BCITORGB wrote:
Tink says:
=============
Also remember it is not air temp that is the most important, but
water
temp. You mention wearing shorts and sandles. I also read your post
about wetsuits earlier, and wondered how cold the water was. Did you
try swimming in it, to see the effect on you. I read an account one
time about Navy SEALS that drowned while trying to swim just a short
distance to shore...
==============

My budget doesn't allow for a wetsuit yet (Father's Day perhaps... I
keep hinting), so shorts and sandals will have to do. As to swimming
in
the water, not me my friend. However, both daughters are cold-blooded
and have been known to "swim" in January or February, but, I need to
add, NOT serious "I'm swimming for my life"-type swimming. But I take
your point. You need to know, however, we're ALWAYS wearing our
PFD's.

PFD's, are designed to help the Coasties find your ...er, remains! Next
time down at the water, go for a swim with the PFD on. You can't really
swim, and you don't float that well either. Now I speak from the
perspective of weighing in at around 265-280 lbs, stark naked. Not a
pretty thing to see!

I think class III PFD provides for 15 lbs of flotation. That won't even
keep my head up. After a serious thump on the head, while wind surfing,
I wear a helmet most of the time now. Those Biking helmet made out of
styrofoam with a cover, add some flotation, don't weigh to much, and
protect from the incidental thump. One story I read was of a experience
sea kayaker who got caught in the surf zone, and after about 15 rolls
in the rocks, was finally able to wet exit. His helmet was smashed, but
luckily his head survived still attached with some bruises.

I also went for FJ wetsuit with flotation jacket, and an oversized PFD
that I wear over the standard if things get too hairy. I can hear some
out there saying what a wuss, but I figured that 15 lbs of flotation on
a 150 lb person, or 10% was good for them, then I need around 30 lbs
for me. There is never enough flotation.

I am also experimenting with using a boogie board as a self rescue
device. I have heard mixed reports about using paddle floats for self
rescue. Under the conditions that you would likely use a paddle float,
heavy seas, you might find them less than ideal. Something more to play
with when you are out there shaking down the boat, remember to shake
down the crew, and all your gear! That's the great part about boating,
you can get more money tied up in the incidentals than in the boat
itself! :-)

Now try swiming, and you realize even with the flotation, I would have
a hard time making it 300 meters to shore. The Navy SEALs were less
than 50 meters!

I heard the definition of a Boat: A boat is a hole in the water that
you dump money into to fill, and it just gets bigger!

As to distance from the sho 5 meters to 300 meters (max).

I'm a pedal and paddle fan. I have two daughters, one shares my pedal
passion, the other prefers the paddling. Either way, I've got a
partner.

I got a chuckle out of your anecdote about dumping your wife. Many
years ago, I (we?) owned a 21' sailboat. I'd sailed all my life, but
my
wife had NEVER been on a sailboat. For the first trip, I decided
(foolish me) to take the boat within 500 meters of the open Pacific
at
Nootka Sound (plenty of valor, very little discretion!). Needless to
say, that began the process of selling the sailboat. I've had a hard
time building up "outdoorsy" credibility with my wife since. Bottom
line: never dunk your wife or scare her sh*tless with the open
Pacific
in May.

frtzw906

My wife and I went peddaling on our first and almost last date. We
laugh about it yet today, if I get to busy telling her how to do
something. But as you know, I don't really have a problem with that at
all!

Whatever you do, keep it fun! TnT