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Author Topic:   winter fishing safty?

ron3637 posted 11-01-2002 11:52 AM ET (US)
What do you wear in case you have to go into the water in an emergency in the winter?
OutrageMan posted 11-01-2002 11:56 AM ET (US)
Our rescue boat carries several cold water emersion suits. Basically 3/8" neoprene with attached boots, mitts and hood. One big benefit to this suit is the build in flotation the neoprene and trapped air give.
Brian
jimp posted 11-01-2002 12:24 PM ET (US)
ron3637 -
Many options, each with good and bad points (prices somewhat accurate).
Survival or emersion suits (OutrageMan). $300-500. Best protection in a survival situation. Bulky, hard to walk, full protection including head, hands, feet. Dry inside. Excellent floatation.
Wetsuits $100-500. Good & flexible for temporary water time. No head, hands, feet. Going for a swim? Good floatation.
Dry suits $300-700(?). Like wetsuits, but dry inside. Full body, not gloves or head protection. Never worn one, not sure of floatation characteristics.
Float coats $100-200. Prtect from waist up. No head or hand protection. Some have "beavertails" to keep more warmth in. Wet inside. OK floatation, face in the water a lot.
Mustang suits (coveralls made like float coats) $250-350. No head, hand, feet protection. Wet. Better floatation than a float coat.
Other factors - air temperature, water temperature, other boaters, availability of rescuers. Big factor - keep your head warm, you lose most of your body heat here.
For more info, what are you planning to do? Abandon ship, waterskiing, pulling a line off the prop, etc?
Best option is to break the chain of events leading to going in the water. Why are you boating this day? Can you do this another day? Is the weather marginal? Isn't a hot chocolate by the fireplace a better idea?
Many options.
Be safe.
JimP
Drisney posted 11-01-2002 12:50 PM ET (US)
Just for info; the dry suit has a rubber gasket at the wrists and neck to seal water out hence the dry suit designation. initially when you enter the water there is a great deal of air trapped in the suit and will float like a cork. We use them for swift water rescue. When entering the water we use a finger to break the seal at the neck and "burp" the suit. I wear Patagonia fleece under the suit and am quite dry and warm. It is a very odd sensation the first couple of times you wear it being all dressed and all. It has no protection for feet, hands, head. These are not wetsuit material, they are coated fabric and totally waterproof...Dave
andygere posted 11-01-2002 01:32 PM ET (US)
2 piece drysuits like those worn by whitewater kayakers might work well for fishing. As Dave said, they are coated fabric with rubber gaskets at the cuffs, neck and waist. The gaskets are tight, and most folks use a little powder to help slip them on. Here's an example: http://www.patagonia.com/za/PDC/Pgonia/store/product.jsp?searchID=F140E0D1F4&merchant_rn=7385&sku=85278 Insulation layers like fleece are typically worn underneath, and PFDs are worn on top for floatation. A neoprene beanie or surf lid would be a good idea as well.
pequotman posted 11-01-2002 01:48 PM ET (US)
try this link for drysuits http://www.apsltd.com/Depts/dept202.asp
I use one for frostbiting, winter sailing.
triblet posted 11-01-2002 05:55 PM ET (US)
A good dry suit is a lot more than $300-700.
My Diving Concepts 2mm crushed neoprene was
$2500 with long johns. I'm 6'5" so it was all
custom fit (about 20 different measurements).
The long johns were about $300, the "relief
zipper" (fly) was the best $300 I spent, custom
was about $500. So now we are down to about
$1400 for an off the shelf suit (but you stil
need long johns).
The least expensive suits (soft neoprene)
start at about $600.
Drysuits need new seals every couple of years
($100-300).
You'll float so well you'll have trouble
swimming. But you'll need a PFD to keep your
face out of the water.
A good 7 mm wetsuit would run about $400 and
keep you alive for several hours in 50F water.
You'd be darn miserable, but alive.

Chuck

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Author	Topic: winter fishing safty?
ron3637	posted 11-01-2002 11:52 AM ET (US) What do you wear in case you have to go into the water in an emergency in the winter?
OutrageMan	posted 11-01-2002 11:56 AM ET (US) Our rescue boat carries several cold water emersion suits. Basically 3/8" neoprene with attached boots, mitts and hood. One big benefit to this suit is the build in flotation the neoprene and trapped air give. Brian
jimp	posted 11-01-2002 12:24 PM ET (US) ron3637 - Many options, each with good and bad points (prices somewhat accurate). Survival or emersion suits (OutrageMan). $300-500. Best protection in a survival situation. Bulky, hard to walk, full protection including head, hands, feet. Dry inside. Excellent floatation. Wetsuits $100-500. Good & flexible for temporary water time. No head, hands, feet. Going for a swim? Good floatation. Dry suits $300-700(?). Like wetsuits, but dry inside. Full body, not gloves or head protection. Never worn one, not sure of floatation characteristics. Float coats $100-200. Prtect from waist up. No head or hand protection. Some have "beavertails" to keep more warmth in. Wet inside. OK floatation, face in the water a lot. Mustang suits (coveralls made like float coats) $250-350. No head, hand, feet protection. Wet. Better floatation than a float coat. Other factors - air temperature, water temperature, other boaters, availability of rescuers. Big factor - keep your head warm, you lose most of your body heat here. For more info, what are you planning to do? Abandon ship, waterskiing, pulling a line off the prop, etc? Best option is to break the chain of events leading to going in the water. Why are you boating this day? Can you do this another day? Is the weather marginal? Isn't a hot chocolate by the fireplace a better idea? Many options. Be safe. JimP
Drisney	posted 11-01-2002 12:50 PM ET (US) Just for info; the dry suit has a rubber gasket at the wrists and neck to seal water out hence the dry suit designation. initially when you enter the water there is a great deal of air trapped in the suit and will float like a cork. We use them for swift water rescue. When entering the water we use a finger to break the seal at the neck and "burp" the suit. I wear Patagonia fleece under the suit and am quite dry and warm. It is a very odd sensation the first couple of times you wear it being all dressed and all. It has no protection for feet, hands, head. These are not wetsuit material, they are coated fabric and totally waterproof...Dave
andygere	posted 11-01-2002 01:32 PM ET (US) 2 piece drysuits like those worn by whitewater kayakers might work well for fishing. As Dave said, they are coated fabric with rubber gaskets at the cuffs, neck and waist. The gaskets are tight, and most folks use a little powder to help slip them on. Here's an example: http://www.patagonia.com/za/PDC/Pgonia/store/product.jsp?searchID=F140E0D1F4&merchant_rn=7385&sku=85278 Insulation layers like fleece are typically worn underneath, and PFDs are worn on top for floatation. A neoprene beanie or surf lid would be a good idea as well.
pequotman	posted 11-01-2002 01:48 PM ET (US) try this link for drysuits http://www.apsltd.com/Depts/dept202.asp I use one for frostbiting, winter sailing.
triblet	posted 11-01-2002 05:55 PM ET (US) A good dry suit is a lot more than $300-700. My Diving Concepts 2mm crushed neoprene was $2500 with long johns. I'm 6'5" so it was all custom fit (about 20 different measurements). The long johns were about $300, the "relief zipper" (fly) was the best $300 I spent, custom was about $500. So now we are down to about $1400 for an off the shelf suit (but you stil need long johns). The least expensive suits (soft neoprene) start at about $600. Drysuits need new seals every couple of years ($100-300). You'll float so well you'll have trouble swimming. But you'll need a PFD to keep your face out of the water. A good 7 mm wetsuit would run about $400 and keep you alive for several hours in 50F water. You'd be darn miserable, but alive. Chuck