In my previous paddling incarnation I was a whitewater fanatic. I paddled as soon as the ice broke and kept going until everything froze. Sometimes I paddled rivers in summer that felt like winter [Rhein, Colorado, Nantahala]. I always played hard. I overheated in the boat no matter what I wore. My clothing was geared toward my estimation of my chances of: rolling, swimming, being stranded; each requiring a different level of protection. No wise person ever goes on whitewater alone. So I usually wore windprotection over polypro, expecting that a swim would lead to a quick rescue from a fellow boater and quick re-entry to the kayak. I would have died if I got stranded on a river when I was dressed for non-rolling. Thirty-five years later I'm still here. Now that I'm a sea kayaker with a totally reliable roll, I dress warmly because I'm often with paddlers who couldn't be much help in a rescue or I'm really far from shore. I usually roll or splash myself when cooling is required. In Alaska and Greenland all I had to do was dip my hands deep on every stroke to cool down. Or suck on a bergy bit. In Lake Michigan I need rolls. Nothing is ever simple. Jim Tibensky _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/3/01 10:06:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time, mastalski_at_engr.wisc.edu writes: << I have a question regarding what is the appropriate dress when immersion in cold water is a possibility. >> I've been a diver for a very long time. I own 4 wet suits and two dry suits. I can stay in 68F water for 35 minutes with a 3mm shorty before I start getting cold. I can stay under with a dry suit, and proper insulation for an hour, easy, in 48F water. The purpose of a wet suit is to trap a thin layer of water between the suit and your skin, which is then heated by your skin. This is why 3mm is only good for short term immersion. Heat loss is dependent on many variables, so what works for me may not work for you. In order to be protected for long term immersion, let's say 20 minutes in water under 50F you must have not only a dry suit, but the proper insulation underneath. You would need 6 or 7mm neo to protect you for a swim like that, but for me that's just too damn uncomfortable. Remember the dry suit is only the shell, the amount of thermal protection is dependent on what you wear underneath. A lot more can be said on this subject, but I hope this helps. Steve Schmitz Enjoying an empty Long Island Sound! *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/4/2001 12:22:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com writes: > That lets out a dry suit unless you want to paddle with the zipper open > which has its potential dangers and drawbacks and is not advisable. That > also lets out a dry top I would think since it won't vent at the wrists. I > have a dry top and never > have understood their functionality unless it is one with a latex neck as > That reminds me of the reason I liked my Mountain Surf "Drydeck" --- bomber drytop, coated balistic nylon, latex neck and wrists, and a heavy duty neoprene skirt with a half-round rubber rand built by Mountain Surf especially for the small cockpit of my Pintail. (These were mountain people, and they thought I was nuts.) The good part about that deal was that I had the rest of the kayak as my "drysuit". Always wore neoprene --- usually Patagucci's long four mil bottoms and a top or vest, later an early Henderson full jumpsuit dive suit from Malden Mills' Thermal Stretch Polartec --- under the drydeck. The bad part --- sorta --- was the fact that when you rolled to rotocool, all the bilge water that collected in the hull was totally free to come up and fill your sleeves. That is not a nice feeling. It's a question of balance and logic. Are we beating up a guy because he's dead? No. I guess I've done most of the research on the incident (and the DNR cop has owed me a phone call for two days) but nobody's picked up much on the fact that he (I was told) was not wearing head/neck protection. When you miss a brace or are suprised by clapotis and go over, your face or the back of your head and neck are the first to hit that cold water. We're still below 50 F on the Potomac today, and that's cold water when you're warm or hot. Lots can happen --- and that's really what this discussion is all about. Not what this guy who none of us in the area knew did or didn't do --- but what it reminds us, or should remind us. Ralph mentions unzipped drysuits: I will never look at a drysuit zipper again in the same way. It's not about the dead --- it's about the living. As I sit here, close to midnight, listening to six different versions of Barber's Adagio. Wow. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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