Dan Foster

I'd like to join the L3 group.

Here are a few photos from last night's session.

I'm looking forward to meeting some more of you tonight. I'm bringing some marker buoys and plan to work on turns and reverse figure-eights. I'll bring a waterproof camera.

How to leak-test a drysuit:

I use a vacuum-sealed remote control in my PFD when I bring a bow-mounted action camera out in the surf. Works great, and no leaks! If it was really expensive, I might seal the sealed item in a second vacuum bag. I don't see any reason why a GPS or radio wouldn't mind being sealed up - they don't generate heat that needs to be dissipated. I wouldn't seal or bag something that had a fan, heatsink, or cooling vents. If you're worried about dampness, they make indicating dessicant that changes color when exposed to moisture. Or you can seal some dry rice against the backside of your VHF and it will absorb any moisture that works its way into the bag. The lack of vacuum seal at the end of a paddle should alert you to a leak.

Thanks again for the suggestions, and especially the introduction to http://www.mythicdrysuits.com/ - I took the plunge.

I appreciate all of the responses and the cautions that all of this is relatively subjective. I would, however, benefit from hearing some observations about drysuit usage by month in various places along the coast where some of you have extensive local knowledge, along the lines of: "At our surf sessions at Hampton Beach, NH, most paddlers are in drysuits until May, and resume wearing them in late September. Nobody wears them in July and August." (I made these observations up for the example...) A drysuit is a big $ investment, and at this point I simply don't have the data to decide if it makes sense to buy one, or to rent one for specific trips. I did find this table, listing monthly average sea surface temperature for a dozen locations in our region: http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/dsdt/cwtg/all_meanT.html

I was referring to the water temperature. For example, both of these links recommend drysuits for water temperatures below 55 degrees: http://www.nspn.org/forum/topic/9344-water-temperatures/ http://www.paddleboston.com/advice/dressforcoldwater.php

To date, most of my paddling has been in the relatively-warmer waters of Boston Harbor, the South Shore, and Nantucket Sound. and have limited my paddling to months where I can wear a farmer john wetsuit and dry top. I'll be venturing further north this year, and am considering purchasing a drysuit. I'd appreciate hearing what you consider to be "drysuit season", particularly for Casco Bay and for Cape Ann and the North Shore. Many paddlers consider 55 degrees to be the transition temperature - is there a chart somewhere listing typical sea temperatures on a monthly basis at paddling locations in our area?