<first post> Hello PaddleWise'ers, As a beginning "sea" kayaker, I'm hoping you could give me some advice... After 4 short to medium guided day tours, I'm hooked, and am beginning to hack together a wish list of gear, so I can begin equipping myself gradually without breaking the bank... This way I can "test drive" some boats with my own gear... The really obvious gear, paddle, etc, isn't causing me a much of a problem at this point. What is driving me up a wall, are specifically clothing, and spray skirts. After doing the obvious reading (a couple of books on Sea Kayaking, subscription to Sea Kayaker magazine, and random purchases of Canoe and Kayak and Paddler), I have found, for me at least, and inadequacy of advice on Paddle-wear and spray skirts... So, if some among you could give me some advice on a) Spray skirts... I know there are nylon and neoprene ones... What do people recommend, and why... If I understand properly, the neoprene ones seem to shed water "better". Is this an accurate statement, and does it make it worth the money, etc... b) Paddle-wear... I live in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle/Kirkland/Bothell area) and am aware of the rather cool water temperature common to the waters here. given the water temperature what would you recommend for outer wear? Dry Suit, Wet Suit, Bib and Dry Top (as I saw discussed yesterday/today)? What about gloves, etc... Thank you for you tolerance and time. Aaron Cunningham acunning_at_seanet.com </first post> *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
-----Original Message----- > From: Aaron Cunningham [mailto:acunning_at_seanet.com] > So, if some among you could give me some advice on > > a) Spray skirts... > I know there are nylon and neoprene ones... What do > people recommend, and > why... If I understand properly, the neoprene ones seem to shed water > "better". Is this an accurate statement, and does it make it > worth the > money, etc... Both topics that you're asking about have a wide range of options... Sprayskirts _in general_ <grin>. Spray skirts can be constructed in a variety of ways: all neoprene, all nylon, nylon tube/neoprene skirt. Nylon skirts tend to be the coolest, but generally don't seal as tightly against your body and possibly even the coaming. Neoprene skirts tend to be warmer and tend to seal more tightly. The combo's attempt to provide a good coaming fit with a less heat-entrapping tube. Considering that you'll have an insulating layer (your PFD) around your torso it really doesn't make that big of a difference anyway. The effectiveness of the seal probably isn't worth quibbling about either. Some neoprene skirts can provide a better coaming seal on plastic coamings which generally have more rounded edges and thus make it more difficult to get a good tight fit. The most important things regarding a skirt are that it fit your cockpit and that you can _easily_ perform a wet exit. Lots of generalization in that paragraph<grin>. I personally prefer a full neoprene skirt - but too much heat is a rare problem where I live. > > b) Paddle-wear... > I live in the Pacific Northwest > (Seattle/Kirkland/Bothell area) and am > aware of the rather cool water temperature common to the > waters here. given > the water temperature what would you recommend for outer > wear? Dry Suit, > Wet Suit, Bib and Dry Top (as I saw discussed > yesterday/today)? What about > gloves, etc... A big part of paddling gear choices depends on what time of year you plan to paddle. For summer paddling in protected waters that aren't too cold a good starting point is a Farmer John wetsuit - you'll probably continue to use it even as your paddling wardrobe expands to accommodate a wider range of conditions. Combine it with a paddling jacket and some kind of synthetic insulating top and you've expanded your range a bit. IMO - for maximum thermal protection and comfort it's hard to beat a Gore-Tex drysuit combined with appropriate underlayers. But Gore-Tex drysuits don't come cheap. Take note of what the more experienced paddlers that you paddle with wear. Ask their opinions about their gear - but don't take anything as the TRUTH immutable. My personal test for the day's paddling garb is to take a swim in it - you'll quickly discover whether or not your selection is appropriate for the water temp. I do this before almost every paddle - it's become routine, rather like unconsciously putting on a seatbelt. Some folks who have 110% bombproof rolls and never, ever, even dream about wet exiting (I have yet to meet one of these mythical paddlers - I've never met Derek Hutchinson either<big grin>) might advocate dressing for comfort according to the air temperature. I think it truly needs to be a balance - you don't want to die from heatstroke, but you might also want to be able to survive the unlikely and unplanned swim. Read "Deep Trouble" by Matt Broze and George Gronseth (ISBN: 0070084998) - it gives a rather sobering look at what can happen if you're not dressed for immersion (along with a lot of other good info). Lightweight neoprene gloves can be handy to have almost year round in the Northwest US - although some folks prefer pogies. I like neoprene gloves with a synthetic leather palm for three-season paddling. My winter paddling choice combines both gloves and pogies. Winter or cold water paddlers should also either wear or have immediately at hand some type of thermal protection for their head - there are neoprene and synthetic hoods available. You can learn a lot from reading, looking at catalogues, listening to advice, etc but it all really comes down to your personal preferences and what types of water and weather you paddle in. It would be a sad thing to wet exit in the middle of Rosario Strait, lose your boat to the wind and succumb to hypothermia all while thinking about how someone told you that all you really needed was "X". Take your experiences in small manageable chunks - and if you're lucky like the rest of us you'll survive your mistakes and misjudgments and be the wiser for them. I don't think you'll find anybody in this list who will purport to have all the answers - and most folks would say that they learn something new almost every time they paddle (I'm definitely in that group - some day I'll graduate with honors from the school of Trial & Error). Here in Juneau I tend to paddle in a drysuit most of the year and reserve the wetsuit for warm summer days. (Actually, I dream longingly about hot summer days and warm waters and wear the dry suit most of the time.) If you're looking for specifics on certain products ask away.....I'm sure you'll find somebody on the list who can make direct comments on just about any product. Dave Seng sitting at work babysitting a recalcitrant backup system....and hoping the full backup actually completes so I can play for the rest of the holiday weekend. Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Aaron wrote: "What is driving me up a wall, are specifically clothing, and spray skirts." My thoughts, FWIW... A spray skirt is part of your survival and safety system, and you should get a good one suitable for your paddling conditions. I think a spray skirt should: 1. Fit the boat 2. Be easily and quickly put on 3. Be as watertight as possible 4. Be comfortable 5. Should not implode 6 Should be removable quickly and efficiently, even while upside down underwater I have a 3mm neoprene deck, with 2mm body tunnel. The coaming edge has a thick, 7mm shock cord sewn to it. The deck is custom fitted to my boat. It has a 50mm bright pink strap sewn to the front for removal. Combined with a double tunnel paddling top, no water gets in, either at the waist, or at the coaming edges. After several rolls, the water trickling problems are now at the neck and wrists of the cag top, not the spray deck. This beats the previous deck I had by far. This had a neoprene deck / nylon tube. Those decks are probably more suited to warmer waters where ventilation might be an issue. Be interesting to read other posts on deck preferences. Does anyone use a Tuiliq? How do you adjust for overheating in these things? Does anyone use a cag sewn to a spray deck, like the "Dryback" dry deck made by Mountain Surf (www.mountainsurf.com)? Regards, PT. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
<< After 4 short to medium guided day tours, I'm hooked, and am beginning to hack together a wish list of gear, so I can begin equipping myself gradually without breaking the bank... >> Stop now with there's still time! Seakayaking, for many of us, is a major money pit. Better to take up bridge or chess or even golf, anything but seakayaking. Don't believe me? OK, it was your bank account. Most people that have all neoprene skirts are happy with them. Especially in the cooler climes. Nylon can be tricky, some are great while others just don't seen to work very well. It's not so much the sheding of the water but rather the quality of the seal against the cockpit and the torso and the resistance to implosion. Neoprene is arguable the best in these areas but can feel warm at times since it will insulate the torso. I paddle north of Boston, Mass just north of the Gulf Stream. I'm not sure how much colder your waters are. The water temp today was 47 degrees in Maine. For paddle wear, I own most of what you mentioned. I just bought a drysuit for use when the water is cold. Sometimes you get warm but that will diminish as your stroke becomes more efficient. Also if you get too hot you can roll to cool off. No roll? Learn this as soon as you can. The two piece system (drytop and bibs) has it's fans, but most people, including me don't like them as much as a drysuit I use the drytop when the water gets warmer but there is still a cool wind blowing. it will really help keep heat loss to a minimum when it's warm but won't help when the water is cold. I went through this past winter with just the HydroSkins and a drytop. Technically a very stupid thing to do. It works well though if your roll is bombproof. Still, I backed off several trips due to the odd chance that I might take a swim. Summer sees the ever so fashionable NRS HydroSkins, a very thin neoprene with fleece liner, very comfortable. These can be used in conjunction with the drytop or drysuit for insulation as well. A paddling jacket is really only good as a backup in summer when the cold evening air starts to blow. It will cut the wind but will not keep you dry. Most people say that pogies are better than gloves, I move my hands around the paddle a lot, so I use gloves. I have the warmest ones that NRS makes and my hands still froze this past winter. Maybe it's time to try the posies. Good Luck, and happy hunting! Jed *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
A couple of new paddlers had some gear questions. 1. Sprayskirts - The best sprayskirt application depends upon the type of paddling you intend to do, and upon water/air temperatures you plan to paddle in, as has been mentioned recently. Some other considerations to think about include the type/model of kayak you are using: lower volume, smaller cockpited kayaks do not do so well with nylon spray decks, yet in some of the larger touring kayaks available, you almost don't need a spray skirt, other than to keep out the rain. Now of course, you should always wear a sprayskirt, but the illustration does reinforce the high performance imperative being dependent upon the boat. I like the Bushsport/Phoenix skirts from the UK (all neoprene, double-tubed with softer neoprene upper and suspenders. From the US, Snapdragon neoprene skirts are ones you can't go wrong with; and from Canada, I'd give serious consideration to some of the new Brooks skirts. (I personally went out of my way at every symposium around five years ago to tell Brooks representatives their products sucked big time, and they were missing the boat in terms of r&d - glad they have seen the light of late). Models available with real waterproof zippers offer some interesting possibilities. Footwear - Please avoid the temptation to wear rubber boots when paddling. Treat sea kayaking as an in-water activity. If you must wear rubber boots (which do admittedly add a wonderful level of convenience to the paddler), scale way back on the levels of risk you are willing to take. The report I'm working on regarding the paddler who died crossing Georgia Strait recently with sail, well, he was found dead still wearing his big rubber boots). Gloves and Neoprene Hoods - Keep these precious life preserving items available near at hand, preferably in a PFD pocket or some such arrangement if separation from boat could be a possibility. The success of emergency procedures in cold water depends upon two key elements: the ability to cognate clearly and "think outside the box" (or is that the boat?), and to maintain manual dexterity. The only time I really screwed up solo paddling in rough water, was a time I had forgotten both the above items, and desperately needed them. And you don't need to be a solo, gonzo, hell-bent paddler to get into difficult situations. Pogies - Don't get long ones with an overabundance of fabric from wrist to mid-arm. Shorter pogies, utilizing a stiff fabric with a wide opening that doesn't cave-in is a must for easy donning. It took me eight pairs to finally find two I like (one neoprene NRS pair for winter, and a Bomber Gear pair for warmer climes). Silly teeth-pull tabs are just that, silly to use and cumbersome. As far as blisters, don't try any weird concoctions or lotions or waxes or any such thing. Simply build up callouses for longer trips, and if time restraints prevent that, do what I do, be a big sissy and wear three-quarter length (fingerless) gloves with minimum palm thickness'. LADIES, the best product for keeping your hands nice n' purdy and moisturized, is a wonderful product used by farmers called "Udderly Smooth". It is a greaseless, protective hand cream (www.uddercream.com). You can often get it at places that sell sewing notions. I'm still trying to find an effective sun block/screen that is greaseless _and_ affordable, that will permit me to keep a grip on my paddle for all that gonzo stuff. Technoweenie-ism - Don't get too caught up in all the gear stuff (literally if you are like me and use tethers! :-)). Paddling should be a liberating activity and lifestyle. While proper safety gear, equipment, and a comfortable kayak ( or canoe or other paddlecraft) that meets or exceeds your performance criteria, will enable greater enjoyment within your chosen environment, these items are (for me) only a means to an end. The sea especially can enfold one in its limitless vitality, rewarding the committed paddler with rejuvenation for body, refilled enthusiasm for life's mental challenges, and requickened vitality for the soul. Especially along the exposed coast, the song of the surf reverberates through the air while the therapeutic caress of the wind tingles at your face and eternal tides seemingly expand then contract the foreshore, acknowledging a notion that we are all part of something wondrously cosmic, mystical, and magnanimous. Enjoy your progression through your paddlesports activity, all you new paddlers. Let us know how you are making out. Be alive, stay alive, but love your rivers, lakes and oceans to death. 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/ ***************************************************************************
> The sea especially can enfold one in its limitless >vitality, rewarding the committed paddler with rejuvenation for body, >refilled enthusiasm for life's mental challenges, and requickened >vitality for the soul. Especially along the exposed coast, the song of >the surf reverberates through the air while the therapeutic caress of >the wind tingles at your face and eternal tides seemingly expand then >contract the foreshore, acknowledging a notion that we are all part of >something wondrously cosmic, mystical, and magnanimous. Beautiful Doug, simply beautiful. Josh ============================================================================== Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum, Research Fellow Tel: [972] 3-640-6448 Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and Fax: [972] 3-641-5802 African Studies Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978 Israel E-mail:teitelba_at_ccsg.tau.ac.il www.dayan.org ============================================================================== *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > > > Footwear - Please avoid the temptation to wear rubber boots when > paddling. Treat sea kayaking as an in-water activity. If you must wear > rubber boots (which do admittedly add a wonderful level of convenience > to the paddler), scale way back on the levels of risk you are willing to > take. The report I'm working on regarding the paddler who died crossing > Georgia Strait recently with sail, well, he was found dead still wearing > his big rubber boots). > 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! 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. 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. 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! Allan Singleton who actually wears wetsuit booties on his feet when paddling, rubber boots when gardening. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 5/29/00 3:37:51 AM Central Daylight Time, alsjfs_at_voyager.co.nz writes: << 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. >> The problem is not getting dragged under, it is trying to lift your legs and feet up out of the water when doing a rescue (other than reenter and roll). I switched to using rubber boots because of the very muddy conditions at most of my launch sites. The first time I tried to practice my paddle float rescue I got a real surprise. I had no problem swimming and manuvering to get everything set up, but I could not get back up onto the back deck. After several tries I swam the boat to shore and switched to a pair of tennis shoes. I had no problem getting back up on the back deck and completing the reentry. If your deck height and body strength make it easy for you to get back up on the deck then the extra weight of water in the boots may not be a problem, but if you are just marginal in getting back up, that extra weight as the boots come out of the water can make it very difficult. Mark J. Arnold MJAkayaker_at_aol.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > > > Footwear - Please avoid the temptation to wear rubber boots when > paddling. Treat sea kayaking as an in-water activity. If you must wear > rubber boots (which do admittedly add a wonderful level of convenience > to the paddler), scale way back on the levels of risk you are willing to > take. The report I'm working on regarding the paddler who died crossing > Georgia Strait recently with sail, well, he was found dead still wearing > his big rubber boots). > Then Allan Singleton wrote: >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! >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. Water filled boots may be weightless in the water but if you're trying to get back into your kayak they are like having a lead weights tied to your ankles. Recently during a local club rescue session there was a S.O.T. rep present who was being rather arrogant regarding how superior his boat was to the traditional kayak, especially when it comes to self-rescues. When he went to give a demonstration he found that he could not lift himself back onto his S.O.T.. It seems that he had inadvertently left his drysuit unzipped which then quickly filled with water. While weightless (and cold!) in the water, the water-filled legs of his suit were so heavy he required assistance getting back onto his kayak. I was not there to witness this event, but I was told it quickly put an end to the bragging. Joe *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Joe Brzoza wrote: > > Then Allan Singleton wrote: > > >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! > > >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. > > Water filled boots may be weightless in the water but if you're trying to > get back into your kayak they are like having a lead weights tied to your > ankles. Recently during a local club rescue session there was a S.O.T. rep > present who was being rather arrogant regarding how superior his boat was to > the traditional kayak, especially when it comes to self-rescues. When he > went to give a demonstration he found that he could not lift himself back > onto his S.O.T.. It seems that he had inadvertently left his drysuit > unzipped which then quickly filled with water. While weightless (and cold!) > in the water, the water-filled legs of his suit were so heavy he required > assistance getting back onto his kayak. It isn't just water filled boots that will give you trouble getting back into your boat. If you are wearing paddling pants with a neoprene seals (or worse yet latet seals) at the ankles, you can get enough water in through the waistband to fill the pants legs. Not a problem as Joes says while in the water, but a disaster for re-entering your boat unless you release the neoprene seals (not much you can do if they are latex seals except to hack around with knife to open them---who want to do that!). It can also happen if your sleeves load with water that comes through the neck opening and you have well sealed wrists. I know individuals have reported that just a cup or two of water enters through their waistband and neckbands, but I have seen several situations personally where sleeves have loaded up or pants legs have loaded up. In one latter case I could not understand why the fairly agile individual could not lift himself out of the water but I managed to pull him in by yanking up on the seat of his pants. Only later when we got to shore and he opened up the neoprene at his ankles did I know--several quarts of water came pouring out of each pants leg!!! ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Mon, 29 May 2000, Joe Brzoza wrote: > > Recently during a local club rescue session there was a S.O.T. rep > present who was being rather arrogant regarding how superior his boat was to > the traditional kayak, especially when it comes to self-rescues. When he > went to give a demonstration he found that he could not lift himself back > onto his S.O.T.. It seems that he had inadvertently left his drysuit > unzipped which then quickly filled with water. While weightless (and cold!) > in the water, the water-filled legs of his suit were so heavy he required > assistance getting back onto his kayak. > On the subject of easily re-entered SOTs and footgear, I recently had a student show up with a SOT. She told me--not at all arrogantly, I hasten to state-- that she could easily re-enter from the water. Except when we started working on rescues in the class, she struggled mightily and needed an assist to re-enter the first time. Had she exaggerated her abilities? Not really. Turns out that every previous time she had reentered the boat, it was after a dive session, and she had been wearing flippers. Steve Cramer *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ ***************************************************************************
> >>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 > > A buddy of mine always wears his farmer john, but keeps a wetsuit top > available on the back deck for precisely this purpose. I wonder if it would be possible to find a wet suit top, or other cold water protection, that could be stored on deck and that would fit over one's PFD. And would be easy and quick to put on while swimming. Jerry *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:14 PDT