Problem with wetsuits is that nobody makes kayaker's wetsuit
for artic waters. Myself have designed one such and it works
also when diving (under ice). Here are some specs:

Two-piece 6 millimeter rubbercoated suit:

- Pants are designed for sitting position, with a zipper which
reaches down to the asshole. Zipper is waterproof and opens from both
ends. You can comfortably sleep in the suit, because them itchy
sweating private parts can be easily vented.

- Top piece looks like any other diving suit top, except to avoid
chafing, there is ample room at shoulder and armpits. Marked
difference is at elbows, the are cut for 90 degrees angle. Also there
is ample room for extra warming layer, typically a sweater of some
fancy fleece-like material.

Here are some pictures of the basic design, somewhat wornout after
exhaustive testing among floating ice on the Baltic:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/timo.noko/puku/

The actual suit is four-piece, because the wind is much colder the
the water. Hence I have also designed heavy-duty nylon long-john and
jacket which have same dimensions and functions as one above. They also
protect the wetsuit proper because the rubbercoating is less durable
than nylon coated. Rubbercoating is however much more flexible and
necessary when using 6 millimeter material.

Tim

as always, you remain an inspiration to us all. (at least those who
aren't afraid to take a drill and chisel to their hull).

ever consider professional modeling career?

i assume you've found your homebuilt wetsuit adequate for cold water
conditions?

one of the things i always liked about wetsuits is that you can wear
things over them. i often wore shorts (which had several
pockets...great invention and not generally available in drysuits or
wetsuits) or, when i used the wetsuit for spelunking, a full set of
mechanic's coveralls

thanks,
doug m

doug m wrote:

one of the things i always liked about wetsuits is that you can wear
things over them. i often wore shorts (which had several
pockets...great invention and not generally available in drysuits or
wetsuits) or, when i used the wetsuit for spelunking, a full set of
mechanic's coveralls

And you can't wear them over a dry suit?

--
Regards

Brian

The burning issue in everybodys mind seems to be "Can you ****
without removing or soiling the suit?." -- Yes you can, but you need
some kind chute to direct the waste, in case it comes in liquid form,
(after eating raw oysters). Narrow eskimo-style paddle would
suffice.

This something you'll never be able to do in a dry-suit. Most
important issue, imagine -30C 60kph wind blowing from Davis Strait.
You just cannot remove any of your clothing, not for a second.

In article , Timo Noko wrote:
Problem with wetsuits is that nobody makes kayaker's wetsuit
for artic waters. Myself have designed one such and it works
also when diving (under ice). Here are some specs:

Two-piece 6 millimeter rubbercoated suit:

- Pants are designed for sitting position, with a zipper which
reaches down to the asshole. Zipper is waterproof and opens from both
ends. You can comfortably sleep in the suit, because them itchy
sweating private parts can be easily vented.

- Top piece looks like any other diving suit top, except to avoid
chafing, there is ample room at shoulder and armpits. Marked
difference is at elbows, the are cut for 90 degrees angle. Also there
is ample room for extra warming layer, typically a sweater of some
fancy fleece-like material.

Here are some pictures of the basic design, somewhat wornout after
exhaustive testing among floating ice on the Baltic:
http://www.kolumbus.fi/timo.noko/puku/

The actual suit is four-piece, because the wind is much colder the
the water. Hence I have also designed heavy-duty nylon long-john and
jacket which have same dimensions and functions as one above. They also
protect the wetsuit proper because the rubbercoating is less durable
than nylon coated. Rubbercoating is however much more flexible and
necessary when using 6 millimeter material.

Timo Noko wrote:

The burning issue in everybodys mind seems to be "Can you ****
without removing or soiling the suit?." -- Yes you can, but you need
some kind chute to direct the waste, in case it comes in liquid form,
(after eating raw oysters). Narrow eskimo-style paddle would
suffice.

This something you'll never be able to do in a dry-suit. Most
important issue, imagine -30C 60kph wind blowing from Davis Strait.
You just cannot remove any of your clothing, not for a second.

Dry suits and underlayers are available with half-moon zippers that solve
that problem. No "chute" necessary.

--
Regards

Brian

In article , Brian Nystrom wrote:


Timo Noko wrote:

The burning issue in everybodys mind seems to be "Can you ****
without removing or soiling the suit?." -- Yes you can, but you need
some kind chute to direct the waste, in case it comes in liquid form,
(after eating raw oysters). Narrow eskimo-style paddle would
suffice.

This something you'll never be able to do in a dry-suit. Most
important issue, imagine -30C 60kph wind blowing from Davis Strait.
You just cannot remove any of your clothing, not for a second.

Dry suits and underlayers are available with half-moon zippers that solve
that problem. No "chute" necessary.

Indeed. But assume 3 months self-sustained trips north on
70 degrees parallel, like I have done. Any tiny leak in this
multidude of zippers and you are dead.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.)

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.

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.

Please understand, I'm not disputing the utility of your suit for the
type of paddling you do. However, what you do is WAY outside the realm
of what most paddlers are ever likely to do. Consequently, there are
more viable clothing options for the majority of paddlers, dry suits
being one of them.

FWIW, I would think that sleeping in Gore-Tex and fleece would be much
more comfortable that sleeping in non-breathable neoprene.

I'll go back and read what's on your site; it sounds interesting.

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?

This is a gross exaggeration. My dry suits is four years old and gets
used 7-8 months out of the year. So far, it has required ZERO
maintenance. It may not be the ideal choice for your purposes and I'm
not suggesting you swich, but lets be honest about things, shall we? For
the overwhelming majority of paddlers and paddling, dry suits are very
durable.

--
Regards

Brian