In a message dated 3/11/2003 1:01:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, ireton_at_comcast.net writes: > ... Guidance, probability factors, tales, and wisecracks would be > appreciated! ... As a (fit) teenager I used to swim in the North Sea (latitude of Newfoundland, though usually ice free even in winter due to Gulf Stream influences) in swimming trunks: Active time less than 20 minutes fully immersed. I did some scuba diving training in Sweden in 4-8 degree Celsius water in a 4 mm neoprene farmer john and more or less matching 6 mm neoprene top (with integral hood). Underwater times in excess of 60 minutes usually left us barely able to control the shivering upon resurfacing, i.e., well along on the road of hypothermia (I hasten to add that the situation was fully controlled, that there were safety boats and plenty of other, fresh, warm divers on hand in case of developing emergencies). I have swum in salt water in developing skim ice with that self same farmer john (in somewhat less than perfect condition these days) in combination with a nylon / PU paddling drytop over a fleece top and a (detached) neoprene diving hood. Once the water starts invading the drytop in significant it gets a trifle uncomfortable. On that occasion there was less immediate support in case it had been needed, so I cut short the experiment while I was still in full control myself -- active immersion time was less than 30 minutes. I'll leave it at that. The above should give you some corner posts for initial orientation. Shirley, I tell the "hairy chested" stories to illustrate that all the statistics and theoretical information will not replace personal trial and error. Perhaps a swimming session with the entire group will improve comfort levels ... or weed out those who are not up for it -- and if you're afraid to get wet (or, in this case, wet and cold) better not to go out. Best regards, Ralph Ralph C. Hoehn Ralph_at_Atlatl-Kayaks.com / Ralph_at_PouchBoats.com www.Atlatl-Kayaks.com / www.PouchBoats.com phone: +1-802-649-2555 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 11 2003 - 12:41:27 PST
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