Waders in a kayak

Well, those experimental trolling trips to cold lexington this winter helped me sort out my longer distance
foul weather and ocean paddling gear. it was intended for salmon, but I will use what I settled on at the forebay,
halibut bouncing/trolling, trout trolling, etc.

I'm now wearing some combination of:

1. old 4/3 full+hood zipperless hotline surf wetsuit, but with the arms cut-off for chafe-free and
resistance-free long distance paddling at the cost of some thermal protection if swimming for it.
I will probably cut a horizontal opening just below the front waist and
put in a short zipper or snaps for pee relief. Btw, a thermos of warm water in the truck for
flushing the wetsuit when you get back is a good thing to have.

2. the arms of the wetsuit. helps keep my hands warmer. Also good for the water that
drips up your arms from your hands. If I have to swim for it, my armpits are exposed
but maybe the fact I have a hood will save me from hypothermia.

3. rio paddle jacket from nrs for protection against evaporative cooling (wind chill). This
thing is simple and cheap, but I'm real happy with it.

4. if it's real cold or the wind is blowing, I got some cheap rainpants to
defeat evaporative cooling on my legs, thus keeping my feet warmer. I wear
them over my wetsuit. thank you mooch for the tip.  wind proof covers for the
booties would be good if they existed.

5. my booties are split toe 3mm surf booties, I would consider 7mm. the rainpants
really help to keep the feet warm.

6. I got some 'mambas' they are pouches that fit over your paddle shaft, you
stick your hands in while paddling.  This is pure luxury. no good for sitting and
holding a rod while sturgeon fishing, but good for trolling.

In warmer freshwater or saltwater, I think I will wear a wetsuit vest or top, surf trunks and perhaps the
rainpants or rio paddling jacket for early morning or windy conditions.

anyway, I feel no need for waders on kayaks myself and I really like to have simple fail-safe stuff
as much as possible. I have seen a lot of stuff fail,  . Neoprene waders seem pretty failsafe,
but I don't know about the drysuit style. If you have them, sure use them, but I'd only wear them
if you are willing to swim in them too.

After spending a lot of time in a wetsuit surfing I know that
a wetsuit is almost failsafe thermal protection. I'm a true wetsuit believer   .

Btw, my boys are 6 and 8 and I got them nrs youth farmer bill wetsuits for playing at the
beach and those things are great, we love them. They stay warm for hours even with no booties
cause their trunk and legs are insulated. No zippers to fail on the upper body.
They do have short zippers on the lower legs which I guess is okay since if they jam the wetsuit is
still useable. If you have kids, and want them to be warm and fairly safe around water,
I recommend them along with a youth PFD for bullet proof water use.

J

My ocean apparel is........
Goretex cap
Farmer John
Polypro shirt
PFD
Goretex jacket
Neoprene gloves
Heavy duty Goretex britches
Goretex socks
Neoprene booties

I think it all boils down to what your used to. I wore waders years ago when I started casting from a yak. I've practice safe rescue more than a few times in them, in all waters and yes you can swim in them for as long as you want.
This is the present day List.
Dan Bailey breathable stocking foot waders.They already have neoprene booties  installed and you can convert them into waist high if you like.
Kokatat Anorak.( hooded padding jacket )  PFD over that. I wear a tilley hat or a  fleece hat depending on the weather. I traded my wading boots for water boots along time ago.
NRS farmer Johns when I need them.
One very Important fact if you want to go fishing in the morning and you have to be at work at 2:30pm.
I can wear supplex guide pants  and shirt (you can get them from Cabelas) wear my waders over them. I can fish for a few hours. take my waders off be dry and in about fifteen minutes and be ready for work.
The one weakness with waders or any paddling suit for that matter is if they get ripped.

Da Mooch attire: all available at REI.....

1) Out Door Research sombrero - water proof - breathable
2) Mysterioso rash guard - Windproof 0.5mm neoprene front and back panels offer insulation while remaining flexible
3) NRS Ultra John 3mm Wetsuit
4) light paddle jacket - Nylon/waterproof breathable urethane coating
5) boots -a wetsuit boot that can handle rough terrain
6) Lotus Designs PFD - two pockets with a mesh back - also holds my compass,hand held flares,knife and whistle
7) Oakley Bottle Cap polarized sunglasses (with a floating leash)

I also carry a Light weight Marmot rain jacket in case conditions change - Waterproof and breathable, this all-season jacket can simply be worn over a base layer or over an insulating layer when conditions turn a bit harsh

But if was kayak fishing in Mexico or Hawaii....this is all I have to wear 

There's this horrible image  I'm tryiing to keep out of my head.

Mooch-

You've got everything except the kitchen sink out with you. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best. It's all good. Maybe I should start considering wearing more too.

Freddie

Dear Rickey Noel Mitchell,

If the Europeans can sport the speedos while strolling casually along our beaches ......why can't we  

Love,
Da Mooch  
Official spokes person for "Speedos for Everyone"


Freddie......you will loose your "savage" reputation once you stop wearing nothing but your aloha board shorts  Stay cool braddah 

Dear Joel, I should explane about my image. We had this 6ft German Exchange student that insisted on wearing a speedo. Talk about  Hairy, his name was Peter , I called him Sasquatch. Knowing I did not like him any where near me in that wearing that  speedo he tried to hug me one time . He didn't notice my glass of ice water--whitch I threw all over his speedo. The image I get is of him there by the pool in Febuary with the look of shock on his face because of his  ice water soaked speedo--just before I shoved him into the pool.

paddle and flies, you need to open your mind! No
wonder we americans get a bad rap!

I had a 5'10" german as a housemate once.
I allowed hugs. Even helped apply suntail oil sometimes.

Of course, it was a she, not to mention blonde
and slender. and in a bikini, not a speedo.

but really rickey, it's not much different! 

paddle and flies, you need to open your mind! No
wonder we americans get a bad rap!

I had a 5'10" german as a housemate once.
I allowed hugs. Even helped apply suntail oil sometimes.

Of course, it was a she, not to mention blonde
and slender. and in a bikini, not a speedo.

but really rickey, it's not much different! 


I'm as opened minded as they come. Peter is 22 now and still comes  to visit and  hugs go all around.
There's a world of difference between your housekeeper and Peter, And I will still throw ice water on him or you if you try to hug me wearing a speedo.

Does everyone  know that "The Boat People" down in San Jose sells waterproof breathable drysuits in the mid $400's? I bought one of the slightly more expensive models that has a kayak skirt collar, and am loving it for SIK sea and whitewater kayak use. I'll be giving it a shot rafting on the N. Fork of the American on 4/2, but I expect no issues.

Regards,
Scott

I've been wearing gortex waders with a belt and splash jacket which has good seals around the waist, neck, and wrists.  Since starting this post and hearing what you all had to say, I decided to go with it.  It proved to be fairly safe when I got spanked by a wave in the company of Ed, gatohoser, FuzzyTom, and scallen on Sunday.  Being a novice, I found myself "riding" a wave instead of following one and ended up dumping my yak in a couple feet of water.  I stayed dry, but my net is now 6 inches shorter as it took the brunt of the punishment.  I feel confident now that I can challenge the surf (and expect to lose) in my waders without having them fill up and being immobile.  Thank you all for the input.

In the end experience will teach you what no one can.

Wore my Hodgman Wadelite Breathable Waders for the first time this Sunday and I am now hooked. SO much easier than the 3mil farmer John I usually use. I felt totally comfortable and safe in them. I wore the belt and pulled the drawstrings tight around my chest. I'm pretty confident that not much water would get in the waders if I dumped my yak. The opening is so high up my chest that that part of my body wouldn't even be submerged due to my PFD.

I'm still wearin' my wetsuit in the big water - but for the bay and cold lake mornings I'm going waders from here on out.

Thanks for all the info, everybody!