winter outer wear?

[kevinfry]

I was given a large gift cert. from Cabelas for the purpose of buying winter safety gear....sadly I don't see anything there like I see you guys wearing. What kind of paddling jackets or dry gear do you guys use? I have beatheable waders already.

[ictalurus]

I picked up a Kokatat semi-dry top on sale from outdoorplay.com for around $75. It was the precursor to this jacket, I think:

http://www.kokatat.com/tropos-re-action-jacket-men.html

The neck gasket is neoprene rather than latex and works pretty well for keeping water out when you remember to tighten the vecro down. It has an inner skirt. I usually wear a wader belt up around my chest around my waders. Then I put the top on. If I'm going out in big water, far from shore, or in rough conditions, I'll put another belt over the inner skirt below the belt around my waders. It has a neoprene waist gasket with a drawstring. Water would get in around the waist when I wore it with my waist-high waders, but I think it would be pretty good with chest waders. Cabelas sells elastic wader belts that are pretty comfortable. I can cinch them down tight, but they still move and allow me to breath normally. There are even some with back support panels that probably work even better.

My top is a large. Let me know if you want to check it out. I was on the lower edge of the size range for their XL when I ordered it, but the large fits pretty well. The tighter it fits around your waist, the better the seal would be, I think. Excess material around the waist of my waist high waders prevented a good seal with the top, which is why I picked up the chest high waders with the zipper.

[kevinfry]

That is also a question...dry top over or under waders(chest)?

[Jumper]

I buy all of my cold weather gear from NRS.

[Southerly]

i think the recommended safety gear includes : immersion suit, light, air horn, flares, dry-bag with change of clothes, vhf/cell phone, float plan, pfd.

[ronaultmtd]

NRS is a little less expensive and has a broader selection of sizes than its competition- I have a XXL NRS dry top that is two years old and is as nice today as when I opened the package- Stohlquist doesn't make my size- they only manufacture for slim, trim and fit individuals...

[Memory Maker]

That is also a question...dry top over or under waders(chest)?

Over

[ictalurus]

That is also a question...dry top over or under waders(chest)?

The dry top goes over the waders. The goal is to have a kind of sealed immersion suit in case you end up in the water. Ideally, you want your clothes and skin to stay completely dry in the event of a dunking, which reduces heat loss. Hypothermia sets in pretty quickly. Check out the table:

http://www.ussartf.org/cold_water_survival.htm

I found a better one somewhere that includes weight but can't remember where. Anyway, here's another interesting table:

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_...pothermia#time
http://www.shipwrite.bc.ca/Chilling_truth.htm

[ronaultmtd]

If you get in the icy water, you are in trouble- period...best not get turtled. When boat wakes head my way I turn the bow directly into the wave and grab the handles of my kayak and lay out flat as I can by bending at the waist with my face on my knees to lower the center of gravity...you would be surprised how much of a large boat wake your yak can handle this way...and I never lean over the side- keeping your head in the center of the kayak reduces the possibility of turtling...it helps to have a 33 inch wide Outback with superior primary stability...

[mmanolis2001]

The dry top goes over the waders. The goal is to have a kind of sealed immersion suit in case you end up in the water. Ideally, you want your clothes and skin to stay completely dry in the event of a dunking, which reduces heat loss. Hypothermia sets in pretty quickly. Check out the table:

http://www.ussartf.org/cold_water_survival.htm

I found a better one somewhere that includes weight. Here's another interesting table:

http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_...pothermia#time
http://www.shipwrite.bc.ca/Chilling_truth.htm

These links provide some great information and should be sticked at the top of this forum.

After reading the details of several kayak deaths related to cold water immersion over the last couple years I have re evaluated my gear and decided not to venture out this time of year without a full dry suit. I’m not confident enough to assume I will be able to get back into the kayak with all my bulky gear in under 2 mins. You will eventually get wet even with a dry top and wader combo if you cant get immediately back into the Kayak. A dry suit will be first on my 2012 list of goodies.

[ronaultmtd]

It isn't worth me taking the chances and I can't afford to spend a thousand dollars on a full dry suit to get wet in frigid waters- I built me a nice 1 1/2" PVC kayak rack especially made to fit my Outback hull so I can store it rightside up without any stress on the hull- in my out buildings (it is a pole barn) where I keep my riding lawn tractor and snow blower. I have put my kayaks up for the winter and won't be getting out until Spring- I have a nice pair of waders and a good drytop with a wader belt, but like has been said- if you turtle in frigid waters you are in trouble- and it is a catch and release fishery for stripers until spring season anyway- I fished hard until mid December- that is a lot longer than most-

[ictalurus]

Actually, the prices of drysuits are coming down. The one I wear was $430 on sale, I think. Of course, I've had to send it back twice for repairs. Kokatat makes a similar model that runs between $400 and $500. There's even an angler version that has more material around the legs and seat for added durability. If Stohlquist gives me grief about the repairs, I might tell them to eat it and give me a refund so I can pick up a Kokatat.

[Memory Maker]

Gotta watch fo the deals ......... I got a Stohlquist Bpod last year for @ $300 I think ...... it was a closeout ....... oh and it even fits a fat guy like me ........

[surfdog]

my yaks in dry dock for the winter also. im just not comfortable in all that stuff. for 500.00 that a few trips on someone elses boat with a warm cabin