INTRODUCTION CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...............................1
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ust because the weather is turning doesn’t mean you have to put your boat or board away. However, dressing for cold weather paddling, especially for the shoulder seasons, can be tricky. Remember the old saying, “dress for the swim, not for the paddle”. Here in western NY we have two slightly different shoulder seasons on either side of winter, the true cold-water season. I know it may sound strange, but some folks love paddling so much that if the water is open they will find a way to get out, even in the winter.
RISKS & MISTAKES...........................2 IMMERSION SOLUTIONS................3 WETSUIT & PADDLING JACKET........4 SEMI-DRY SUIT VS DRY SUIT...........7 BASELAYERS & INSULATORS.........11 HEAD, HANDS & FEET....................13
EMERGENCY GEAR........................15
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s for the shoulder seasons, first we have the fall. As the summer winds down and the air temperature begins to drop the water stays relatively warm for a good period of time. So in the fall paddlers aren’t necessarily dealing with cold water as much as keeping someone warm after they have re-entered/re-mounted their boat or board following a capsize.
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he second shoulder season is the spring. Believe it or not spring is the more dangerous of the shoulder seasons. With air temps becoming very inviting some people forget that the water can be dangerously cold. Well, we all know what is sandwiched in between these shoulder seasons. That’s right, winter.
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o summarize, fall is cold air and warm water, winter is cold air and cold water, and finally spring is warm air and cold water. Paddling in all three of these seasons can be just as rewarding as paddling in the summer if you take the proper precautions.
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RISKS & MISTAKES T
he risks of paddling in the off-season are pretty easy to guess. Whenever you add the possibility of getting wet with cold temperatures, be it water temps, air temps or both, you end up with outcomes such as exposure, hypothermia, shock and eventually loss of life if not treated quickly enough.
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o what are the most common reasons that lead to paddlers encountering trouble when venturing out in the off-season? Some individuals just aren’t educated about the risks involved. Maybe they haven’t had a lot of experience with outdoor sports or don’t realize that water and air temperatures need to compliment each other to make for safe paddling conditions without the proper safety gear. Others just don’t have a healthy respect for the power of nature and cold water. Believe it or not some folks just take the “that will NEVER happen to ME” attitude and choose to ignore the risks. Bottom line is that no one ever expects to capsize, especially in inclement conditions.
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old water immersion has four phases. The first two are crucial in the first few minutes of survival: 1) Cold water shock: This occurs immediately upon immersion into the water. It can cause involuntary gasping (which may cause water to enter the lungs), hyperventilation (which may cause dizziness and possible loss of consciousness), panic, and - US Coast Guard possible cardiac arrest. The first Auxiliary 092-04-02 minute is crucial to get breathing Flotilla Staff Officer under control. - Vessel Safety 2) Cold incapacitation and Examiner muscle failure: During the next 3-10 minutes, the cold water can affect the nerves and the muscles causing muscles failure, resulting in an inability to swim. Therefore, you have 10 minutes of meaningful activity directed toward self-rescue. 3) Hypothermia: This generally occurs after 30 minutes when the core body temperature has dropped and can cause in-coordination, unconsciousness, and be followed by death. 4) Post immersion collapse: This can occur after rescue when cooled blood from the cold extremities is returned to vital organs. This can cause collapse in arterial blood pressure and cardiac arrest.
Sue Lander
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IMMERSION SOLUTIONS
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ow does one determine if a paddle on any given day requires shorts and a tee-shirt, a wetsuit and a paddling jacket, or maybe even a dry suit? At BayCreek we use the 100-degree Rule. The premise is simple. If air and water temperatures do not add up to 100-degrees we will not allow customers to rent our equipment without proper experience and paddling gear.
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his guideline has many nuances, however. Seasonal differences such as warmer water and cooler air in the fall versus colder water and warmer air in the spring are important factors. The risk of cold water shock increases dramatically with water temperatures under 60 degrees. Vulnerability can also vary by individual. Children have a larger surface area-to-weight ratio, which makes them more susceptible to lower temperatures, while older individuals sometimes have a lowered capacity to regulate temperature. We ask that our renters avoid cotton during the shoulder seasons. Cotton is universally loved in the summer months, but assumes dangerous characteristics for the fall and springtime enthusiast. Cotton can absorb 27 times its weight in water, including perspiration, and takes longer to dry than synthetics. More importantly, cotton actively draws heat from your body when wet. On the other hand, wool and synthetics have low absorption while continuing to provide insulation. At a certain point, however, these materials become insufficient for the conditions that spring, fall and winter present. The American Canoe Association (ACA) recommends wearing specialized clothing in sub-60 degree water temperatures. Specialized clothing includes wetsuits, paddling jackets, drysuits, and insulating synthetics layers, as well as headwear, footwear, and gloves.
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quick lesson on thermodynamics: Heat will always flow from areas of greater warmth to those that are cooler. The greater the temperature difference, the faster you will lose heat. Although these rules apply to both air and water temperatures, paddlers need to be aware that water acts differently than air. At a molecular level, water is denser, conducting heat 25-30 times more efficiently away from your body. Quite simply, staying dry during a paddle, or minimizing time in the water, is important. The shoulder seasons burden the aspiring paddler with balancing comfort and safety should the unexpected swim occur. The following sections are meant to walk you through a number of apparel options designed specifically for immersion.
Dennis Mike
Avid Lake Ontario Paddler & BayCreek Customer 3
To avoid both hypothermia and overheating, I think two factors are important to consider. The first is the benefit of having a variety of immersion clothing options available, including at least a couple of wetsuits (of different weights) and a dry suit made of a breathable fabric (e.g., GoreTex). The second factor is for when the water is cold enough that you would be wearing the dry suit -- know that you can significantly control the temperature inside the suit by what you’re wearing underneath it. Again, the trick is to have several options available. The goal is to be comfortable and it’s been my experience that that’s usually achievable.
Terraprene neoprene is the material used to make all of the NRS Wetsuits you find at BayCreek. Terraprene technology uses limestone rather than petrolium to produce the rubberized insulating material that provides paddlers with insulation when immersed in cold water.
Kokatat NEOCORE is a unique .5mm neoprene with a 4-way stretch 86% polyester, 14% spandex outer layer for good mobility, durability, water shedding, and quick dry times and a plush polyester inner layer is comfortable against the skin and retains less water, easily enabling the user to stay more comfortable Complete your ensemble with a paddling jacket from one of the following brands...
WETSUIT & PADDLING JACKET A
wetsuit is a great solution for shoulder season paddling. A wetsuit is a form-fitting garment made of neoprene. Wetsuits work by trapping a thin layer of water between the suit and the paddlers skin. The body heat from the paddler warms the layer of water while the paddler is immersed. These suits can come in many different thicknesses and styles depending on water temperature and desired function. Most paddlers opt for a thickness of .5mm – 3mm. Thicker neoprene is warmer, but also more cumbersome and restricting. Paddlers usually prefer a sleeveless farmer John/Jane cut because thick neoprene sleeves tend to be uncomfortable and constrict the paddler’s ability to execute strokes properly. Neoprene is also available in tops and bottoms. However, these two-piece solutions can be slightly inadequate for longer periods of immersion because at the waist they let in more water than the body can efficiently heat.
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he drawback to a wetsuit is that it only works when the paddler is submerged. Once out of the water and back in the boat or on the board the paddler will experience evaporative cooling. Evaporative cooling takes place as the water in between the wetsuit and your skin begins to evaporate taking your body heat with it, much like sweating cools off our bodies without neoprene. If we add a breeze on a windy day than evaporative cooling can be multiplied. A good way to slow this process is to combine your wetsuit with a paddling jacket. The paddling jacket will provide a barrier and slow the cooling process as well as break the wind. Paddling jackets can be as simple as a non-technical splash top with basic neoprene gussets at the wrist and neck along with a drawstring waist closure or they can be more fully featured with latex or neoprene gaskets at the neck and wrists and a tunneled waist to accommodate a kayaking spray deck. 4
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fig 5.1
fig 5.2
fig 5.3
fig 6.1
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SEMI-DRY SUIT VS DRY SUIT I
mmersion suits are meant to act as the outer waterproof layer when you are paddling. These suits, unlike a wetsuit are meant to keep the paddler dry and the water out. Semi-dry suits, also known as paddling suits, are appropriate for the paddlers who want to be truly prepared for an emergency but who are not putting themselves in situations where turbulent water will be a constant threat to compromising safety. In a lot of ways a semi-dry suit is very similar to a dry suit. Both are made with waterproof/breathable materials, such as GORE-TEX. Both suits are outfitted with watertight latex gaskets at the wrist and both options have sewn in waterproof booties. The other similarity is the entry zipper. Whether you are looking at a dry or semi-dry suit you will have three options for the entry zipper depending on what model being considered (see fig 9.3). These zipper options are all waterproof and simply dictate the way in which you enter your suit. The newest zipper option is the Kokatat Switch Zip which splits at the waist and allows the top of the suit to be used independently as a paddling jacket.
Jim Mallory
BayCreek Kayak Instructor 7
Watertight Latex Wrist Gasket
W.L. Gore and Associates is the manufacturer of industry leading Gore-Tex, a waterproof/breathable fabric found in many pieces of outdoor apparel. The process a manufacturer must go through to be able to use Gore-Tex in a product is arduos and many products are never approved by Gore. Kokatat is the ONLY company licensed to use Gore-Tex in immersion suits.
Sewn-In Waterproof Bootie
fig 7.1
I bought my Kokatat paddling suit at the end of the 2015 season. My only complaint is I wish I would have bought it sooner. It has definitely extended my paddling season. Now in the winter I can just wade knee-deep into the river and jump in my surf ski, comfortably. Because of the looser fit compared to a wetsuit I am able to rotate smoothly and fully in my seat without restriction.
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he main difference between a semi-dry suit and a dry suit is simply the neck gasket. Semi-dry suits use a neoprene neck gasket, which is slightly more comfortable initially but will allow some water to penetrate the seal after multiple immersions. Dry suits use a latex neck gasket which provide a completely watertight seal but can be considered uncomfortable until you become accustomed to the fit (see fig 8.1). The latex gaskets at both the wrist and the neck can be trimmed to a certain point allowing for some extra comfort. As with most side by side comparisons, the proof is in the pudding. When tested for extended periods of time in more demanding conditions, like surf and prolonged immersion, when exposed to a constant barrage of waves and spray the dry suit emerges victorious when it comes to keeping you dry. Remember what was stated earlier, managing moisture is what keeps you dry and comfortable. The ability to keep water out of your suit is a big part of managing moisture.
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ome other options are available with these suits depending on your paddling discipline. For stand-up paddlers and canoeists, who do not wear a spray deck, there is no need for a suit with a double tunnel. If you are a kayaker and enjoy paddling larger water a double tunnel will help to keep water out of your cockpit on those rough days (see fig 8.2).
Neoprene Neck Gasket
Watertight Latex Neck Gasket
fig 8.1
Tunnel to accomodate Spray Deck
fig 8.2
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WAIST-ENTRY SWITCH ZIP
FRONT-ENTRY ZIP
BACK-ENTRY ZIP
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fig 9.1
fig 9.2
fig 9.3
fig 10.1
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BASELAYERS & INSULATORS I
f you are familiar with outdoor sports than you are probably familiar with layering clothing to help manage perspiration when you are active. The term for that is... yep, you guessed it, moisture management. So far we’ve talked about managing moisture from the outside elements (precipitation, waves, immersion,etc...) but now we need to talk about how we dress underneath our semi-dry or dry suit. Believe it or not this can be a huge contributor to being cold and uncomfortable when you are out paddling in the off season. The wrong combination of baselayers and insulating layers can ruin an otherwise enjoyable day on the water. Too few layers under your immersion suit and you may be cold, but too many and you may perspire to the point of saturating all your underclothes and that can lead to chills and eventually evaporative cooling. So how do we choose what we wear under our immersion suits?
Designed for variable conditions ranging from blisteringly hot to freezing cold, drirelease® Woolcombines polyester with wool for its wicking,cooling and warm-when-wet benfits.
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ase-layers are the layers of clothing right next to your skin. These layers need to be wicking layers, meaning they move perspiration away from the skin to avoid evaporative cooling. These layers should NOT be cotton or any other fiber that holds moisture in. Traditionally base-layers are either a synthetic fiber like a polyester blend or natural fibers such as silk or merino wool. These layers should be relatively thin and light weight, but the most important thing is that they do not hold moisture (see fig 12.1).
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nsulating layers, sometimes called mid-layers are slightly thicker than base-layers and have the ability to help hold in some body heat. It is also important for your insulating layers to be able to manage the moisture being transferred to them from the base-layers underneath. Each layer has a function independently, but they all work together with the common goal of keeping you comfortable and dry. Again, these layers should not be cotton, but a polyester fleece or natural wool that will encourage the moisture to move further away from the body where it can eventually escape through the Gore-Tex membrane in vapor form (see fig 12.2).
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Polartec® Power Dry® pulls moisture directly from the skin and transfers it to the outer surface to quickly dissipate. This continuous evaporation process helps to keep you cool (as your body heat increases) and warm (when temperatures begin to drop).
Morgan Knapp BayCreek Kayak Instructor For me, staying comfortable is all about what’s under my drysuit! The combinations of baselayers and mid-layers can be infinite, so don’t be afraid to experiment! If you’re taking your new drysuit out for the first time and you come back soaked in sweat, don’t get discouraged. Everyone tends to over-dress initially. The more you keep at it, understanding the conditions and the way your body reacts to paddling in a drysuit, the easier it gets to choose the correct combination for the day’s adventure!
fig 12.1
fig 12.2
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HEAD, HANDS & FEET
HEADWEAR FROM...
W
e can’t forget the extremities! Head hands and feet are important to keep dry and warm. Most of this article has been dedicated to keeping your core and vital organs warm in the event of cold water immersion, but the ability to keep your extremities warm are actually what will keep ou comfortable during your paddle. Cold hands and feet can ruin an otherwise perfect day on the water, so let’s talk about how to address the extremities.
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et’s start at the top and work our way down.Proper headwear is a make or break piece of gear when paddling in the off-season. Something too thin and you will lose too much body heat throught your head, but somthing too thick and you will very quickly begin to overheat. Luckily hats don’t take up much space and unlike a dry suit you don’t have to take that many steps to change what you are wearing. My approach is simple, I generally start off with a slightly heavier weight hat and then as I start generating body heat I will shed that hat for a lightweight baselayer hat with the option of switching back and forth as needed. If you are paddling in rough water and immersion is un avoidable there are some paddling hoods and storm caps designed for keeping you dry and also keeping cold water out of your ears. Be aware that this more specialized head gear can effect the ability to hear clearly (see fig 14.1).
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ext in line is hands. It’s always a fine line between a really thick warm glove and a glove that allows you to stil feel “connected” with the paddle. Paddling gloves or mittens are generally made from varying thicknesses of neoprene depending on how warm a piece you are looking for. It is VERY important that you not try paddling with regular winter gloves, these gloves are not designed for immersion and will quickly become water logged and uncomfortable. My favorite option is a piece of gear called a poggie. Poggies are designed to fit around the paddle shaft and act as an “easy on / easy off” mitten. Poggies can be used on their own or in combination with a paddling glove (see fig 14.2).
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inally, let’s talk about feet. If you are in a boat, unless you are launching from a dock, your feet are going to get wet. If you are on a board, your feet are going to get wet. So , if you are using a wet suit, you need to make sure you have a footwear combination
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HANDWEAR FROM...
FOOTWEAR FROM...
that will keep you warm. Depending on water temps that may mean a relatively thick, high-top bootie with insulating properties or even a mukluk style boot. If wearing a semi-dry or dry suit you will have sewn in waterproof booties. The sewn in booties do not provide insulation, just a waterproof barrier, so layer appropriately under the suit for warmth. These booties are NOT for walking around in unprotected, they are your waterproof layer and if they are compromised your suit will leak. That means you need to choose a footwear option that will be comfortable for your paddling discipline. Paddleboarders can choose based on comfort, but be aware, more aggressive treads can sometimes chew up your deck pad. Canoeists are also pretty easy, but if you kneel be sure to choose footwear with good ankle flexibility. Kayaker’s, your job can be a little harder, you need to choose footwear that will be comfortable, but also easily fit in the cockpit of your kayak and not impede the ability to enter and exit quickly when needed (see fig 14.3). Lightweight Gloves
Lightweight Hat
Jeff Berry
Ankle-height NEO Bootie
Mid-weight Hat
BayCreek Kayak Instructor My biggest challenge is keeping my feet warm. I always have a heavy pair of wool socks on, then my dry suit and then my paddling boots. I have had instances on paddles where my feet started to get incredibly cold so I have also added a ¼” foam pad where my feet rest to help insulate. It also makes it a little more comfortable on my heels on those longer paddles.
High-top NEO Bootie
Mid-weight Gloves
High-top Nylon Bootie
Immersion Hats
Heavy-weight Mittens Mukluk Style Neo/Nylon Boot
fig 14.1
fig 14.2
fig 14.3
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EMERGENCY GEAR U
p to this point we have been focusing on how to dress for cold water paddling. Believe me, that is very important when talking about venturing out in the off-season, but it’s not the only thing to think about. In addition to your immersion wear and PFD you should also have a few key items in your boat or on your board to ensure you are able to keep yourself safe if something does go wrong.
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irst let’s talk about the simple tools that make locating a paddler in trouble much easier. A whistle is required by the coast guard and can be very effective in signaling for help. A headlamp with an emergency strobe setting can serve two purposes, obviously it can provide light if you are out longer than you planned, but a strobe setting can aid in calling for help if you are out of audible range for a whistle signal. It always helps to have a cell phone along, depending on your location and cell coverage it may be a lifesaver. However if you are someplace without cell coverage a VHF radio may be a more reliable bet, just be sure to obtain proper training and knowledge of regulations when using such a tool (see fig 15.1).
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econd let’s talk about some clothing extras to take along. These items are “must haves” in an emergency situation, but also come in quite handy when stopping for lunch or just to take a break. I always carry a complete dry change of clothes, a nice warm down or synthetic insulating jacket and plenty of extra hats and gloves/mittens. Earlier we mentioned not paddling with winter gloves, but keeping some in your boat to wear when not paddling can be a lifesaver. One of my most frequently used pieces of extra clothing is my OR Incandescent Down Hoody. I have it sized slightly big to fit over my dry suit when I stop for lunch (see fig 16.1).
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hird, don’t forget to bring plenty of fuel! When it’s cold your body requires more food, so bring along plenty of granola, bars, chocolate, etc... Also, bring plenty to drink. Many of our paddlers like to bring along a thermos with some hot water to make hot tea or cocoa (see fig 15.2). Lights and communication
fig 15.1
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Food & Drink
fig 15.2
Dave Hulburt BayCreek Canoe / Kayak Instructor I’d like to take a brief moment to thank you for reading this article. If you have made it this far than you are truly interested in safely extending your paddling season. I know that parts of this article have been slightly intimidating and that is by design. When kicking around the idea of paddling in the shoulder or off-season the most important thing to have is a healthy respect for cold water. Don’t get me wrong, I have not written this article to scare people away, but to encourage them to go about paddling safely. As a manager of a paddlesports shop in Western New York my favorite time of year to paddle is the fall. Crisp air, beautiful colors and lots of migratory birds. I love sharing these experiences with people and encouraging them to push their limits and explore new paddling seasons. The one thing that has not been mentioned in this article and should go without saying is ... Always wear a properly sized and fitted PFD (Personal Floatation Device) when setting out on any paddling adventure. A PFD only works if you are wearing it! My hope is that this article will provide folks with the information that they need to help them properly prepare for the exploration of this new chapter of paddling introduced to them. I also hope that this article encourages paddlers who already had a curiosity about off-season paddling to seek out information from us at BayCreek and other sources so that when they make the leap to cold weather paddling they are prepared. I will close by simply saying, thank you, be safe, have fun and by all means share your adventures. See you on the water,
fig 16.1
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1099 Empire Boulevard Rochester, New York 14609 (585)288-2830 / www.baycreek.com