wet suit or Dry suit

D-R-Y

saving up for a D-R-Y
but getting by fine with my wetsuit so far

Don't get me wrong. For the angler who is just getting on the water and doesn't have a ton of dough get a wetsuit. If that's all you are going to get it should be a 7mm at least. If you are in the water for over an hour with an older wetsuit( not one of the new ones like Yazbeck, which are so expensive you might as well go get a angler suit) you will get cold. You never know just how long you are going to be in on any given day. Shit happens all the time and if you are prepared to deal with it that's great. If not then the crabs gotta eat too.

W the number of oldtimers voting dry sounds like the new drysuits might be worth looking at, especially if they come with a peezip

the drysuit I have is vintage 70s and still in good shape, if I wore it on the yAk I would cook to death plus takes about ten minutes to get out of it to pee or ----, not fun when you're in a hurry



The NRS fjs I use might be too thin for a long swim, not saying it can't happen but have lost a kayak twice and done that swim once, best thing is dont let it happen

Whatever you wear, good thing to know you actually can swim in it, shouldn't be any question marks

Also, watching the guy guzzle saltwater a few weeks back really hammered home that no kind of suit by itself is enough

Getting over-heated in a dry suit has a simple solution.  I always splash or pour some water on myself and the temp drops immediately.  The only gripe I have is the neck gasket is reminiscent of traveling through the birth canal.  It's tight going on and tight coming off; actually it's tight all the time. I always dump a bottle of cold water on myself, starting at my neck and the heat issue is resolved.  Seriously, the rubber neck gasket isn't that bad especially considering the level of protection a good dry suit provides.  There's nothing worse than putting on a cold wet wetsuit for the second day's fishing.  Not an issue with a dry suit.

I got lucky and found a dry suit on CL that was super cheap.  Here's a hint... search for "gore-tex" or any combination of misspellings, instead of "dry suit."

You might look at some sailing or yachting forums too. The suit I got was used for dingy racing. Thankfully the front zipper drops low enough to be used for relief. 

Here's the advantage of a Kokatat Semi Drysuit.  You stay dry and warm.  If you were wearing a FJ wetsuit you're cold wet the whole day.  The FJ absorbs water and very slow drying.  We kayak fishermen only need a Semi Drysuit (neoprene neck) because we do sit on top fishing on our kayaks.  I always wear my semi drysuit in the ocean. I just check the weather forecast and layer accordingly.  Its not too hard to shed layers in it.  I don't dive so that's a different story.

I don't wear my drysuit on warm days if I am fishing freshwater, my first choice is a paddling jacket and Kokatat Tempest Pants with socks.  If its really warm just wear quick drying clothes.

This is a picture of a rescue I was part of on Aug. 16, 2014.  He was drinking alcohol and wearing rain pants and jacket.  He couldn't get back on his kayak by himself.  When he finally did, his face was pale and almost white.

Whatever you like, wet or dry, take it for a swim and put it to the test

And not in those lake conditions in the pictures

I have a dry suit but the neoprene neck rubs me raw after a full day.  If I'm going for a second day of fishing, I need to wear a mock turtleneck to keep the chaffing down, which will defeat the dry suit's ability to not let water in at the neck. 
The wrist rubber gaskets are so tight, my arms look a bit like Popeye's at the end of the day too. 

The pee zipper is nice, but it's very hard to 'fish' out depending on whatever other layers you have under there.  HA!! 

Here's the advantage of a Kokatat Semi Drysuit.  You stay dry and warm.  If you were wearing a FJ wetsuit you're cold wet the whole day.  The FJ absorbs water and very slow drying.  We kayak fishermen only need a Semi Drysuit (neoprene neck) because we do sit on top fishing on our kayaks.  I always wear my semi drysuit in the ocean. I just check the weather forecast and layer accordingly.  Its not too hard to shed layers in it.  I don't dive so that's a different story.

I don't wear my drysuit on warm days if I am fishing freshwater, my first choice is a paddling jacket and Kokatat Tempest Pants with socks.  If its really warm just wear quick drying clothes.

This is a picture of a rescue I was part of on Aug. 16, 2014.  He was drinking alcohol and wearing rain pants and jacket.  He couldn't get back on his kayak by himself.  When he finally did, his face was pale and almost white.

I like the semi dry for near shore stuff, but if I'm going far I want the dry. I had to wear my angler surf kayaking because the dry top had the neck gasket rip. The angler will not keep you dry in rough conditions or submerged. The feet in my suit were filled with water up to my ankles and every bit of clothing was soaked after a half hour of surfing and one roll. But it's great for most days fishing.

I have the Super Nova Angler paddle suit. I volunteered to help with the self rescue clinic the Marcos and Sean Morely put on at TC. I purposely capsized about 12-15 times including one launch from a standing position. Swimming back to the kayak to re board. Not a drop in the suit at all. Dry.

All you guys complaining of the tight neck or irritation of the neck thing:  On Kokatat suits you're supposed to trim them back with scissors until they are comfortable.  That's what those little rings are for in the rubber (they're not to pleasure your partner ).  They're guides.  Trim off successive rings and keep trying it on until it's right.

I almost exclusively ocean fish.  I love my Kokatat drysuit.  After 20 years of fishing in wet-suits, it was like being released from jail.

All you guys complaining of the tight neck or irritation of the neck thing:  On Kokatat suits you're supposed to trim them back with scissors until they are comfortable.  That's what those little rings are for in the rubber (they're not to pleasure your partner ).  They're guides.  Trim off successive rings and keep trying it on until it's right.

I almost exclusively ocean fish.  I love my Kokatat drysuit.  After 20 years of fishing in wet-suits, it was like being released from jail.

Good point.  I did not know that and because of others who say it is tight I have put off getting one. 

Wherever I paddle my first priority is safety.  I try to minimize risk by preparing for the worst case scenario.  Of course wearing a good PFD all the time is basic to minimize the risk of drowning. What else I wear has the most impact on minimizing the risk of hypothermia in case of extended immersion.  On the salt because of the cold water and the distance from land the potential for hypothermia is high without adequate insulation.  The worst case scenario is going overboard and getting separated from your yak.  Of course there are things you can do to minimize this risk (paddling skills, awareness, paddle leash, etc.) but if it happens the most important factor in avoiding hypothermia is what you are wearing.  From what I have read and seen almost all kayak anglers who wear dry suits have the kind made of thin membrane which provides very little insulation.  Insulation depends on garments worn under the dry suit.  Until I just now read the Wikipedia article on dry suits I was not aware that in some dry suits foamed neoprene is used instead of membrane.  The degree of insulation that such suits provide depends on the thickness of the foamed neoprene.  An additional undersuit usually made of polyester is typically worn even under these suits to increase comfort and insulation.  Does anyone on this board wear a dry suit made of foamed neoprene?  For those who wear a dry suit made of membrane do you wear undergarments that will keep you as warm as a 7mm wetsuit for an extended period of time (say one hour) in case of full immersion?

After years of marinating in my 7mm I purchased a kokatat dry suit... its one of those purchases that "when" you make it... you say to your self "why didn't I do this a long time ago!!!" For me it was the $$$ but finally pulled the trigger and Hell Yeah!!!  My first outing was 6 miles out of Trinidad with Rob to his halibut grounds. I also invested in the fleece undergarment for layering...  With my hands going numb and feeling like I was being choked out(new suits will do that to you until you break them in) I was geared up for the worst...figured if things went south at least I was dressed for it!!! Sunny day burning up sweating my ass off, but I was confident that I would be fine if things were not... well didnt get that Huge ButT but had an awesome adventure that day... thanks Rob!!! Did get some nice waypoints though!!! 

Was told "not" to trim neck by the salesman so I didn't!!! I used a gallon jug overnight to stretch neck, and found different size bottles to stretch the wrists overnight, and after quite a few outings it became comfortable!!! But like Martin suggests and a few other's just splash water on your suit and you cool right down!!! Rather be a little warm than feeding the fishies...best $$$ I ever spent!!! 

What ever your choice is wet or dry "dress for the worst case" because ya never know when that will be!!!