Wetsuits

cyrano,

I respect your opinion, but nevertheless, when asked I'll err to the safe side with recomendations. I've surfed before (albiet Hawaii) and understand the effort exerted. I feel that the situation of unexpectedly being dumped in the water (who plans a capsize?) and possibly being slightly bunged up, AND being as I am past middle age (read not the same shape when I surfed) all adds up to a potential for exhaustion to occur quicker than we expect.

ps I personally called it (65) borderline. I wouldn't put my wetsuit on, with me at the helm, of my boat, at our lake ps

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hobiejohn at earthlink dot net
Fleet 297

fair enough. i chimed in because people constantly ask me how i go out in cold water without one, and all i can say is, "easily."

i think most of us just assume you need one because the folks who make and sell wetsuits have done a great job convincing people that they are necessary. to the guy asking if he should get a wetsuit, i'd say, get out in the water and try it. if you need one, it'll be pretty obvious.

Wet Suit/Dry Suit, I like them both. Sailing the Columbia (as I do) means the water is cool to cold most of the time and even with a warmer wind, the wind chill produced from spray can chill you to the bone. At each end of the season I usually am in a dry suit, cap and full gloves. During the spring I'm usually in a steamer wetsuit. During the summer, a farmer john or shorty wet suit. I also use a spray jacket and pants in combination with a rash guard and/or 0.5 mm neoprene top with the farmer john at times. The spray suits are needed because many wetsuits have a cloth outer covering, which when wet (from spray) produces chill from evaporation and can be like wearing a refrigerator. A neoprene cap and boots are also handy. There is no one answer. Different weather conditions require different combinations. The main thing is to be warm and safe. If you are soloing in heavy conditions and flip, it can take some time to rite the boat and cold can sap your strength faster than you might think. Happy sailing

I stopped looking at this thread for a while and missed a few interesting parts of the discussion. Wetsuit/ drysuit dilema is all personal preference.
First, regarding hypothermia, it's serious business. Let's say for example you have a mechanical failure of some type and cant get back to shore. Temp drops fast at night. You may be able to tough it out while exerting yourself in 55 degree water (surfing, sailing), but once you're in the water 3 miles off it's a different story. There was a small boat that capsized a few years back here in SC, they had 4/3 wetsuits on. They drifted all night toward Moss landing (13 NM) and were in "advanced stages of hypothermia" according to the harbor patrol, when they were picked up the next morning. (They didn't have a radio BTW, which would've helped their cause) I view a wetsuit/ drysuit as a safety device. If you're on a lake or protected bay its not as improtant, just swim for it if it comes down to it.

Here's a case. Water 58 degrees, wind 25 from the east (offshore, warmer, around 75). Kind of blubbery 20 something guy rents kayak around 2pm. I'm taking a victory lap along the beach at 3:30 and notice something on the horizon. Come across blubery guy overturned 3 miles from shore and going out to sea. Guy can't talk, move a limb, keeps knodding off and breathing is labored. Call to coast guard, pluck him out take off my foulies, bundle him up and haul butt to meet the coast guard. Coast guard escorts us to dock and take over from there. Hypothermia is wierd it comes on fast, and different people experience it differently.

After a windy,cold day of surfing Trestles, I realized that my fingers weren't working anymore. I guess the adreneline from surfing huge Trestles kept my mind off of it, but I was freaking cold. I got my wetsuit off threw on my shorts but couldn't button them or tie my shoes. My friends were laughing at me and went into Carls Jr for a snack, I followed, holding my shorts up. Everyone was staring so I went into the bathroom and warmed up in the hand drier, buttoned up and went for some food. Thought you might like that story! I should've deployed my wetsuit's heater:)

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I say you need a dry suit if the water and/or air is below 70, but this could be just becuase i'm from Flordia!

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Brad Stephens
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