What to wear when the cold gets here

[straightrod]

Originally Posted by Mahigeer

May I suggest a kind of backward test?

Put the kayak on a sort of a stand.

Fill the hull of the kayak with water, until you see a leak. Where ever the water is coming in, will now allow the water to leak out.

There maybe a hairline crack that only shows up when there is weight in the kayak. In this case the weight of the water may cause the crack to open.


That could also eliminate the hatch/s.

Curious to see the cause of the leak. Pleas let us know when you solved the problem.

I did test it before sending it back to the dealer. First hooked wet vac exhaust and soaped it all down. Typical small leak bubbles emanating from hatches, rudder lines etc but nothing that would let in 35 gallons. On this leak my bait tank did slide forward causing a wet seal and flooding the entire hatch area. I then supported the kayak in four places and filled the inside with 35-40 gallons - not a drop leaked out. So i figured I caused it with the leaking bait tank somehow.

Next time out heavy sailing and realized heavy water intake of approx 70 gallons. Pulled it to level ground and no leaks, drips - nothing for 20 minutes.

Sent it to dealer he resealed forward bow hatch. Tested out of Dana Landing and 2.5 gallons in 30-40 minutes sailing back in. Took it dealer who had Hobie test - no real big leaks.

I will continue to investigate further. Dealer thinks weight in back under sail is causing rudder lines to draw water in.

When I get it back I will test further. I was thinking all along it was seeping in through the scupper holes in the back when a swell would wash over, but Hobie sent pics of scuppers being tested.

[ronbo613]

In SoCal, the most cold water wear I ever used was a farmer john wetsuit, booties, polypro shirt and light jacket. The water rarely gets below 50°, a drysuit is total overkill.

Now I fish in a much colder place where it rains all the time. When the water temperature is in the low 40's, same as the air temp and it's raining, a drysuit would be good, but most of the time I wear waterproof pants with shorts underneath(polypro long johns if it's cold), polypro shirt, sweatshirt and waterproof shell. Since I know how to get back on my kayak if I get dumped, I don't plan on swimming around for an hour or two figuring out what to do. The hardest thing to keep warm are my hands. Not many gloves that keep your hands warm and are flexible enough for fishing. If you are fishing in any type of marginal conditions, better be wearing that PFD.

We stop fishing when the rod guides ice up, so we do a fair bit of dressing for the conditions.

[chris138]

For all of you who say hypothermia is not a concern in SD:

You do realize that you can go hypothermic in 80 deg water right? Hypothermia is a risk in any water which is cooler than body temp, 98 deg F. Its just the exposure time is longer.

That said, its all about stockingfoot breathable waders, and splash jacket shell. You can put on as many layers as you want under that to handle any day from 80F to 40F. With the waders and the goretex shell, you can go completely submerged and remain mostly dry.

[Ro12]

Chris138
Is the brand you talking about Caddis

[Pinhead]

Originally Posted by chris138

For all of you who say hypothermia is not a concern in SD:

You do realize that you can go hypothermic in 80 deg water right? Hypothermia is a risk in any water which is cooler than body temp, 98 deg F. Its just the exposure time is longer.

That said, its all about stockingfoot breathable waders, and splash jacket shell. You can put on as many layers as you want under that to handle any day from 80F to 40F. With the waders and the goretex shell, you can go completely submerged and remain mostly dry.

+1 Exactly correct.

SD, Dec thru Mar, could get water temps into the 50's. Spending an unplanned night bobbing around like a cork with board shorts and a windbreaker sounds like a possible death sentence.

The sound of wearing waders in a kayak brings out the chiken in me tho. I opted for NRS Splash pants & top, layer underneath and keep my Lowrance Link-2 GPS radio and a mini water activated light clipped on my NRS Chinook pdf....and Praying I won't be in the water too long, if the worst happens.

Be as safe as you can be ;-)

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by ronbo613

Now I fish in a much colder place where it rains all the time. When the water temperature is in the low 40's, same as the air temp and it's raining, a drysuit would be good, but most of the time I wear waterproof pants with shorts underneath(polypro long johns if it's cold), polypro shirt, sweatshirt and waterproof shell. Since I know how to get back on my kayak if I get dumped, I don't plan on swimming around for an hour or two figuring out what to do. The hardest thing to keep warm are my hands. Not many gloves that keep your hands warm and are flexible enough for fishing. If you are fishing in any type of marginal conditions, better be wearing that PFD.

We stop fishing when the rod guides ice up, so we do a fair bit of dressing for the conditions.

Thanks, that is an excellent website. I am saving the link for ideas when I make my kayak fishing trip to Canada.

[ronbo613]

Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr

Thanks, that is an excellent website. I am saving the link for ideas when I make my kayak fishing trip to Canada.

Thanks. I recommend coming during the salmon season, they are pretty predictable. You may not feel the need to continue on to Canada, which also has a great deal of untapped kayak fishing.

Spending an unplanned night bobbing around like a cork with board shorts and a windbreaker sounds like a possible death sentence.

If that's in the plan, get the drysuit. And a flare gun, personal location device, radio and flashing light. Also, tell somebody where you are going and when you will be expected back.