Re: [Paddlewise] Waterproof/Breathable no good in saltwater?

From: Steve Cramer <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>
Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 14:41:53 -0400
Steven Featherkile wrote:
> 
> I just read in a guidebook for paddling around Vancouver Island, BC,
> that waterproof/breathable fabric looses it's waterproof capability in
> saltwater.  That is news to me.  Anyone have firsthand info?

I don't, but the Gore people do. Go to www.gore.com and do a search on
salt water. About 1/2 way down the results page you will find this
sentence: "GORE-TEX® Fabric Is Not Harmed By Salt Water!" Unfortunately,
the link it points to is being remodeled.

There was a bunch of nonsense about this on r.b.p recently, including
someone who claimed that the salt crystals lodged in the pores and
stretched them open. 

If you believe that salt water hurts waterproof/breathable fabric, you
wouldn't dare sweat in the stuff, would you? Of course, othere
manufacturers may say differently, and, as always, YMMV.

Steve
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Received on Thu Jun 01 2000 - 11:36:45 PDT

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