Boat Building Forum

Find advice on all aspects of building your own kayak, canoe or any lightweight boats

Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
By:Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks
Date: 11/15/2014, 11:11 am
In Response To: Off Topic: Winter wear (Gero Verheyen)

As Bill mentioned drysuits of some sort plus insulation are the best bet. There are available at various price points. A farmer john is better than nothing, but only a little.

Note that "cold water" is anything below about 65°F (18°C), but obviously it gets worse as the temp goes down.

In cold water without protection, you have about 1 minute to recover from the shock. Many people drown because they panic in the cold water, or breath in and never come back to the surface. A drysuit will reduce the effect of shock and allow you to think more clearly.

You have about 10 minutes to get yourself out of the water before your muscles will no longer function sufficiently to save yourself. You won't be able to get yourself back in a kayak very quickly. If you don't have your lifejacket on properly you won't be able to tread water to keep your head above the water shortly there after. A drysuit will give you more time to take care of yourself.

You have about an hour before hypothermia truly sets in. If you are properly wearing a life jacket, this means you have about an hour for someone else to save you. A drysuit will extend the time for a successful rescue.

Don't think that swimming in cold water is a real option. Many people who die in cold water are within 6 feet of safety. If you can't stand up immediately you need to assume you are too far to swim. A drysuit may allow you the ability to swim some distance even though it makes swimming more difficult.

A life jacket is a must. It needs to be worn, with the straps tight.

It is probably a good time of year to post the Cold Water Bootcamp videos.

Short Version:
http://youtu.be/J1xohI3B4Uc
Long Version:
https://vimeo.com/4534662

More info:
http://www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/pages/home.html

Messages In This Thread

Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/14/2014, 6:01 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
george jung -- 11/14/2014, 8:16 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/15/2014, 8:33 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
howard -- 11/14/2014, 8:16 pm
Winter wear Now for something completely different *PIC*
John Messinger -- 11/15/2014, 3:01 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Robert W -- 11/15/2014, 8:24 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Jay Babina -- 11/15/2014, 11:32 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Mike Bielski -- 11/15/2014, 3:41 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/16/2014, 12:15 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Mike Bielski -- 11/16/2014, 8:56 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/16/2014, 12:12 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/15/2014, 8:26 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 11/15/2014, 11:11 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Mike Bielski -- 11/15/2014, 11:34 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Yoshi -- 11/15/2014, 5:22 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 11/15/2014, 10:48 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Yoshi -- 11/16/2014, 1:36 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
george jung -- 11/16/2014, 1:56 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
John Roberts -- 11/16/2014, 4:34 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
george jung -- 11/16/2014, 7:33 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/15/2014, 10:33 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 11/16/2014, 4:23 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 11/16/2014, 4:28 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Ken Blanton -- 11/16/2014, 1:00 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Etienne Muller -- 11/16/2014, 2:10 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Ken Blanton -- 11/16/2014, 10:54 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
scottbaxter -- 11/16/2014, 11:33 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Etienne Muller -- 11/17/2014, 4:55 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/16/2014, 11:50 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/17/2014, 12:30 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/17/2014, 7:38 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/17/2014, 9:43 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/17/2014, 10:35 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/18/2014, 12:28 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear *PIC*
Sean Dawe -- 11/17/2014, 10:56 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/17/2014, 10:23 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Mike Bielski -- 11/17/2014, 10:49 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/17/2014, 10:53 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Mike Bielski -- 11/17/2014, 11:02 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/18/2014, 12:37 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/18/2014, 2:02 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Sean Dawe -- 11/18/2014, 9:10 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Nick R. -- 11/18/2014, 6:07 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Robert N Pruden -- 11/20/2014, 5:48 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/20/2014, 7:00 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/23/2014, 1:54 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Gero Verheyen -- 11/20/2014, 10:24 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
scottbaxter -- 11/20/2014, 10:51 pm
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
JohnAbercrombie -- 11/21/2014, 12:03 am
Re: Off Topic: Winter wear
Bill Hamm -- 11/21/2014, 8:50 am