000 3:40 PM
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] drysuits


> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Robert C. Cline [mailto:rccline_at_swbell.net]
> > How long can you stay immersed in 50 to 54 degree water with
> > the farmer john
> > before "the shakes" begin?


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