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From: John Kirk-Anderson <jka_at_netaccess.co.nz>
subject: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit recommendation
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:27:26 +1200
Hi all,

My long-serving drysuit has sealed me in for the last time, and it's time to 
seek a replacement.

I'm after comments from owners/users, back channel if desired, on good and 
bad aspects of models out there. No problem with hearing from agents/reps, 
but please disclose interest.

I will probably have to buy from overseas, so cost and exchange rate etc. 
will be a consideration for me, but shouldn't effect what paddlers 
recommend.

The suit will be used for sea kayaking, I don't get cold easily, and I tend 
to stay in my boat. I do lots of instruction, so standing/floating around 
while people do stuff is common. Day and multiday trips are frequent.

Water temps here are down to 10degrees C in winter, so cold but not by some 
paddler's standards! Our water tends to stay liquid, we have to go to an 
alpine lake in winter to paddle amongst the solid stuff.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers

JKA

John Kirk-Anderson
Banks Peninsula
New Zealand
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From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit recommendation
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:17:26 -0700
John Kirk-Anderson wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> My long-serving drysuit has sealed me in for the last time, and it's 
> time to seek a replacement.

What size and what special requirements do you seek?

My Recs:

0. Front-entry zip
1. Kokatat Goretex; try for ACR if they have it
2. Relief zipper; only an extra US$100, and worth much more
3. Goretex booties; latex at the ankles sucks big time

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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From: Steve Holtzman <sh_at_actglobal.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit recommendation
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:59:14 +0000
John,

I just bought a previously used dry suit from George Gronseth at the Kayak Academy. They sell new and used Kokatat suits. Great service and pricing. Highly recommend them. 

Steve Holtzman
Sent from my Wireless Crackberry er..... BlackBerry
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From: Darryl Johnson <Darryl.Johnson_at_sympatico.ca>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Was Dress for water temp, now after drysuit recommendation
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:26:25 -0400
John Kirk-Anderson wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> My long-serving drysuit has sealed me in for the last time, and it's 
> time to seek a replacement.
> 
> I'm after comments from owners/users, back channel if desired, on good 
> and bad aspects of models out there. No problem with hearing from 
> agents/reps, but please disclose interest.
> 
> I will probably have to buy from overseas, so cost and exchange rate 
> etc. will be a consideration for me, but shouldn't effect what paddlers 
> recommend.
> 
> The suit will be used for sea kayaking, I don't get cold easily, and I 
> tend to stay in my boat. I do lots of instruction, so standing/floating 
> around while people do stuff is common. Day and multiday trips are 
> frequent.
> 
> Water temps here are down to 10degrees C in winter, so cold but not by 
> some paddler's standards! Our water tends to stay liquid, we have to go 
> to an alpine lake in winter to paddle amongst the solid stuff.
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> Cheers
> 
> JKA
> 
> John Kirk-Anderson
> Banks Peninsula
> New Zealand

I've been happy with the suit I purchased from Ravenspring in the UK.

No leaks or gasket issues after four years if use.

You can check out pricing and options at their web site:
	http://www.ravenspring.co.uk/system/index.html

One note: a friend who perspires heavily, and with a suit that is -- I 
think -- two years older than mine, did have an issue with the coating 
peeling off the inner layer of his suit. Ravenspring recommended a 
replacement coating that seems to be holding up fine.

HTH,
-- 
   Darryl
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