Drysuit triumphs!
I've been thinking of a new activity, and friends enjoy kayaking so I decided to pop along. Now, it may be that in more pleasant climes of the world kayaking is carried out on still lakes in glorious sunshine; unfortunately here it's on a cold May evening riding choppy waves on a murky reservoir.

My performance was about as impressive as could be expected from someone who didn't know one end of a boat from another (i.e. a bit crap), but at least I managed not to fall in or to get too wet, even though a fair bit of water came over the side. I was minded, however, of the Capsize Drill the following week. This sounded cold, and very wet..

Off I trunded to a local shop, which was more into diving, and enquired about a wetsuit. Full wetsuits are ok for colder UK weather as long as you don't fall in the water - they're made of tight neoprene which holds a layer of water close, so that your body can heat it. Still, I wasn't intending to fall in often..

Then, I heard the magic words 'Well, I can do you a decent wetsuit for 60 quid, but there are entry level drysuits at 150'. *DING* Impulse upselling!

Drysuits are fundamentally different - the low end ones suitable for watersports (but not for proper diving) typically use a breathable membrane with latex seals around your extremities and a Big Fuckoff Zip so that you can step into it. The seals are so effective initially that you have to make sure they're carefully moved round that pulsating vein in your neck that's trying to stop you developing stars before your eyes. It's probably also quite amusing when you sit on the store floor and try to mime particularly cackhanded paddling movements, without actually having a paddle.. or in fact, when you get into them the wrong way and get your head stuck in the neck seal. Pray that your friends don't have cameras.

I went for it though, especially after learning it really should have been £220(!). The next week came round, I slipped into the water with slightly greater ease, managed not to paddle in circles quite so much and actually really quite enjoyed myself - it's a pretty good way to chill out with a little swell and sunlight over the water.

Capsize Drill loomed, however.. I psyched myself up slightly to capsize the kayak and went for it! Slipping the boat round, banging on the hull whilst upside down, then sliding out hoping that myself and the drysuit wouldn't be claimed by the cold, wet, inky blackness of the reservoir.

I felt.. almost nothing at all! Perhaps I was a little colder, and the buoyancy aid is desperately keeping you afloat but it did the job. My socks were later found to be mildly damp, possibly from condensation. Floating on the water, with no noticeable effects other than wet hair is quite bizarre, and actually not that unpleasant.

Viva le drysuit!
(syllopsium, Thu 21 May 2009, 13:41, Reply)