Re: [Paddlewise] Waders

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shawn Baker" <shawnkayak_at_yahoo.com>

> Steve Cramer wrote:
> >I don't have a dry suit, so I wore my neoprene waders with a drytop
> and
> >some poly. Worked a treat. Got a little water in after 1/2 hour or so,
>
> >but very warm.
>
> Yup.  I've had the exact same experience.  With a double-tunnel drytop,
> neoprene-tunnel sprayskirt, and a good PFD over top, keeping the layers
> aligned, I get about 1/2 cup of water after 45 minutes of swimming in
> flatwater and waves (can't speak for whitewater).
>
> I've since glued a "sealer" tunnel to my waders that I can roll
> together with my drytop's inner tunnel, and get about as wet as I would
> with a 2-piece drysuit.  It's sure nice to wade with the boat into 35*F
> water and your feet stay toasty!  Swimming isn't bad either--after 45
> minutes in 40*F water, I only got out because I was bored, not cold.

Out of curiosity, what is the neoprene thickness of the waders?  From my
understanding of the cold water workshops that have been run down in the
Chesapeake area (Greg Welker or Jack Martin correct me if I am wrong),
neoprene wet suits faired poorly when tested in 40 degree water for any
length of swimming or hanging out in the water.  I believe that was in
conjunction with drytops.  But I never attended these and so can be well off
base.

This would be a good opening for either of Greg or Jack or any others who
were at these events several times to comment on what was generally found in
terms of relative comfort and protection from the garments used by
participants.

ralph diaz

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