RE: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise Drysuits/Dampsuits

Bill,

Part of the dampness issue might be the amount of insulation used as a
liner.  The first year I used my drysuit I wore light weight capiline plus
300 wt. fleece.  I was grossly over heated when I was paddling and I had to
stop every so often to wet down my hands and heat to cool off.  I have since
scaled back my insulation layer to stretch 200 or expedition weight
capiline.  Even the lighter layer can be too hot when the air temp in the
high 60's and the water temp is in the 40's.  How do you decide on what to
wear for insulation?

I would also expect that sustained high exertion would result in a higher
temperature inside the dry suit leading to more evaporation of the moisture
from the insulating layer and more efficient vapor permeation through the
Gortex. 

Dana

 > -----Original Message-----
 > From: wanewman_at_uswest.net [mailto:wanewman_at_uswest.net]
 > Sent: Friday, January 14, 2000 12:12 PM
 > To: Bob Apter
 > Cc: Dickson, Dana A.; PaddleWise_at_lists.intelenet.net
 > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] PaddleWise Drysuits/Dampsuits
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > 
 > Bob Apter wrote:
 > 
 > > I also find that I can't stay dry in a Goretex drysuit, 
 > paddling vigorously
 > > in the Pacific Northwest.  I suspect that the high 
 > humidity here limits the
 > > effectiveness of Goretex, since the vapor pressure outside 
 > is relatively
 > > high.
 > >
 > > Nonetheless, the Goretex still works much better for me 
 > than when I tried a
 > > coated drysuit in the past.
 > >
 > > Although Goretex is not a perfect answer to sweating up 
 > the dry suit it does
 > > make a big difference.  In 1997 when Don Dimond and I were 
 > preparing for a big
 > > crossing I wore a coated nylon suit for a 35 mile training 
 > paddle out to and
 > > part way around Isle Royale.  It was nice and cool about 
 > 40-50 and we paddled
 > > at a brisk, but not insanely vigorous pace, and at the end 
 > of theday I had
 > > about a pint of liquid sweat in each ankle gasket 
 > (yuck!!!).  We are not
 > > talking damp here we are talking swimming in moisture.
 > 
 > In contrast during our actual crossing I had a Goretex suit 
 > and paddled for up
 > to 67 miles in one sitting at a fast pace with hardly a 
 > trace of dampness in the
 > liner.  Obviously on warm day at a race pace you are going 
 > to sweat up the suit
 > no mater how breathable the shell.  A few things that help a 
 > great deal are
 > controlling your body temperature by covering and uncovering 
 > your head and
 > hands.  It is amazing how much heat you can dissipate just 
 > by paddling with a
 > bare head or bare hands.  By being very aware of your body 
 > temperture and
 > adjusting your head gear and or gloves and pogies you can 
 > thermostat yourself to
 > more dry comfortable paddling.
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