Water temp = a balmy 42 Air Temp = 58 verdict?

Alright, so I have heard the 100 degree rule a ton of times. So dont hit me with that.. I want to know seriously, how much pain am I looking at with just a wet suit? I pretty much have my mind made up, just looking for some opinions..

3/2 fullsuit? That's pushin it IMO.

A cooler of warm/hot water will go a long way to keep that cold water out of your suit.... I'd do it.

its all good. you aint gonna feel nuthing after a couple of minutes anyway with that temp.

Go for it!

Wear a stocking cap, preferable fleece or wool, it will help with the ice cream headache. Fill a cooler with hot water.

My lake is froze over and probably won't be liquid for another 2 months at least. I'm jelous!

Enjoy,
JT

nacho, you soak yourself before you go? or after you get out?

just trunk it it builds character

Before you go - cold water can't seep in if there's already warm water in the suit. When it's real cold and your shirt/suit is already wet, dunk your suit in it. Put it on and dump a big cup of warm water over your shoulders and back. Repeat several times and hop in.

You should be nice and warm when you come out, your feet and hands will not be. Soak 'em in the cooler.

edit.
bring lots of towels.

(Message edited by denverd1 on February 12, 2009)

If you have a hot water shower on the boat, that is useful for the above suggestions..
Neo Hood is useful.. We have been riding last few weekends in Dry Suits and neo hood is nice when you fall..

awesome, well maybe that will help

Ride with a kid the rocks the 4/5 suit in 42 degree water and 35-40 degree air. Has a dry suit but prefers a wetsuit. Crazy..............

Water 42 I'd go with at least a 4/3, you can add layers under a wetsuit if you have heater tops or something like that. Polyprop thermals also work in water to some extent and will keep you warmer after you get out if you wear them under your suit as they won't lose their ability to trap air and keep you warm when wet.

(Message edited by jtnz on February 12, 2009)

I love it but I don't think that much. Wait a few weeks and the temps will change. We still need the ice to go away in IL first before we can even think about it. Or I think they call it ice skating.

Drysuit baby!
37 Degree water! If the ice is out, the boat is in! lol

No ice you ride...

Wow you northern guys are crazy, glad to be south

I'm such a wuss coming from south Texas. I wouldn't have to think twice to tell you no thanks!

You'll be fine. Ive done air temp in the 30's, frost on the dock, water in the low 40's with just a full length 4/3 wetsuit, no gloves or hat. It wasn't too bad, just keep your hands out of the water when you can.

First week of ice out, I ride a 7/6/5 one piece dive suit. It actually stays warm, but the feet and hands die a painful death.

So I got some closed toes to rock this year. What about socks? Anyone try that?

If you wear socks, wear wool socks. They are the only material (that I know of) that will keep you warm even when wet. Cotton for example will be freezing when wet.

I have a strict 110 degree rule. If water plus air temp equals or greater than 110 I ride, anything less, I sit it out.

Drysuit baby!
37 Degree water! If the ice is out, the boat is in!

Ben your the MAN, nice job.
Let me throw another log in the fireplace in your memory.

Never tried socks in the closed toes.... Just having them makes a huge difference though. Without a doubt

Also, just something we do, we keep one those plastic totes in the boat with warm/hot water in it. Doesn't do much for ballast, but your hands and feet will thank you! Takes away a lot of the bite from your hands/feet thawing out over time.

Water temp was about 40 and Air was about 36 at the start and probably about 30 by then end. Was fun to do but I am in no way thinking about doing it again. Ill wait till the 100 degree rule is met.

Pic

i ride in 50 degree water with no wet suit, i dont like ocean surfing with a wet suit on so i just got used to it. i think a 3/2 is more then enough, but thats just me

you won't die...but the 100 degree rule is there for a reason.

you will be able to handle the cold for a bit but the reason for the 100drule will become very obvious.


Also the approx $400 cost of a drysuit is the cheapest miracle available on the planet.

(Message edited by bftskir on February 13, 2009)

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quote:

Also the approx $400 cost of a drysuit is the cheapest miracle available on the planet.

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Spoken for the absolute truth!

You are looking at a lot of pain.....get a drysuit!!!

i was laying in bed thinking, and when we used to dirtbike on really wet days, we would put our feet in garbage bags and then in our boats, just to keep our socks try, would it work to put your feet in garbage bags before your binding and then put the top of the bag in a dry suit? it might not keep you warm, but it would at least keep your feet DRY. right?

they have drysuit "socks" already, and drysuits with "feet" on them already. usually just by keeping the body warm and cozy your feet will stay relatively warm unless you are barefooting and in direct contact to the cold water...then your feet will go numb sooner or later.

a neoprene hood helps ALOT too if its really cold

check out these photos if you still are not convinced of the power of the drysuit

http://clearlyinfocus.nextproof.com/galleries/winterski

o okay, i dont have a dry suit, i have no need for one. berryessa never gets cold enough for one, i dont even wear a wet suit there, but anyways, i was just curious if that would work. just a random idea

Glass Seeker...well said.
I'm a believer!

David...I will bet Berryessa is cold enough now for a drysuit.

"David...I will bet Berryessa is cold enough now for a drysuit."



isnt it in the high fourties low fifties this time of year?

and i abalone dive up north, so i bring my 7 mil we suit when we go anyways, just in case *laughs*

LOL..I guess comfort and warmth are subjective terms!! and 7 mil would work too.

George, you’re a girly man! I'd do it again as long as the steering on the new boat doesn't seize up!

I thought that at the end of the day we said that we'd all do it aging because it wasn't really that bad. Ohh Wait, I forgot that george is from Florida. Next time your up for it I am

Nice!....and cold looking no doubt

as far as avid@16yrs...you">David@16yrs...you'll learn

I have some friends who sent their drysuits in to get repaired and they've been wetsuiting it out at Berryessa...Brian and Zac...they can't wait for the drysuits to get back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTyy_7fHxiQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHE3zyF6m8Q

haha, what is the water temp this time of year?

Temps were the same as George's post. I was one of three.

the water temp is 40 at berryessa? id wear a wet suit for that. and by the way, if i had a dry suit. i would most likely wear it at 50. but i cant see spending 400$ when i dont have to. haha

It's more like 50 to 55 at Berryessa...I think...

it is alot of money but when you get back out of the water unzip it and get out dry and warm...you'll know its worth every penny.

you can get back in it and go again...still warm and dry...yep every penny!

If you love the sport you'll ride no matter the conditions...

Very proud to have never had to put on a drysuit.

drysuit owners are on the water more than wetsuit owners.

I've had more than my share of cold shivering teeth chattering days in a wetsuit.

Never again.

to each his own.

if berryessa is between 50 and 55. ill jump in with nothing but a vest and shorts on and not complain.

The water temp down here is >55 and I'm still happy to wear my drysuit. Just shorts and t-shirt underneath on a warm day or more on a cool one. I'm too old to worry about what a wimp I am!

Man up pussball. As soon as the ice is gone...literally the following weekend dock, lift and boat goes in the water and we ride.

I love my drysuit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mJYl6Kq2_A&feature=channel