From: "ralph diaz" <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com> > 2) While in your > boat under PFD, sprayskirt and with your lower half inside your non breating > boat, only some of your body will be getting the benefit of the > breathability of Goretex (your arms and some of you chest and back that > protrudes from under the PFD). I wouldn't downplay the effectiveness of GoreTex inside the kayak. Cold air is very dry* (the colder, the drier) and the inside of the kayak will initially be dry. It can absorb moisture as long as the relative humidity is less that 100% (the lower the better). As the interior warms up from your body heat, the amount of water absorbed will increase, since the air's absorption potential increases with temperature. I've noticed that my legs tend to stay quite dry compared to my upper body when paddling in GoreTex. The lack of work done by the leg muscles certainly contributes, but the legs end up in the almost ideal situation of being at rest while warm, letting the GoreTex do its job. The upper body gets quite wet from perspiration and requires rest to dry out. My feet, on the other hand, inside the latex booties, do get damp - noticibly more so than my legs. I'd also echo Dave's concern that those who are cold while resting are underinsulated. I find that if I stop paddling for, say, a lunch break, I want to open the suit or even peel the top off and wrap it around my middle (assuming a windless area, of course). It has to be very windy and cold for me to remain suited up on shore. But then, I'm cold acclimatatized (http://members.rogers.com:81/michaeldaly2/winterPage.htm :-) Mike * Exceptions do exist - the high arctic is often at 100% relative humidity for long periods during the spring & summer even though the temps can be near freezing. Trans-arctic adventurers suffer from this - it's so damp that wounds don't heal! *************************************************************************** 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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