RE: [Paddlewise] float coats, VHF radios, what to tell the public

G'day Chuck, Craig and all,

I wear a PFD, and since the discussion last year on thermal insulation, have
taken to wearing during winter in Oz, a neoprene Farmer John or wet suit,
plus a neoprene jacket over my spray skirt. The thickness of neoprene is
then greatest over the torso and least for arms and legs as a compromise
between freedom of movement and warmth. Took the trouble to have a trouser
zip fitted to the FJ and wet suit, makes it much more practical. The
neoprene jacket can be stowed or put on relatively easily while sitting in
the kayak. Its safer and easier than putting on a cag as it doesn't have to
slip over the head. This combination of clothing also reduces the number of
layers I need to wear (used to be about 6, now 3) and consequently the
effort of hand washing and drying everything. That Paddlewise discussion was
helpful and I'm much less prone to hypothermia now when practising out of
the boat.

Don't believe The water's cold enough here to create a gasp reflex but can
see the point, Is it practical for most people to learn how to suppress it
without using their hands?

Re the VHF, Its kept in my PFD breast pocket so the aerial is high and
vertical. Its not easy to raise the coast guard on inland water and not even
from within Sydney harbour. Surprising the occasions when it would have been
handy in a harbour, boats in trouble, sending a warning of major flotsam,
drifting boats, sinking boats, dead bodies etc! (OK I exaggerate only one
dead body in my personal experience! About three or four that I've heard of
from other kayakers here)

Outside the harbour the VHF doesn't transmit well to the coast guard if I'm
paddling fairly close to cliffs, even though it may receive quite
adequately. I've found it well worth 'mapping' the areas I paddle over the
years to get an idea of the transmission dead spots. The coast guard seem
more than happy to provide the occasional Tx/Rx check and this testing also
helps me stay in practice with operating the transceiver and maintaining a
decent protocol. Surprising how many paddlers here carry a VHF but are too
nervous to practice using it at least once or twice a year or even to just
monitor the general comm's traffic to get a feel for how things are done. 

All the best, PeterO
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