On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 23:53:15 GMT, akasharkbow
wrote:

Hello there. I have been paddling for several winters now in below 0C
temperature. I have a dry suit and all the goods. I have a question about
what people do in regards to their skirts freezing to their coaming.

David,

I have paddled several times in freezing weather, but in a fairly
large group of people. Mostly on small rivers, where in most cases
if I took a dunking, I could just stand up and walk to shore.

I generally just do this on New Years day, So I prepare well for the
trip. It's not something I take lightly. I think you are
miscalculating. To me you sound like a fairly new paddler, so hooked
on your new hobby you just have to go out, ( i know, I've been
there)and damn the weather. I bet you can't talk any of your friends
in to going on these winter trips, ( if you had anyone to paddle with,
you could ask them how they handle ice build up on their
spayskirt)there is probably a reason for this.

I think you are making a mistake.

I would like for you to try something, In your back yard if you can,
if not, do it where ever you launch your boat(but bring a friend.)
Put on all the gear you would normally wear while paddling.
Then sit out side for a couple hours and then submerse yourself in
water that is very near freezing in temp. Hold your head under water
for a minute and a half.

Good, now swim around for oh say, ten minutes. Now see if you still
have the ability to bail out a boat half filled with water? Now get
back in the boat and simulate paddling home.

I don't know about you, but I don't think you could pay me enough to
do the above. But my point is anybody could paddle in the cold if
nothing goes wrong, but can you do it after everything go wrong?
What happen if you get half way through a trip you take a dunking,
then self rescue, then start paddling home and have to self rescue
again before you get back to safety.

Brrrr!!!





What do you do to stop it? What is your back-up plan if you run into
trouble with it? I have been trying to work through an emerge plan. I have
a fairly solid roll but you never know when you are dealing with such cold
winter so I am trying to figure out a plan for a failed roll. I have a
knife and working out a plan to cut myself out of the skirt if necessary.

Sound like you are at least thinking about what could go wrong.
But you should practice when you have someone around to help you.

Make sure you are good enough with that knife that, when you cut
through the sprayskirt you don't cut your legs or even your drysuit.

Bottom line.... I think winter solo paddling is just nuts.
Winter paddling with a group is crazy, but I'll do it on a small river
with people I know and trust. They have to know me well enough to know
when I'm hypothermic.

I know you love winter paddling to death, but don't let it kill you.

Why not save up some money and take a week off during the dead of
winter and go to some tropical island and paddle for a week in
comfort?

David, please think about what I said, comment on it if you want, but
please think about it.

George (not paddling this winter)



Any ideas?

Paddling in Toronto,

David