Re: [Paddlewise] Wet Suits in Groups with Mixed Skill Levels

Joyce Family" <tfj4_at_comcast.net> wrote:

>> A group of paddlers, some novices, some experienced, will
do a multi-day cold water trip.  At all times the paddlers will be in a large
group, relatively close to shore, and in fairly protected waters.  It seems
easy and conservative to insist that everyone wear a dry suit or a wet suit
(thickness to be determined).  [snip]
 I can imagine people trying to compromise, and unzipping the
garments, or just stopping wearing the wet suits.  How have others dealt with
this type of situation? >>

Tom, two things:

1. I think you may need to deal with the differences in skill level first
before you get down to the detail of which garments folks wear.  Others have
edged in this direction, but perhaps making sure that everyone has had some
time doing self-rescue practice in cold water, and everyone has done the swim
test in their paddling outfit in similarly cold water. I don't think it works
well in an all-comers group such as you describe to just mandate a particular
immersion protection garment/regime without good preparation otherwise.

2. How about some more detail on how protected, and how cold your conditions
will be?  There are more variables here, such as whether or not you will be
pushed to make miles in marginal conditions, how big is the group, how many
are true novices, and so forth.  As a partial cure, could be using a guide
service could solve some of the imponderables.

--
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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