new to area wet suit or dry suit as the prefered system.

Living down here in SF bay area currently, the prevailing suit of choice is a wet suit/farmer john with a paddlers jacket. A few guys in NCKA wear dry suits. As I moving up there soon, what is the better one to wear in Puget Sound for year round wear?  Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Drysuit. I feel they are more comfortable.  But, that is my preference.  I use mine for more than just the kayak.  It works great for duck hunting and wading for steelhead - especially if you fall in.  I protect it while doing these things by wearing a pair of old breathable (leaky) waders over the top if I am in real thorny areas. If you get a Kokatat Goretex suit, then you can send it is for repairs for a low fee ($25 last time I did it) for life.

Good to know about the Kokatat, thanks Craig!

I have a run of the mill Kokatat paddling jacket for 12 years or so now and it has held up well. I will have to hunt around for a good set.

If you get a Kokatat Goretex suit, then you can send it is for repairs for a low fee ($25 last time I did it) for life.

... Of the suit, not you... Just pointing that out.


I agree on the Drysuit, if you can afford it then it's the way to go IMO, you can layer up and be warm all day without being wet.

I've got this Kokatat and am very happy with it: https://kayakacademy.com/collections/dry-suits-for-men/products/kokatat-goretex-supernova-angler-paddling-suit?variant=33965842636

Kevin

My recommendation, in one word, is "drysuit."  To expand on that, my recommendation, in two words, is "dry suit." For further discussion and some pictures, check out this recent NCKA thread on wetsuits versus drysuits for winter kayaking: http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=86276.msg981648#msg981648.  Most of the guys who chimed in on that thread are from California.  For areas further north, my recommendation, in four words, is "definitely a dry suit." For safety and comfort while kayak fishing, a drysuit is the best investment you can make.

I have owned many dry suits and dry tops, and Kokatat is my favorite manufacturer.  I prefer latex gaskets to neoprene gaskets.  A latex gasket will keep you bone dry even after many hours in the water.  I snorkel and speargun in Montana in a drysuit, and after hours in cold water I frequently drive home in the clothing I was wearing under the drysuit.  A neoprene gasket such as those in the Kokatat Angler drysuits may be somewhat more comfortable, but it won't reliably keep you dry if you end up in the water for more than a short time.  Kokatat refers to the Supernova Angler as a "semi-dry suit."

The ocean water temperatures will be pretty much the same in the Sound as what you're familiar with in the Bay area.  You didn't mention the thickness of the neoprene, but if you're happy with how it performed in and around the Bay, what you already have is all you need to be safe.
 

drysuit is def preferred here.

The ocean water temperatures will be pretty much the same in the Sound as what you're familiar with in the Bay area.  You didn't mention the thickness of the neoprene, but if you're happy with how it performed in and around the Bay, what you already have is all you need to be safe.

I want to say it was a 8mm farmer jon, but I would have to go back and look at it to make sure.

The cold Japan Current comes in close to the Bay and the waters you're used to are most likely 5 or 6 degrees cooler than what you'll see even as far north as the Sound.  Yep, drysuits are the POPULAR choice in Oregon and Washington, but at least try your wetsuit before you jump into a drysuit.

I might add to Tinker's comments:  Offshore, we do get a good upwelling in the spring and summer.  Water temps are often in the low 40's then.

-Mark-

The cold Japan Current comes in close to the Bay and the waters you're used to are most likely 5 or 6 degrees cooler than what you'll see even as far north as the Sound.  Yep, drysuits are the POPULAR choice in Oregon and Washington, but at least try your wetsuit before you jump into a drysuit.

Thanks for the info. Yeah Dry suits were slowly being used in NCKA, depended where you lived, fished and income.   A lot of guys in NCKA were also divers/spear fisherman, went after abalone. Wet suits were the more popular of the two. One guy who spear fishes has gone so far as to have nailed halibut and if I recall a tuna last year. He is pretty hardcore.