Allan and Joyce Singleton said: >>So what was the problem with the boots? If you wind up in the water and your boots fill up, then while you are still immersed, the water in your boots weighs......nothing!<< Absolutely! Divers can lift huge water-logged logs from the bottom of lakes, right up over their heads. Getting them above the surface of the water, however, requires a barge or some such apparatus. >>At work we had water safety exercises every couple of years, so I have had plenty of practice at swimming in calf length gumboots and swimming in chest waders (down rapids too). Swimming in laced up work boots with steel toecaps is more difficult, it pays to take them off.<< >>Nobody should be put off by the warning that "your boots/waders will fill with water and drag you under!" Utter bovine excrement - I hope you were not implying anything along that line Doug.<< No, sorry if I was. The only thing that drags one under is their stupidity! :-) As far as the dead kite sailing kayaker, I don't know how contributory the wearing of boots was. I just know the coroner gave his head a shake about it when we were on the phone. I actually defended the dead paddler, saying that he wasn't too out of the norm with that kind of footwear for PNW paddling. I just know _I_ wouldn't wear boots - I have enough problems with my Chota neoprene boots filling up, and they _are_ designed supposedly for in water maneuvers. That is just my experience >>Something that is possible, is to put on a farmer john wetsuit and jacket while you are immersed (provided you are not wearing too much else). Not very practical if you are trying to keep hold of a kayak and paddle though, but it might keep you alive for a few extra hours in cold water.<< A buddy of mine always wears his farmer john, but keeps a wetsuit top available on the back deck for precisely this purpose. On really cold, rough water trips, he wears it the whole time instead, but it is rather uncomfortable. Another friend of mine wears a jacket that has a wetsuit top similar to what a diver wears, but had waterproof fabric arms up to shoulder level, with wrist gaskets. A nice top, indeed, but has not caught on with paddlers. Tsunami ranger type paddlers and Force 10 storm paddlers tend to favor full wetsuits that have a bit of room in the arm/shoulder area for paddling ease. Awesome protection, but still a bit too restrictive for touring >>And for something that most people find difficult, and some cannot master at all, try putting your PFD on while swimming. You might decide that it is better to wear it all the time while you are on the water!>> I describe in my Trial Island incident in SK Mag, what is was like to have to take off my PFD (Buoyancy Aid, Colin :-) ) to access some safety gear, and then put it on again. While it is not impossible, it_ is_very, very disconcerting. I like your dig about better to be wearing it all the time. The Coasties would nod it total agreement. Thanks Allan for the post reply. Don't ever hesitate to ask for further clarification or offer an opinion. Happy gardening! (Glad someone enjoys it!!!). BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon May 29 2000 - 12:23:28 PDT
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