Sad news

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2013/03/18/crews-performing-cpr-on-kayaker-pulled-from-water-off-mcneil-island/



RIP......

Sad for sure, waders in the ocean is not a good option in my opinion unless secured with an excellent belt. Wetsuit or drysuit will keep you much safer on the ocean.

Very sad.  The deceased kayaker was wearing waders on ocean waters.  Even if there are some pretty safe configurations including waders, I don't think boating in waders is a good idea.

Very sad.  The deceased kayaker was wearing waders on ocean waters.  Even if there are some pretty safe configurations including waders, I don't think boating in waders is a good idea.

+1.

.... and the debate continues while more kayakers are injured/dying... 

I have worn waders in the ocean before when my dry pants were out for repair, but over my FJs.   I just hate wet cold feet!

Sad news.  Lesson to be learned for the rest of us.

RIP... sad news indeed.  I wear a lightweight pair of waders with neoprene feet when fishing fresh water if it is cold out.  Salt is a different story.  I do have one question/thought though.  The article has the department rep saying its possible the waders "counteracted" his life vest.  That's not really possible I don't believe.  If the waders themselves are so heavy that the vest cannot float them and the wearers combined weight, then yeah... but that's unlikely.  Once they fill with water, it's not like they would actually make you heavier as long as you remain in the water right?  The water contained in the waders is neutrally buoyant right?  The only way this situation would make the vests job harder would be if water were in the waders above the surface of the ocean... I think.  Of course, it would still make it impossible to swim... I don't know, just an observation.

sigelvictory wrote:

The article has the department rep saying its possible the waders "counteracted" his life vest.  That's not really possible I don't believe.

Jim Sammons did a video of a pool test of the wader thing. With vest, without vest, with belt and without a belt I believe also. In flat calm waters in did not seem to be much of a deal. In current, wind or waves, it could be a whole 'nother deal. A lot of people wear waders in flat bay conditions - personally, it's a bit sketchy. I have done it at Russian Gulch once, stayed inside, very flat, sunny day, was always withing 100' of shore. I doubt I will do it again.

Very sad news.

Jim Sammons did a video of a pool test of the wader thing.

Sooo many variables. I'm confident that I can't come close to anticipating all that can go wrong. Given that, I just keep trying to minimize risk.

Before blaming the waders 100% keep in mind this is in Washington state. Anything short of a dry suite with proper under layers could have resulted the same way. Even a dry suite with out proper layers is useless in that cold of water. It's sad day anyway you look at it.

Yeah... I am in no way advocating the use of waders in the ocean, it was more of a physics question on my part.  I know one thing for certain... you can't possibly swim for crap in a pair of waders.  Again, I only wear them on lakes... and only feel confident in doing so because of proximity to shore and the knowledge that even if I ever went over, and everything went to hell, I would still be able to slip them off, right my kayak, and self rescue without dying of hypothermia. 

At least with splash pants (without attached booties) you can very quickly un-velcro the bottoms once water gets in. Still have a good chance to get back in your boat. I don't see how you would have much of a chance to get back in with sealed waders hanging down there once they get water in them. Hell, most waders are a bear to get on and off in the best of circumstances on dry land.

The only sealed system I would want to wear would be a drysuit and even then I worry about the zippers...