[Paddlewise] Waders

Today, one of our guys turned away a person who wanted to paddle from a club
dock.  The person was wearing neoprene fishing waders and our waters are at
just a bit over 40 degrees.  The fellow said that he was going to stay
within 20 feet of shore, but the shoreline in the area has few beaches where
one could pull up; most of it is high seawall.

My guy felt badly for turning the guy away and wondered if he did the right
thing.  I gave him a resounding YES!  A capsize while in waders would make
for a devil of a self-rescue and even a difficult assisted rescue.  I know.
I once had to pull a fellow into a kayak who was wearing paddling pants with
neoprene ankle closures.  It was real difficult.  I didn't look closely at
what he was wearing but when we finally landed, he released the ankle
closures and half the river poured out.  Also, all that trapped water inside
the waders would not warm up all that fast and the fellow, even if gotten
back into his kayak, would have been miserable if not hypothermic.

I seem to recall hearing of paddlers in our great Northwest paddling in
waders or gumshoes or wellingtons.  Always struck me as odd things to wear
and likely to be a problem in climbing back aboard.

ralph diaz


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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."
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