Drysuit under layering

I tried on a medium and a large Kokatat paddling dry suits at REI yesterday testing for sizing.  (I am a medium (5'8", 165)).  A thought occurred to me.  How does one manage layering under the dry suit?  As I have said before I hate being cold.  Generally in cold-weather activities I will start with more layers until I warm up, then remove a layer.  Obviously, layers need to be adjusted with activity level and air temperature.  Seems that removing/adding a layer under a dry suit could be a rather athletic activity for a floating kayak.

Also, what sorts of dry bags are best?  There were many brands and styles.  I am thinking of things like extra/removed clothing, camera. 

I use an IR one-piece union suit under my drysuit, which works well in most temp ranges for me. Comfy & no gap on my lower back. if I get cold, I paddle harder. if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

for drybags - Watershed. they're more expensive, but are far & away the driest bags I've ever used.


Brian

if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

Second time I've heard that now ... going to have to "get over it" and start trying this.

-Allen

if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

Second time I've heard that now ... going to have to "get over it" and start trying this.

-Allen

I think I read on this site that your not keen on being "in" the water, so maybe carry a small bucket and just pour water all over yourself? 

if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

Second time I've heard that now ... going to have to "get over it" and start trying this.

-Allen

I think I read on this site that your not keen on being "in" the water, so maybe carry a small bucket and just pour water all over yourself? 

Actually it's more of a mental block.  When the solution is staring you right in the face, it's the first thing you fail to see.   

-Allen

truth be told, I usually just stick my hands in the water to cool off. If I wanted to swim, I coulda saved a lot of time & money over the years....just trying to be motivational & stuff for newer guys.

if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

Second time I've heard that now ... going to have to "get over it" and start trying this.

-Allen

Let's try this scenario.  You hit the water just before dawn in your dry suit.  It's 45F on the water.  3 hours later you have set up a perfect salmon troll a half mile offshore.  The sun is well above the horizon and the air temperature has risen to 62F. 

What do you do?
 
1.  Sweat like a pig and keep fishing
2.  Stop your troll and jump in the frigid, deep water
3.  Remove a layer from under your dry suit
4.  Cool your hands until they are numb and lifeless
5.  Paddle to shore and strip down

Morning downrig. trolls in the sound will have me out there at 3-4AM so most of the time it's really cold and have the drysuit on. When it gets warmer I like to splash myself with water. It usually cools me down just fine. If I'm in freshwater I'll peel down the top. It's not waterproof anymore but I'll be able to survive if I fall in since the water temp isn't life threatening.

Z

Important point - you'll always want to dress for water temp, more than air temp, good thread on the subject here:

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,2644.0.html

Drysuit Undergarments:
 Best case is a bunny suit. Sounds silly, but that's pretty much what it is (just without the ears). Its a fleece jumpsuit, some with footies, some without.
That's nice, but spendy.

 I use expedition weight polypro underwear that I scored at Andy and Bax surplus in PDX. The top and bottom are <$20 each. That has kept me comfy in some chilly water (<40^o). The polypro is also kinda slippery on the outside and makes it easy getting in and out of the drysuit (less secret fish dancing ).

 One problem I had with the underwear was the pants slipping down and the top pulling up so I had my neighbor sew a large patch of the hook side of velcro on the inside of the "shirt tail". That grabs the bottoms nicely and everything stays put.

Cooling off:  I straddle the boat and dangle my legs overboard. That helps a lot and feels really stable and I fish most of the time like that. Splashing water on yourself works too. In fact that can get a little chilly due to evaporative cooling. The polypro undies wick sweat away from your body and your breathable suit combined with a breeze can get downright nippy. That's when the neoprene water ski PFD is nicest.
 Or you can get in (on purpose ). The water really only feels cold on your face and hands (insulation works!) and as I think of it, if getting into the water is uncomfortably cold, then you don't have the right insulating layer. Don't forget that drysuits alone offer no insulation from the cold. You'll be bone dry, but frozen solid as you bounce along with the current.

Also, when the air is warm and the water is cold, I'd choose the neoprene waders and drytop combo instead of the drysuit.

I don't think Zee's opening the drysuit is a good idea (offshore at least) as water inside your drysuit is going to stay cold (and getting it back on in the water is challenging to say the least). But that's just my opinion, and opinions are like earholes. Everybody has one (or more).

Besides, he spends considerably less time upside down than I do

I don't think Zee's opening the drysuit is a good idea (offshore at least)

Read again my bi-coastal friend.

If I'm in freshwater I'll peel down the top.

Besides, he spends considerably less time upside down than I do

Very true.

Z

I don't think Zee's opening the drysuit is a good idea (offshore at least)

Read again my bi-coastal friend.

Bicoastal, bi-polar?    Whatever!

Y'all forgot the warm air/warm water option.

This is proper water wear (and tonight's dinner)



(and that's not pink! Its faded red)

I just figured your paddle top bled into your completely inappropriate layer underneath 

I use an IR one-piece union suit under my drysuit, which works well in most temp ranges for me. Comfy & no gap on my lower back. if I get cold, I paddle harder. if I get hot, I jump in to cool off.

Is that a relief slot I see in the IR Union Suit?

for drybags - Watershed. they're more expensive, but are far & away the driest bags I've ever used.

Does anyone use a dry backpack?  It seems it might be difficult considering the PFD.

Does anyone use a dry backpack?  It seems it might be difficult considering the PFD.

If you're going camping it might be nice but overall keeping gear to a minimum is key to kayak fishing. It really doesn't take much as long you know what you're fishing for.

Z