Recommendation for dry pants?

[ezwater]

Don't drink beer until after you paddle.

[gumpy]

Drydeck? is that different than a spray skirt? please excuse my ignorance...

[the great gonzo]

My other, more random, comment, is that if you are a decked boater, and have not tried a drydeck, you really should. I'm glad I have mine, and wish I had purchased it years earlier...even though I paid more for it than a lot of my boats!

A word of caution about drydecks (combination of drytop with the sprayskirt attached to it).
While they are undoubtedly the dryiest solution as long as attached to the boat, I would be cautious about using them for cold water paddling, unless it's a very controlled park and play situation with the vehicle nearby. The reason is that, idf one swims in a drydeck, the water will, due to the loose fit around the waist, enter the deck freely. There was a case in Europe last year where a pro-boater died on a glacier fed creek in the alps, and is death was at least in part attributed to him waring a drydeck and drypants, which allowed freezingcold water to enter once he was out of the boat,. rendering him hypothermic in a short period of time. Cold water paddling is drysuit time for me!

TGG!

[Sir Adam]

Thank you GG for pointing that out - it's all about dressing responsibly (assume you may swim regardless of your skill level or comfort with where you are paddling) and figure out what is acceptable.

For my local known runs the drydeck works great (drytop (short or long sleeve) is integral with the skirt) for most paddling weather (accept when it's too hot, or icy (more on that below). I wear "warm stuff" that will remain warm(ish) when wet underneath, and may pack extra clothes depending on the day, just in case I swim. But with this combo I'm also boating in water / air conditions that a swim would be uncomfortable, not deadly.

For COLD (ice) conditions, I revert to the Whirlpool Bib and drytop combination I mentioned earlier in my post. I've done a few Jan. and Feb runs (end of March is normally ice-out, but sometimes we get a good thaw earlier for a week), and wouldn't wear anything other than a drysuit. Even then it's best to be very cautious, as your warm head in freezing water can be very, very dangerous.

[Georgia Stu]

Yes Augusta Georgia,.... I was there a few weeks ago and it was real nice then 88f every day....although i am sure it will have cooled down by now....

Paddling would be a great idea ....

I am only there for a day or two midweek on business in Grovetown.... I imagine you guys will be hard at work in the week?

If not then maybe we can get something fixed up...If so I will have to arrange a longer trip next time....

Wetnobby and Scott - I can potentially paddle during the week. I have a busy but somewhat flexible schedule. It'll just depend on the day. And of course also on Scott showing us the Saluda run since I've never done it!

Crazy that you are coming from the UK to Grovetown!

[wetnobby]

Yes...UK to Grovetown...!!
And it gets better this time, business should be done and dusted by Thursday night.
I then have all day Friday & Saturday free to paddle..

Scott tells me he has a Spanish Fly I can use and the Saluda may be on for the Saturday...

[sbroam]

E-mails sent to both of you. Move over Costa Rica, the Saluda is teh new international paddling destination.