|
Dry Suit Protection for Sliding Seat Rowing Gail Ferris |
|
|
|
From
prehistoric times dry suits have been used by kayak paddlers in the |
|
|
|
However
here in this day and age when I talk to most open water rowers I find that
they cannot imagine and do not want to entertain the reality that rowing
during the winter is taking a completely unnecessary risk. “Oh that doesn’t exist” or “it is too
expensive.” |
|
I use
the well-known drysuit of Gore-Tex, Teflon coated nylon. I paddle all day in
it and find I hardly notice any lack of flexibility from the fabric or the special
personal cut of the suit. Kokotat http://www.kokatat.com/product_detail.asp?code=wsno
via phone had me measure my body in flexed positions to allow the suit to
have sufficient room for rowing and paddling.
I never paddle on cold water without wearing this suit. My
Kokotat has latex neck and wrist seals protected with neoprene cuffs and has
Gore-Tex booties. The knees and seat
is double fabric. I have worn a hole
in the knee on some sharp rock. I never
use any crèmes or sunscreen on my skin because this decomposes the
latex. For sunscreen I use fabric
balaclava on my head and gloves on my hands.
The fabric protection works all day without fail preventing me from
developing the proverbial cold sore on my lip. www.nkhorizons.com/UltimateSunScreen.htm
|
|
|
|
For a
mere six or seven hundred dollars a proper fitting dry suit is available
manufactured by Ocean Systems sold by CMC Rescue via Better Products through
Daniel Meloche at Better Products at rescuealive@charter.net 1-800-423-0686. Danial Meloche teaches ice water
rescue in |
|
An old
friend of mine who also likes to be on the water in challenging conditions
has found this resource. Frank likes
to row sliding seat in 30+ knots of wind anytime throughout the year. Believe me his carbon fiber sculls get a
full work out.
This
suit is designed as para-jumper surface diving
swimming in ice water rescue conditions.
The
maximum flexibility in this suit is created by adding gussets on the arms and
legs. There is
a front entry dry zipper and relief zipper with neoprene protective cuffs
over the long life latex seals, and with Cordura nylon reinforcements for
slip and wear resistance on wear points. |
|
The
important reason for Cordura reinforcement being necessary is because ice,
especially frazzle or skim ice, is razor sharp. Any ice can have sharp areas on it. I saw a
jagged chunk of ice riddled with sharp cutting edges pop up to the surface
just inches from my kayak when I least expected it. This was a very threatening moment for me. For me
this is a huge break though to find that there really is a suit designed to
accommodate the full range of flexibility a sliding seat rower must have. $600.00
is hardly any money for cold water safety when cold water boating is a
passion. http://www.echorowing.com/contactus.html
http://www.rescuealive.com/services.html
|
|
Gail E.
Ferris |
