Re: [Paddlewise] "Tuiliq" (was: Insulation under a Drysuit)

Ralph Diaz wrote:
>I think what the other Ralph was pointing to was the fact that a tuiliq
>is basically a nightshirt-style garment with no real effective way of
>closing in the bottom.  So in a spill you have cold water up into your
>torso area and down into your sleeves.  A dry top, at least, has a
>semblance of a waist closure in a wide neoprene band that slows cold
>water movement up into the torso area.

Hello Ralph,

Chris Cunningham did a good job of discussing this is his SK article
<http://www.seakayakermag.com/oct99/tuiliqs.htm>: "Even though a wet exit
is not compatible with the Greenland style, I was curious to know if the
loose fit of the neoprene around my torso would provide any warmth if I
were in the water. After a wet exit, I was surprised at how much air the
tuiliq kept in it when I came to the surface. The air buoyed up around my
chest and shoulders and provided a lot of flotation. By tucking the skirt
of the tuiliq in between my legs, it provided some thermal protection for
my groin and kept water from circulating around my torso. With my legs
crossed and hands folded over my chest, I floated comfortably in the water.
The seal around my face let only a little air out if I worked my jaw around
but, for the most part, the fit was airtight and maintained the air bubble.
I'd still recommend wearing a thermal protective layer under the tuiliq,
but I was surprised by how much warmth and buoyancy it provided while I was
in the water."

During a very cold rain in Greenland it was quite comfortable, warm and
dry, to
kneel on the ground with the tuiliq covering my legs, like a mini bivy
sack. I saw a few other paddlers doing this while waiting for some of the
events. Perhaps in an emergency, without shelter, this feature could prove
very useful.

>The tuiliq seems to have a wide temperature range.  Richard Nonas, the
>sculptor whose exhibit I mentioned is starting this week, wears his
>tuiliq right through the summer months here in New York with air
>temperatures well into the 90s and water in the 70s.
SNIP

I think that perhaps it is Richard who has a wide temperature range. I had
the pleasure of meeting Richard at Delmarva this year. He was wearing a
black tuiliq on a day that I was sweating intensely in a T-shirt. I
couldn't imagine wearing even a Goretex tuiliq in hot weather, other than
for rolling
practice. For cold-weather use, however, they are extremely comfortable.

>What worries me with a tuiliq is the sense of entrapment.
SNIP
>Most sprayskirts will release when you put enough tension
>on them as you start rising or falling from your seat. And you always
>have the front release strap to pull it away from the rim and pop it
>off.  I don't believe the tuiliq has such a release strap.
SNIP

As Debbie mentioned, the shock cord around the hem of the Brooks suit
merges at the front to allow adjustment and functions as a grab loop. If
anything, I wish the 1/4" shockcord used in the Brooks tuiliq was more
substantial. All of my regular neoprene skirts have stout 3/8" shock cord,
and combined with the small cockpit opening on my Anas Acuta, they
certainly don't release by my body rising up or falling from the seat. In
comparison, the Brooks tuiliq releases easily, and even without using the
grab loop can be released by peeling the hem of the suit from the coaming.
Entrapment is the last thing that comes to my mind when I wear a tuiliq. In
fact, without the rubber-band effect of a tight neoprene skirt holding you
in place, you might feel as if you are "falling out" of the cockpit the
first few times that you capsize. Perhaps your impression of entrapment is
from seeing John Heath's video of John Petersen taking several minutes to
securely fasten his sealskin tuiliq to the cockpit rim. The traditional
sealskin tuiliqs are certainly intended to keep you in the kayak, a much
safer prospect than bailing out into freezing water.

Greg Stamer
Orlando, Florida
http://www.magicnet.net/~gstamer/QK.html

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