RE: [Paddlewise] scary sight

"Boy! you folks are gonna be HOT in all that neoprene!", - Well, were you
hot?

I regularly paddle in the Gulf Islands. Its the Canadian version of the San
Juans with much the same conditions. I must confess that when the air
temperatures start climbing I will often paddle in just shorts and a
tee-shirt. To me the option is to climb into my dry suit and be
uncomfortable all day, or maybe not to go at all.

On a day like today... winds light and variable, highs expected in the 30's
(C), paddling in an area I'm familiar with, with people I trust, with the
rest of the safety gear intact (PFD, flares, VHF), I think it is a perfectly
acceptable risk, IMHO, to paddle without immersion protection. My suit is
with me in a hatch at all times in case conditions change and I regularly
practice rolls and rescues without the suit. To me saying that anyone who
doesn't paddle in immersion gear 100% of the time is foolish sounds elitist
and snobbish. I'm not talking about new paddlers here, but in the right
conditions I think that it is acceptable for an experienced paddler to head
out in shorts and a tee shirt. After all if we wanted to eliminate all risk
we would stay home and watch nature shows on TV.

Having said that. If I am in an unknown area, if the weather or currents are
questionable, if I go solo, or am doing a long crossing, I will wear my
suit.

Steve Davis, who occasionally paddles sans suit and is still around to
further his gene line (if he so chooses).
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