dressing for cold wet boating

Madwand
I've been to New Orleans on a business seminar. I agree, it's very humid and hotter than snot in the summer I would not care to live there, imho..
Cooler temperatures to me are not such a big deal as I dress as needed either in my house 20 feet from the North Pacific or when I go out on the water. Remember, I live in a Rain Forest where it rains almost constantly in the Fall through Spring. So yes that is why I use 3 different setups to suit what nature offers me.
My last post was to simply point you in the right direction for a pair of pants that are waterproof and breathable. If you just buy rubber pants, your perspiration trapped in the pants will make you sweat like the devil and compromise the insulation layers depending on what you use for such purposes.
I hope that helps
Fred

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'

Regarding my 'Negativity'
I think you have me mixed up for someone else. There are a lot of people that read these posts, and what may be a question for one person, the answers or opinions, offered by others may help out people looking for info in the same direction.
Madwand, it seems you are not really looking for answers, I get the idea that you'd rather argue.
Why would I waste over an hour answering your posts if I wanted you to stay home until December?
Good Evening
Trinomite

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Always looking for ways to make good things 'Gooder'

When I bought my AI the first thing I learned is there is no such thing as a dry ride. In the summer here in Florida all I need is a swim suit and lots of sunscreen. But the winter is the best time to take multi-day sailing/camping expeditions - my favorite thing to do in the AI. My first winter (January) day trip in the AI the air temp and the water temp were in the 70's. After several hours I was cold to the bone and shivering. That sent me on the same warmer clothing quest you guys are discussing here. I also need to add that I HATE spending money I don't have to. Also, as a certified diver, I know a wetsuit or a drysuit would be very uncomfortable to sail in. Way too hot and too restrictive. Remember - I'm talking southern winter here, not Canada.

Here's what I came up with that works well for me. The base layer is a light weight synthetic long sleeve T and pants. Just your basic light long johns. Over that I wear a lightweight, quick dry, pair of pants and a Quick dry fishing shirt.. Something like Columbia Titanium fishing pants and and PFG shirt. Over that I wear a waterproof bib overall. The one I bought comes from West Marine and it absolutely keeps me dry. Here's the link:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=10139

I also wear an NRS Splash jacket. It has a soft rubber gasket at the neck and sleeves. The neck gasket is Velcro adjustable, is comfortable (unlike a drysuit) and just keeps water from running down your neck. The lower part of the jacket also has a skirt that comes down over the bib. I want to emphasize - a bib is the way to go. BTW - guys, if you typically need a "nature break" along the way, Bass Pro has a bib with a longer, two way, zipper.

To finish it off I wear a Tilley hat, sunglasses, a pair of sailing gloves and the Bass Pro neoprene boots I mention in an earlier post. This combination has kept warm and dry all day long in 50 to 60 degree temps, 3 foot seas and stiff winds.

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Trust me ECWS works in the wet.
It is not designed for the civilian marine environment, camouflage and boating is not usually a smart mix, but surplus is a good/cheep alternative to get a set of Gore-tex and you may be able to find a set of the deserts as opposed to woodland or digital.

Totally not the intended purpose, but I have used my polypro under my wetsuits. It works great if not a bit bulky but not as bulky as a drysuit. Soaking wet, snow on the ground, still very warm.

The only thing about Gore-tex and Polypro is stay away from aircraft and fire unless you want to be shrink wrapped in an accident. There is special cold weather Nomex for those situations.

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I agree - ecwcs waterproof pants can be warm and dry. I have a pair. My problem is they ride at my waist, or slightly below after sitting in the boat for awhile. Many times I have had a wave completely fill my AI's cockpit. When this happens my pants get swamped - wet butt. With the bibs this doesn't happen - dry butt = happy sailor. This may not be a problem for everyone, but it is for me. I haven't seen ecwcs pants in a bib style. If they are out there they would be a good choice.

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I never said I was going to buy rubber pants. I was looking at 3 layer breathable paddling pants. It bothers me that you feel the need to keep correcting me and making condescending remarks about my posts such as you needing the patience of Job. And then your need to further explain who Job is like I am a child. I'd rather not read that type of stuff. I don't need to be berated because I bought a lousy used drysuit or because I chose to buy my boat somewhere you don't approve of. I figured it out myself. I was simply trying to be polite and ignore every instance you did that to me on here. I'm sure you feel otherwise.



I think it is much the opposite. Or perhaps I am not looking for your answers. No offense, but you seem to keep answering questions I haven't asked. My "arguing" as you want to call it, is me trying to make you understand that what you are saying has no bearing on what I am talking about. Again, I was trying to be polite and not come out and say WTF to your answers.



I am guessing this is the reason you keep answering questions I haven't asked, it's because I didn't say that. Please try to read a little slower and comprehend better. I know you read a lot of posts, I am sure you try to go through them very quickly. Slow down.

That certainly sounds cheaper than the Kokatat pants I was looking at. This might be what I need. I asked you earlier about how the thin rubber boots keep your feet warm. They are intended to be used in the water where a thin layer of water is warmed by the body, but you are not using them that way. I would think just rubber shoes would be freezing.

The boots are 5 mm neoprene - like heavy dive boots. On our trips my feet are always wet. Everywhere we launch requires some wading. I have pretty good circulation in my feet, so with a little water in the boots, they stay warm. I have been out with a number of guys who use the same basic boot and only one said his feet were uncomfortably cold at the end of the day. That was a particularly chilly day and the wind was really blowing. The cooling effect of the wind may have been a problem for him. You could also buy the boots a size larger and wear socks. Even wet they may be warmer. The way I look at it, for 25 bucks it isn't much of a risk to try.

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I googled it but didn't find anything that had anything to do with water, but that's because it's an overwhelming search. All kinds of unsuitable stuff is mixed in with whatever you are suggesting. If I add "water" to the ECWS search, I get a whole different subject matter entireley. The little surplus looking ECWS I did find was as highly priced as the retail stuff. They must have seen me coming. Maybe I don't know the right nomenclature for what I need...



I have a set of polypro from the army. It's very bulky. You wear that under a wetsuit and you get it wet?? My wetsuit is skin tight, I'd have to buy one 2 sizes larger to even try to get polypro inside that suit. And you get it wet??



Ok, sounds good. I already have a pair hidden somewhere in the house, so I can try them for free, I hadn't rembered you have to get them wet to get in the boat anyway...

Military obfuscation at work. The don't simply call the ecwcs waterproof pants "waterproof" - no, too simple. They are "H2O Proof" - go figure.

Here's a link to an example:
http://www.armynavyusa.com/gc/customer/ ... cTS_d_3171

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I know $ are hard to come by but the drysuit purchase is probably more important than the boat itself. Yep I am in Florida and yep its dry suit season (well almost) . Once the air and water temp added together gets below 160 or so I am wearing. If its just a day trip close to shore and the sun is shining the suit might go into a drybag in the hatch. Layers are appropriate. I have a kotakat and it was not cheap(I created a goretex shortage when I ordered it due to the larger size I needed) Went to local dealer to make sure it was sized right. Once you get the gaskets cut right it is comfortable and it is dry and warm.

Bosab, 160? That means if the air is 80 and the water is 79, you're saying I need to spend $1500 on two drysuits? Sounds a little excessive for coastal kayaking. The pants that Intents just posted seem like they will be more than adequate. I will probly buy some drysuits when I retire and buy a 40 foot sailboat for circumnavigating. Not now.

I can't imagine trying to put on or remove a drysuit while on a kayak. It took me 15 to 20 minutes to put on the 1 I have in my living room. It was really uncomfortable. Very restrictive and limited movement. Funny thing is the 1 I got is designed for a person a bit larger than myself, yet I could not stand upright in it. Maybe because it was only a 350 dollar retail suit. But I will cross that bridge again when I have a real need for a drysuit .

Very nice, but I am still baffled about the feet part. Now you have a nice warm pair of pants to wear, but then your ankles are exposed and your feet are warm in a wet shoe. I have some snorkeling socks that could take up the gap, but they would not be very warm. Or do the hem of the pants cover the top of the wet shoes? I can't remember if my wet shoes are high tops.

There really isn't anything to be baffled about - it simply isn't a perfect system. The boots do cover my leg several inches above my ankles, but occasionally my pant leg does ride up above my boot top a bit and little of my leg above the boot does occasionally get wet. Again, I am in Florida and the water in the keys, Florida Bay and the Gulf around the Everglades (where I do most of my winter sailing and camping) rarely drops below the upper 60's. Even with a little water intrusion I stay warm, dry (enough) and happy.

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I guess I've had enough people tell me now that dive boots will keep my feet warm that I should believe it. I think I'm gonna go with these pants:
https://www.kayakshed.com/nrs/nrs-blackrock-paddling-pant.cfm
I get a 15% discount and free shipping there because I bought my boat there.

Now to find a jacket...