Wetsuit for the Arctic Kayaker
 

Bill Tuthill wrote:

In rec.boats.paddle.touring Timo Noko wrote:
In article , Timo Noko wrote:
I thought this page of mine would the ultimate End-Of-Discussion,
but in vain.
http://www.kolumbus.fi/timo.noko/puku/INDEX.HTM

Read it again, and elaborate more. Sleeping in the suit, (because
of storm) and peeing while swimming are also interesting issues.

Very nice design! Makes me wonder what the Eskimos used: sealskins
with whale-blubber inner insulation?

It depends on which Eskimos you're referring to. The most common solution
was a water proof jacket sealed to the kayak at the coaming (a "tuiliq" in
Greenland). They were made from sealskin (Greenland) or walrus intestines
(waterproof and somewhat breathable!). Greenlanders also had sealskin dry
suits, though they weren't used in kayaks, but rather in whale hunting
Umiaks. The dry suited hunter would actually jump onto the back of
harpooned whales with a spear to finish them off. It makes what we do seem
rather tame by comparison.

I really do not want to get into this wet/dry-discussion, because I
just cannot afford the cost of maintaining myself as a Dry. But my
nylon overall and hands are full of bleeding scratches from
barnacles. How-in-the-hell one can maintain the integrity of a
drysuit, except sending it weekly back to the factory?

Brian Nystrom should disclose whether he earns the bulk of his money
as a drysuit repairperson. (Just kidding.)

Uh...no. ;-)

A friend of mine once spent two nights, in Alaska, in the cold rain,
with only a self-bailing inflatable kayak (with holes) as shelter.*
He was happy to have been wearing a goretext drysuit.

* While concentrating on fishing, he got separated from his party.

I don't consider Gore-Tex dry suits to be a panacea, but they are one of
the most versatile paddling garments available. I do consider mine to be
one of the best equipment investments I've made.

--
Regards

Brian