SOTs for Puget Sound: am I gonna need a suit?

I've been lurking for a couple weeks reading as much as I can regarding SOT vs. SIK, and the one thing I'm not too clear on, especially up here in the cold, wet, dank, dark, Puget Sound, is whether or not you yak types carry on in February/March for Blackmouth? Which if you did, darn tootin' you'll need a dry/wet suit.

Myself, I've been running around within a hundred feet of shore with my in-law's little recreation kayak, trolling the bejeezus out of herring. My rod holder is my leg and the only piece of electronics is my phone in a Dry-Bag. And I'm having a blast! Granted the weather has been fairly nice, so I can get away with shorts and sandals, and on bad days I just do the shore slinging thing.

So, my dilemma is for the type of fishing I want to do, and for how little I take with me, getting a SIK may mean I don't have to get a suit. Or am I off base?

I'm afraid you are off on that.  The idea isn't to wear what's going to be comfortable when things are going right and you're in/on your kayak.  The idea is to dress for things going wrong.  In other words, when you've flipped over and are in the water.

If you're capable of rolling that kayak back over, then you're probably ok with a drytop and skirt, if not, then you need to be ready for immersion.

I've personally passed on a few trips to the coast because I didn't have the proper gear to wear.

I hate to break it to you, but to avoid becoming a statistic you're gonna need a suit either way... SOT or SINK.  I'm amazed you haven't froze your a$$ off the past week in shorts and sandals.  If you aren't wanting to drop a ton of cash on getting a suit you can always go with the poor man's drysuit: Neoprene waders and a splash/drytop.  This is what I started off with and eventually upgraded to actual dry-pants.

This time of year you can probably get some really great deals on dry wear.  Outdoor Play is having a screaming deal on some of their stuff right now.  For waders, I used Hodgeman Brighton waders that I got for $40 at Outdoor Emporium.

Thanks for setting me straight. And just to clarify, I'm using a SINK on sunny, calm days - I have little NothingBoxes to feed and house.

So then the argument between SOT/SINK is one of personal preference? Everyone will need additional protection regardless. Now I start to see the benefits of the SOT...

I've been contemplating waders anyway for freshwater fishing and will do more researching/lurking for the top half of my body.

I don't f' around with hypothermia after I nearly lost my life whilst cross-country skiing across the BWCA at the young age of 13.  I managed to get mired in a slushy section on Moose Lake.  I arrived at the Ely-Bloomington Hospital barely concious with a core body temperature of 91*.  I ended up with severe frostbite on 8 fingers, mild frostbite on my face, calves, and forearms (even though I was wearing cold weather gear), bone damage, and rheumatism.  This was on land/ice with non-sustained exposure to water.  50* water can mess you up nearly as bad (frostbite much much less likely), especially with a good breeze on you and mid 30*-40* ambient air when/if you make it back into your yak or shore.

Sorry if we're coming off a little strong on your first post...  A few hundred feet might as well be a mile or more when you're trying to swim unprotected in 55* water.  

Consider these stats:
-An average adult person has a 50/50 chance of surviving a 50 yard swim in 50* F water.
-Strong swimmers have died before swimming 100 yards in cold water.
-In water under 40 ºF, such victims have died before swimming 100 feet.



A few links about hypothermia:
http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml
http://www.enter.net/~skimmer/openboat.pdf


Welcome to NWKA!

Welcome to NWKA NoBox!

Great 1st time post!  You're asking the right questions of the right people.  All of us were gung ho and inexperienced at one time.  Most of us are cheap bastards to boot so we'll point you in the most cost effective directions.

If you search, you should be able to find neoprene chest waders for $49.99.  (Wear a wading belt with this)  And, you should be able to find a paddle top for about the same price.  The waders/wading belt/PFD combo will go a long way toward keeping you alive if something crappy happens.

-Spot-

I was loaned a pair of breathable/non-neoprene waders (with a wading belt). Is this an okay alternative? I've stood in waist deep Puget Sound water for a couple hours casting and my legs get cool, but I haven't had the telltale signs of hypothermia: shivering, confusion, etc.

Those will do for a start, just make sure to wear enough warm stuff under them - DAMHIK.

I was loaned a pair of breathable/non-neoprene waders (with a wading belt). Is this an okay alternative? I've stood in waist deep Puget Sound water for a couple hours casting and my legs get cool, but I haven't had the telltale signs of hypothermia: shivering, confusion, etc.

Make sure you pair them with a dry/semi-dry top and thermal underwear, otherwise they are pointless in protecting you during immersion.  If you are wearing a well fitting pfd with thermal undergarments you will have some protection for your core similar to that of a wetsuit, but only so long as it remiains submerged.  Once your now soaking wet torso is exposed to air evaporative cooling will begin and you're going to freeze your a$$ off. 

By thermal underwear, he doesn't mean the classic cotton thermals, wear something polyproplyene or polyester.  I good synthetic fleece-like material that retains it's insulating properties when wet.  Sometimes I get greek fire mentality with stuff like that.

I use neoprene paddling pants, neoprene booties and a drytop on SOTs. Personally, paddling in
SIKs I feel comfortable and safe wearing a dry top and spray skirt, more than enough warm with the spray skirt on the kayak and comfortable rolling or getting back into the kayak in the event of capsizing (I've been there). Being able to "relief" myself while on the boat is a must for me so I make sure I can do so in either SOTs or SIKs, the neoprene pants here are better than a full body suit with no relief zipper. There's a craigslist post now with a dry suit but not clear if it's breathable and does not seem to have a relief zipper:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/spo/1965582315.html

I would say, whatever clothing you decide to wear, make sure you are comfortable and practice rolling out of your kayak and getting back on it while wearing what you plan to wear. Irrespectively of what you wear, your best chance of survival in any event is by getting back to your boat and out of the water.

A few links about hypothermia:
http://www.princeton.edu/~oa/safety/hypocold.shtml
http://www.enter.net/~skimmer/openboat.pdf

Hypothermia is one thing, but "functional disability" is what will cash you out first, and you need to plan ahead and dress to guard against. Especially if you use a sink, and you're hanging on the side for extended periods while pumping out the water. Your body pulls blood from your extremities to keep your core warm, then your arm and leg muscles fail. It can happen in as little as 2 minutes!

http://www.uscg.mil/pvs/docs/coldwater1.pdf 

welcome to the club NB!

Greek Fire   

   The suit on CL is an odd brand, but no relief zipper  means a landing to pee, or a bad smell when you take off the suit....and it's not breathable. Stick with Kokatat or Stohlquist or NRS.


Wiley's StayDry is our house drysuit. It is a traditional urethane coated nylon twill, baggy style suit with latex rubber seals. The StayDry suit is patterned with an extra gusset under the arms & at the knees for added mobility. It features a durable YKK dry zipper and seams that are triple stitched & then double taped.
 
We usually have it in stock in 3 colors: All Black, Black w/Yellow & Black w/Royal Blue(pictured).
 
Fit can vary based on your height, torso length & body shape so please call us for sizing assistance.
 

  What's your size, NB?   Friend of mine is selling a Gore-tex suit, with a ripped neck gasket, for cheap, but it's a size Med.
 
Sizes : Junior- XL are $279
Sizes : 2XL and 3XL are $319