[Paddlewise] new drysuit just arrived/new boat/looking for a good witchdoctor

 Hey, my new Kokatat drysuit arrived yesterday. It is a Meridian
Swift-entry. I took it out on the lake immediately. Water temp was 38
degrees, wind blasting at 40+ miles an hour. Waves 2-3 feet in height,
what a gas! It was absolutly PERFECT for practicing my reenter/roll, and a
bunch of different self rescue techniques. Lots of fun.

I have never owned a drysuit before, but borrowed one from a friend who
wussed out on our New Years Eve trip.

What I learned - Before paddling in my new suit/new boat (BTW, my FOX
paddles great) I put on the suit, PFD, a latex swim cap, dove in and went
swimming. The waterpressure around my legs completely inflated my upper
body and I felt like one of those sumo wrestlers at the bar.  I opened my
neck gasket and let out the excess - now I was comfortable. BUT, My hands
and feet soon felt the icy needles of pain. 
   No problem, I figured, I ran up the beach and to the car, slipped off
the suit and pulled on my waterproof/breathable Sealskinz socks and a pair
of yellow latex dishwashing gloves. I jumped back in the suit and headed
back for another swim. Being completely in the water gave me a feeling
like total bulletproofness. My face was the only skin exposed and the rest
of me felt great. I swam/floated for about half an hour in the rather
large waves without feeling any leaks, or drips in the system.
  I paddled in the 70 degree weather for about an hour, using my new Fox
to surf waves, and leaping off the crests at full speed. I only rolled
once when I got too warm from the hard paddling.
  I am going to miss that drysuit induced bulletproof feeling when the
water temps get warm enough to comfortably wear a wetsuit again.
  My new Fox is doing well, in fact just yesterday morning, I had the
boat on the car rack and was on my way to pick up my new drysuit
the University, I was followed for about 3 miles in town by a construction
company pickup that swerved out into traffic and wouldn't shake no matter
where I turned. I pulled into the parking lot and they screeched in behind
me and came running up.
   "I'm gonna die" I thought to myself as these burly guys approached.
"hey!" they yelled, "Where can we learn to kayak?"
I talked to them for a while, they left, and I began jogging to
class. I began preparing a reason for my tardiness - and I wondered, what
the heck do you think their foreman thought when he saw his 3 guys jump in
a truck at the site and tear off after me...

 Sheesh, that never happened when I had any other boats on top, I wonder
why it snagged those guys.

Anyways, I am really happy with my new boat and suit. You could say they
were a little present to myself for finally graduating college.

BTW, I figured out that if you pick up little jobs on the side to save for
something like a new kayak and just sign over the real checks to
the wife, she generally doesn't mind the extra clutter in the
garage. Although, I have discovered that my wife, a non-paddler, has applied
 a three boat limit to our household. I don't know if that is treasony or
heresy. But she seems to be standing firm on it. 
    Does anybody have any suggestions for improving
my three-boat limit? Please understand, that I paddle 8-10 hours a week,
generally while teaching kayaking classes, the rest is on my own and with 
other family/friends. As a boat buyer, I am content for now, but realize I
have the typical male weakness for shiny things. This fever will no doubt 
strike again - I am simply planning...Though I might sell two of my boats
in the future and move towards a Pintail...Arrgh, slap me...
   I am considering subjecting my wife to a mystical kayak voodoo. I know
a few good whitewaterlovin' witch doctors that might be able to help me
out. 
    
   Anythoughts,

I'll be holding my reins on the quiver of boats for a while.
Might go and paddle that Fox again before work.
better get going,

Phil Huck
huck_at_mhd1.moorhead.msus.edu
thekayaker_at_yahoo.com





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