Re: [Paddlewise] weather wimp, or just cautious?

At 09:08 PM 12/26/00 EST, MJAkayaker_at_aol.com wrote:
>Hi Kathleen,
>
>You are definitely not being a wimp.  I agree with the reply that says you 
>need to get the wet-suit or maybe even a dry-suit. I bought some HYDO-SKINS 
>from Northwest River Supplies.  I have a farmer john (that's the suit with
no 
>sleeves) and a separate long-sleeve top. The HYDRO-SKINS have a very thin 

(snip)

It sounds good, but Kathleen, like me, is a larger paddler. I would very
much like to wear hydroskins, but the simple fact is that the biggest size
NRS sells is way to small for me, and, I suspect, for her. The only thing
available for me in commercial wet suits is the NRS Grizzley, which is
really too heavy for anything but the times when its really needed.
Besides, the one I have doesn't fit well. Too small. Custom wet suit time.
Dry suits? Forget it. Not available for people my size. I suppose I could
get a custom job made for a cost in excess of a thousand dollars, but it's
easier to just not go kayaking when I need that much protection.
 
>
>One thing you said does concern me a little.  You talked about the air temp 
>as a limiting factor.  I believe you really should just forget about air
temp 
>and concentrate on dressing for the water temp.  You almost never underdress 

Again, that sounds good, but for the larger paddler, you do have to have
some concern about dressing for the air temperature as well as the water
temperature, since you can overheat so easily -- especially if you don't
have a roll for rotational cooling.

(more snip)

>
>I am probably on the overdressed side compared to most paddlers, but since I 
>spend most of my time in pretty warm water I feel unprepared when I get in 
>cold water and therefore add a little extra warmth.  Some paddlers I have 
>talked to say they use wetsuits  down to the 45 deg F level and some say
they 

For my own purposes -- and, ultimately, I'm the one that has to bear the
results of my decision -- I tend to use the rule of 100, maybe modified a
bit for circumstances. In other words, I usually wear a wet suit if the
combination air temperature and water temperature combined adds up to less
than 100. I may bend the rule a little each way depending on conditions. If
it gets to less than about 75 or 80, in conditions that I know are going to
be anything but purely benign and I know I'm going to be within walking
distance or depth of shore, I don't bother with a wet suit since I'm going
to be doing my kayaking by computer.

But I can't concieve of wearing a wet suit in conditions that are, say, 60
water temp and 80 air temp. I'd cook; I couldn't paddle a mile.

No doubt the hypothermia nazis are going to jump all over me for this, but,
as I said, it's my decision; I have to be the one that has to balance the
risks. I've had cold water hypothermia -- from a nonboating related
activity, by the way -- and have a pretty good idea of the risks I'm
taking. But I'm the one that has to balance things out.

Your mileage may vary. If so, good. You have assessed your needs and
responded to them in the way you feel best. 

-- Wes



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