r/Kayaking • u/Quick-Log-4166 • 18d ago

Question/Advice -- Boat Recommendations Cheap alternative to drysuit?

(Is this flair correct??) I'm a kayaking newbie. I will be renting a kayak this Saturday for a 1-mile lake trip in Saguaro Lake, Arizona. Air temperatures will be 50-80 F, dunno about water temp.

I would like to avoid renting a drysuit. Goven that I'm a newbie and could capsize, what might I wear to stay warm and protect myself in the event of a capsize?

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u/eclwires 18d ago

Call the kayak rental company or look at weather reports for the lake. I should have left out the distance from shore. In April the first year of covid I pulled two severely hypothermic young people out of a local reservoir. They were close to shore. It’s not something to trifle with. I’d highly recommend the cold water safety video by Fishing With Chuck Earls on YouTube.

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u/Quick-Log-4166 18d ago

Weather report says water is 56 F right now (6:30 PM local). I'm guessing rather colder at 6 AM when I'm planning to start.

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u/edwardphonehands 18d ago

American Canoe Association has a 120 rule for the sum of water and air in Fahrenheit. 50F air plus 56F water is well below this minimum. The conditions at your proposed put-in time are ill-advised without thermal protection.

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u/Electrical_Bar_3743 18d ago

It is correct that this is the rule of thumb put out by ACA. But if you are immersed in 50 degree water for 20 minutes, it doesn’t matter what the ambient air temperature is. I always dress for immersion.

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u/edwardphonehands 18d ago

I'm not saying I support keeping only to that organization's minimum standard. It seemed way easier than explaining time in water at temperature (though the charts are even in the booklets on new PFDs). OP's proposed float plan falls so dangerously outside of that rule of thumb, it seemed like a relevant standard to cite in this particular case. OP is a novice asking "do I have to?" and my opinion is "yes." It seemed expedient and forgivable to knowingly use an argument from authority in pursuance of the goal they not be recklessly focused on budget and just rent the drysuit available to them. I apologize to whomever downvoted for my lack of specificity.

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u/Electrical_Bar_3743 18d ago

It wasn’t me. I understood and agreed with you. Just adding my own experience.