"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
Frank wrote:
Speaking strictly in terms of flotation, I gotta go with Granny Rosie
on this one; a full-thickness wetsuit provides tons of flotation. It is
not, however, a PFD.

Agreed. Thick wetsuits tend to make one float legs-up.

That's true if it's a one-piece certainly or even if you have the farm-john
style with the jacket and separate bottoms, but if you wear the jacket
portion alone, you would float upper-body up... not necessarily face up,
however. And, you're legs would get cold, but you probably won't notice.

... It is also, IMO, not really good as foul weather
gear, except for short periods, like maybe Wednesday night
round-the-buoy racing. Even then, it's less comfortable and more
restrictive than some nice pile clothing under Gore-Tex outerwear.

Well, the wetsuit makes great foul weather gear in it's own right. The
problem is getting it on & off, and it's habitability for more than a few
hours. Plus, it presumes one will be wet, which is less desirable than
staying dry.

Chafing can become an issue... talc helps with that and donning, but not
removing. When I used to dive a lot, we must have looked pretty comical
trying to help each other remove wetsuits.