In a message dated 12/5/2000 11:57:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, dnhaines_at_northcoast.com writes: > It's pretty cold in > the surf too. Except for bays and lagoons, the paddling here is in ocean > swell and surf. So I need a dry suit, or maybe a dry top / dry bottom > combination like the ones Kokotat makes? Can't speak directly to the combination you describe, Don, although I've heard that they will, in fact, work if properly worn. I'd offer you a possible alternative, and can speak to it first hand. For several years, my winter gear consisted of a full jumpsuit of Polartec Thermal Stretch material --- comparable to two to three mil neoprene --- covered by a two mil neoprene "short john" for added core temp protection in a swim; over that, I wore a Mountain Surf (Friendsville, Maryland, < www.mountainsurf.com>) "Dryback Drydeck" dry top integrated into a rugged neoprene skirt. Mountain Surf's gear is made for winter or marginal weather whitewater paddling, but the folks there will custom fit their gear for sea kayak cockpits, as well. It's bomber stuff --- very rugged --- and the rand on the skirt keeps the whole unit locked on the small rim of my Pintail (VCP, 16" by 24" rim) and keeps most water out. In conditions like those you've described, and assuming your roll is generally reliable, as it sounds it is, this could be a good alternative. A "drydeck" will give you "performance" capability and, as long as you've got "survival" capability in a neoprene or Thermal Stretch wetsuit protection, a swim in 50 degree F. water shouldn't be too bad, especially if you're relatively close to a take-out. I've swum this combination on several occasions to test out the thermal protection it affords, and I've been able to stay functional --- although definitely not comfortable --- for 25 minutes in 38 degree F. water. I'm not heavy, and I'm 57 --- your mileage ... One small drawback on the "performance" side of things, Don: water will definitely seep in if you're paddling surf, and, even in backwater paddling, a certain amount of seepage and condensed perspiration will accumulate in the bilge. When you roll, water has this funny habit of trying to head for the center of the earth, and, if you've put your shoulders or arms between the bilge and the center of the earth for a couple of seconds, guess where that water is going to run? But, hey, it's a water sport. With some good insulation, it's just an internal "rotocooling" method. Cost on these hummers --- about $350 with some mods? List stock is $300 plus. Not cheap, but less than half of the cost of a full up GoreTex Kokatat drysuit. I wouldn't recommend these things for long transits or any extended paddling in 40 degree water --- although what I do and what I'd suggest aren't necessarily the same things --- and you'd certainly have much higher survival time in a full drysuit, but it's a viable option for areas which are cold but not necessarily life threateningly cold --- if that's an adjective. Good luck with the choices. Jack Martin --- back to lurking *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Dec 06 2000 - 10:07:05 PST
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