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> On a similar note, I have a full wetsuit left over from my waterskiing
> days. It's a 3mm, with sleeves. I have heard that it is too restrictive
> for paddling, but I have not tried it in the kayak. Is it appliccable?
Hi Don:
I have used my leftover shorty with (short) sleeves from my boogieboarding days. I paddled for a week in it this summer and the front of my armpit did get chafed rather badly. This is something I could not have anticipated, since any one day paddle didn't produce a problem. Six consecutive days in the same situation with no real recovery time for my skin was too much. It was uncomfortable, but not disabling.
I went with it because it was what I had. I did capsize once, and the 10-15 mins) but we were travelling in a group of 13 boats, and I counted on being able to get out somewhere somehow before becoming a popsicle.
Shawn's point about dressing for the water, not for the air is right on target. But I tempered his advice with two compromises. First, I felt the need to shed heat during normal paddling, not capsized, just strokin along. Second, the suit was light and flexible enough to move around in. The fabric in the shoulders was just a problem for me.
Ed Valley
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Guillemot Kayak - High
Performance Wooden Sea Kayak Designs
