Drysuits

Micheal Artindale wrote:
> I am looking to purchase new, a drysuit for kayaking this winter.
>
> I live in Nova Scotia, Canada.
>
> Does anyone know any local stores that sell drysuits specifically for
> kayaking? If not, any good Canadian stores that are online?
>
> Also, What do you wear under the suit? I do plan to go out in as cold
> temperatures as I can safely, and likely would spend several hours on the
> water.

Congrats for having the sense to invest in proper immersion clothing. It
will go a long way toward ensuring many years of fun in cold water.

As for under layers, you wear the same types of things that would be
appropriate for use under waterproof layers for other outdoor
activities, namely wicking layers made from wool or synthetics. One of
the beauties of a dry suit is that it allows you to adjust your
insulation to suit the temps. For winter use. I find that I typically
wear light underwear with 200 weight fleece on top and 300 weight on my
legs. The reason for the difference is that a neoprene spray skirt and a
PFD add some insulation of their own, so less is necessary under the dry
suit. I warmer temps, I reduce the thickness of my insulating layers
appropriately. In time, you'll figure out what works best for your
metabolism and the conditions you paddle in.
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

Per Brian Nystrom:
>One of
>the beauties of a dry suit is that it allows you to adjust your
>insulation to suit the temps.

It's also, IMHO, one of the dangers.

One's natural tendency is to adjust insulation to comfort within
the boat. Beeeeeeg diff between that and prolonged immersion.

After a paddle, flop into the water and flounder around for 10-15
minutes and you'll see what I mean.
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

On Aug 22, 10:35 pm, "Micheal Artindale"
<michealartind....DeleteThis@eastlink.ca> wrote:
> I am looking to purchase new, a drysuit for kayaking this winter.
>
> I live in Nova Scotia, Canada.
>
> Does anyone know any local stores that sell drysuits specifically for
> kayaking? If not, any good Canadian stores that are online?
>
> Also, What do you wear under the suit? I do plan to go out in as cold
> temperatures as I can safely, and likely would spend several hours on the
> water.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Micheal

In addition to the other comments I would select a dry suit that fits
well and also instruction to how to use it in the water before it gets
to cold weather. Suits can be costly. Look at the scuba diving shops
inventory. DUI is a mfg. out west. Look online also but know in
advance measurements must be made. Good luck and paddle on. Just a
thought: down here a 4 mil wet suit in winter is what I use. Funny how
where you live is a factor to deal with. There are some K1 paddlers in
the upper Maine that have websites also even up to Greenland.
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

Per Bill Tuthill:
>I believe Kokatat drysuits cost a lot of money but are probably worth it
>in the long run for customer service and low-cost repair.

I've got the top-of-the-line Kokatat: Gortex bag suit with
integral socks.

I've also got Bare's Polar: Mixed mode neo john bottom bonded to
bag top.

There's no question that the Kokatat is vastly more convenient to
put on/take off and is more comfortable in that the insulation
can be adjusted... and I almost always use it when paddling flat
water on a local lake - and even on bays - especially when the
water isn't all that cold and I don't want to bake myself.

The cross-chest zipper is a lot easier to get in and out of -
when you want to take a break on the shore somewhere and peel off
the suit to dry out some of the sweat.

The integral socks also make it *much* easier to get in and out
of - especially when you're wet, cold, and tired....

The whole suit is far, far lighter and more compact than a neo
suit - and it's not all soaked with water after a paddle when you
have to roll it up and put it into your car.


For the ocean, however, I almost always prefer the Bare product.

To wit:
----------------------------------------------------------------
- It's more streamlined... slides through the water easier.
Vastly superior for the surf and/or if you need to sprint
to catch a drifting boat.

- It's more bulletproof. Even if a seal tears, I'm still
wearing a 5mm john and I've still got all that floatation.

- There's no vacuum bag effect on the legs. You dump in a
break with the Kokatat, and the legs vacuum bag to you.
If the crotch is too low at that moment, you can't even squat
to gain your footing on the bottom until you lay back in the
water and wiggle around until you can pull the crotch up
all the way.

- It's padded. Five mils of neo mitigates a few bruises.

- It's consistently warm. No temptation to skimp on the
under layers bc it's not possible.

- It still gives all of (or even more than...) the upper body
freedom that the K-tat does.

- Contra-intuitive as it may sound, there's more freedom of
motion below the waist too.
----------------------------------------------------------------
--
PeteCresswell
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

"Bill Tuthill" <ccreekin RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:46cdbb07@news.meer.net...
> Micheal Artindale <michealartindale RemoveThis @eastlink.ca> wrote:
>>
>> Does anyone know any local stores that sell drysuits specifically for
>> kayaking? If not, any good Canadian stores that are online?
>
> I believe Kokatat drysuits cost a lot of money but are probably worth it
> in the long run for customer service and low-cost repair.
>
> MEC carries drysuits.
> http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_listing.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2...3743028
>

I live in Halifax, so MEC is an option I am looking at. I did buy my kayak
there.

Micheal
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
> Per Brian Nystrom:
>> One of
>> the beauties of a dry suit is that it allows you to adjust your
>> insulation to suit the temps.
>
> It's also, IMHO, one of the dangers.
>
> One's natural tendency is to adjust insulation to comfort within
> the boat. Beeeeeeg diff between that and prolonged immersion.
>
> After a paddle, flop into the water and flounder around for 10-15
> minutes and you'll see what I mean.

I've spent a LOT of time in 40 degree water during training sessions.
Consequently, I know exactly what I need for insulation for the
conditions I paddle in. Swimming around in your dry suit is always a
good idea, just for the experience. There's no downside to it and you
learn a lot.
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

On Aug 24, 6:45 am, Brian Nystrom <brian.nyst... DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote:
>
> I've spent a LOT of time in 40 degree water during training sessions.
> Consequently, I know exactly what I need for insulation for the
> conditions I paddle in. Swimming around in your dry suit is always a
> good idea, just for the experience. There's no downside to it and you
> learn a lot.

This reminds me that I have several necessary repairs to attend to
before cool weather arrives. Could anyone with Gore-Tex booties make
an educated guess about how the seam in the material is waterproofed?
Some sort of tape? Thanks.
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits 

Davej wrote:
> On Aug 24, 6:45 am, Brian Nystrom <brian.nyst... DeleteThis @verizon.net> wrote:
>> I've spent a LOT of time in 40 degree water during training sessions.
>> Consequently, I know exactly what I need for insulation for the
>> conditions I paddle in. Swimming around in your dry suit is always a
>> good idea, just for the experience. There's no downside to it and you
>> learn a lot.
>
> This reminds me that I have several necessary repairs to attend to
> before cool weather arrives. Could anyone with Gore-Tex booties make
> an educated guess about how the seam in the material is waterproofed?
> Some sort of tape?

Yes, Gore-Tex garments are sealed with iron-on seam tape. If you have a
leak that's not due to wear, the manufacturer of the garment will repair
or replace it for you. If it's worn, you can coat the leaky area with a
sealant (NOT silicone!) or glue a patch over it.
 >> Stay informed about: Drysuits