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From: Niels Blaauw <niels.blaauw_at_wanadoo.nl>
subject: [Paddlewise] Question: Wetsuits in cold water
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 14:14:55 +0200
In my local club (You know, the club where people think safety is for
sissies) the normal dress for cold water paddling is a 3 mm neoprene
long john, polypro shirt, fleece sweater and a paddling jacket (not a
drytop). No head protection, usually. PFD's are worn.

I'm trying to convince people that clothing like that will expand the
time for a rescue from 2-3 minutes to 10-15 minutes... But I'm not at
all sure of that.

Does anybody have data on that? Factual, numeric test results, or
horrorstories about hypothermia while wearing neoprene?

Lenze from Denmark suggests I enter the water myself, but since water
the water around here is extremely wet, I'd like to obtain my data in
another way.

Niels.
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From: <Rick.Sylvia_at_ferguson.com>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Question: Wetsuits in cold water
Date: Mon, 29 Mar 2004 09:06:41 -0500
> In my local club (You know, the club where people think safety is for
> sissies) the normal dress for cold water paddling is a 3 mm neoprene
> long john, polypro shirt, fleece sweater and a paddling jacket (not a
> drytop). No head protection, usually. PFD's are worn.
> 
> I'm trying to convince people that clothing like that will expand the
> time for a rescue from 2-3 minutes to 10-15 minutes... But I'm not at
> all sure of that.



Niels, what's the water temps?  I'm no expert, but I'd think the answers
change as the water temps change.  IE:  It may not be suitable for 40
degree water (Fahrenheit) but it may be okay for 60 degrees, and so
forth.

Rick
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