waders VS wetsuit

Bill,

I think here's the summary:  If you are experienced and confident in your abilities in the ocean (you don't fall in), then you may want to try waders because they are way more comfortable.  If you are new to ocean fishing in NorCal, wear a wetsuit.

Wetsuit for me.

long story short-

last year I was headed out to the bay, but the wind forecast kept me in the delta sloughs.  After about 20 min of paddling the boat became very unstable, looked in the hatch and found it about half full, just made it to shore before the boat became completely unmanagable.  Cracked hull.

Brand new replacment boat, first time out, after an hour or so things didn't feel right, opened the hatch and found a significant amount of water, a void in the plastic up in one of the scupper holes.

So now I'm more experienced, on any day anywhere, after a few minutes OTW I open the hatch and check for leaks, have stuffed the hull with noodles and always where a wetsuit in cold water.

(and a pump, and a VHF, and a whistle, and a canned air horn, and flares) so much for going lite,

I guess I should add that I don't find my FJ to be uncomfortable at all, and I installed a relief zipper in it myself, they're a must.

3ml farmer john wetsuit with relief zipper. 5ml neoprene booties. nylon rashguard shirt. nylon boardshorts. nylon jacket.

Wetsuit, wetsuit, wetsuit! Waders are for wading.

DaveW said it for me as well.
I've also had this thought, there are classes to deal with the situation after having fallen in. Are there any classes to teach you how not to tip over in the first place? Seems just as important.

Dale, you mentioned that you installed a relief zipper yourself. Would you be able to give me more info or direct me to how I can do it myself? Was it also easy to install? Thanks brother

- Daniel

easy decision if you just look at the #s

current buoy readings at bodega
Air Temperature (ATMP):      50.7 °F
Water Temperature (WTMP):    52.7 °F
Wind Chill (CHILL):    46.6 °F


50–60° F (10–16° C)  1–2 hours   1–6 hours

40–50° F (4–10° C)  30–60 minutes  1–3 hours

The first set of times are expected time to unconsciousness; the second to death.

I can confirm it was 56 degrees off of Natural Bridges, & 60 off of the harbor on Sunday. Brrrr! Isn't this summer?

Wetsuit by NRS with relief zipper. Cause you never know what might happen or what the conditions will be. I'm thinking of upgrading from 3 Mm booties to 5 or 7 Mm, probably with side zippers, cause above 3 Mm they get a little thick to easily roll off. Thick soles cause those rocks can hurt  . Anyway I'm thinking above 3 Mm cause like at Albion where the conditions were dicey. you can put your feet over the sides for stability - and it gets cold after a while.

Relief zipper install from awhile ago.

Things to remember,

This process can go badly,
I would never do this to a suit I wanted for anything other than sitting in a yak.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,13251.msg125286.html#msg125286