TA Meeting In water training (pic)

[CAPT KUJO]

wanted to thank all those that participated in the COLD WATER SURVIVAL WORKSHOP you all look pretty comfortable in sub 50 degree water


Anybody need [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] ??


CAPT KUJO

[Hookset]

Is this a new technique for float fishing?

Brrrrr, that looks cold.

How long can a person survive in sub 50 degree water in a suit like that and is the suit bouyant enough to keep a person afloat for hours? Or are these hearty volunteers wearing a PFD?

Gregg

[skein]

All we had to do was stick our hands down into the water to understand what would have been happening to our bodies without those suits. The difference was incredible.

Thanks Capt K and Dolphinlynn, for bringing ALL that equipment and giving us a chance to learn about and experience cold water survival.

DipSeaDiver and I will DEFINITELY be adding your suits to our stock of necessary safety equipment before spring.

By the way, we have dived in 37 degree water before - in wet suits - so we know the difference. Jeans or rain gear in 50 or 60 degree water? No thanks!

Good product, Capt Kujo, and good info at the presentation. Thanks again! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Skein

[Bait O' Eggs]

That photo is the one reason I would have liked to attend the TA meeting

Thinking hard about purchasing a dry suits this year. Getting the chance to get wet in one would have been educational.

[OceanBlue]

KJ - Recommendation: Set up a factory tour and fitting session. They will come. (I know we will).

Folks: Look at the pics again. Notice where everyone has their hands? Lemme tell ya, after being in the water for just a few minutes, my hands barely worked. Imagine your whole body being subjected to that cold. Every other part of my body was warm and dry. I think I could have floated in 43 degree water for days, no sweat.

KJ & Dolphinlynn, thanks again for taking the time and effort to put on the class and do the dunk test. It was fabulous. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

[skein]

There is no doubt that DipSeaDiver and I will have a pair of those suits. My only delimma is what to tell my passengers who only have raingear and a pfd.

Hey, Rod, maybe you should retell that story of when you went in the drink and how long it took for you to unravel.

Skein

[Pilar]

KJ, Thanks for the education on cold water survival. Most of us understand on some level that the Ocean here where we fish is a killer. Most of us are counting on not going for a swim as our survival plan. Most of us know that wearing a PFD in the open ocean is little more than settling the insurance claim and does almost nothing for survival. But I have to tell you that knowing it and experiencing it are 2 very different stories.

About 95% of me was toasty and dry while bobbing around in the harbor. The part that got the cold water was numb and after about 5 minutes I lost all feeling in my hands. It was bad enough to make gripping anything impossible.

I can't even imagine what it would be like in just what most of us wear when we are 30+ miles offshore.

I'll be stopping by the St Helens facility, Kim to get fitted. Do you have Red/White/Blue with reflective tape on the shoulders?

One more question ... what is the difference between your survival dry suit and what a diver wears? Is it just the relief valve and fill line? Can you put together something that will do both jobs?

[OceanBlue]

Skein - I think the best thing to tell them is that having a survival suit (such as Rockit Wear) is highly recommended for anyone who is going to spend even a moderate amount of time on the ocean here. Recommend they take KJ's class before hitching a ride so they understand the risks.

Personal safety is a personal choice.

Personally, make mine Rockit Wear!

[corrirod]

Just a brief(long :grin: ) personal story.

I was crabbing in the bay about 6 years ago with a person who had no real boating experience. It was February and it was in Yaquina Bay.

I had a different boat back then that had a swimstep on the back. I can't remember exactly how I ended up back there on the step but I did. I proceeded to use my gaff to grab a crab buoy going by and missed it. About a second after telling my buddy I missed it, he proceeds to put the accelerator to the floor which sends me off the back of the boat immediately!

Now, this is a blustery February day. I'm wearing about 3 layers of clothes, including thermals, raingear, and....................cowboy boots!!
After all, I'm just crabbing right? No need to get all decked out right? I'm only in the bay so I don't need to wear a pfd right? [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

I was treading water before I even hit the water! I used to wear glasses and was wearing a hat that day and neither got wet! :shocked: Jesus had nothing on me that day!

Well, as I watched my boat go speeding away down the bay, my first thought was, "This ain't so bad. No problem." Within a minute the cold water started to absorb into my clothes and down my boots.........and it was cold! Immediately I gained about 50+lbs and now all of a sudden it wasn't as easy to keep my head above water.

Just a little history before I continue: I have been swimming since I was just a little kid. I lived in Arizona thru most of my youth so I swam on almost a daily basis. I've done umpteen hundreds of scuba dives and I feel I'm pretty well versed in proper swimming/treading/survival techniques.

To continue, and to coincide with the presentation Captn Kujo gave, I was experiencing Cold Water Shock. Immediately my body was freezing and I could hardly breathe. Within just a minute I had gone from complete confidence to thinking this is very, very, very bad.

By the time my friend had started making the turn to come back and get me I was struggling to keep my head above water(Swimming failure) and those <explicative here> cowboy boots were not helping at all!!! As the boat started to approach me I could tell he was going way too fast so I began to try and yell to him some instructions on what to do..............BUT I COULDN'T SPEAK!!!!! The cold water had taken all my breath away and I was completely unable to speak.

Fortunately when I fell off the back of the boat I was able to keep ahold of the gaff. As the boat flew past me I was able to shove the gaff out of the water and my friend caught it as he went by and proceeded to drag me thru the water for about 30 yards. It was all he could do to help me get up onto the back of the boat as my body was so weak there was no way I could've climbed up by myself.

If he had missed me and had to go turn around again and come back I'm not so sure I would've been able to stay afloat! At the time he grabbed my gaff I was thinking that if he missed I was not going to make it.

The truth of Kujo's presentation is 110%. I heard rumblings of folks that might have thought this was just a selling class and not really a class on how to survive but until you've been in sub 50 degree water without the correct equipment YOU HAVE NO IDEA! Was Kujo trying to sell you a suit? OF COURSE because he makes the solution to your survival needs.

Reality is, that if you fall into the north Pacific with no safety equipment, you are going to die very quickly. I fell in the bay, imagine falling into the ocean with 3-5 ft. swells and chop. If your crew can't locate you very quickly, you will die. A pfd will keep you afloat so you if you lose your swimming ability you will still float. This will give your crew time to recover you however, if your boat goes down and you're all in the water with just a pfd, you are going to die very quickly.

The whole presentation was given so YOU CAN MAKE THE DECISION. You are not required to have dry suits, you have the option. Not all of us can afford these suits, and that includes me, but I'm telling you right now I'm saving my money for one.

Reel Creel tried one of the suits and after hearing my story was curious to know how well he would do if put in the same situation. I'll make everyone the same offer I made him. If you want to see just how fast YOUR body shuts down, I'd be glad to go with you out on the water and you can jump right in and I'll pull you out when you feel you're ready to get out. Just let me know when and I'll make arrangements to have several people around to help.

We all take risks when we go out on the water and there is NO WAY to avoid them all. This presentation was strictly there to show you ONE way to avoid one of the risks of dying at sea. YOU have to decide if it's worth the money or not.

I am not being paid or compensated by Kujo for my endorsement, but after jumping in with his suit he has it. Regardless of whose suit it is, a dry suit will provide you with the ultimate survival tool when you fall/jump in the water.

[ 01-26-2004, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: corrirod ]

[Tuna Tom]

First of all, what a great weekend! Thanks to Corrirod and Capt. Kujo and the Coast Guard for making it such a great time. OK...the Rogue Brewery helped a little as well.

I just want to back up Corrirod's post.

Some people may have thought there was in part a sell job in the presentation, but frankly, having fallen into 38 degree water my self I was their to learn how to survive. Captain Kujo has fallen in as well. I believe if you've ever been dumped into cold water you can not "sell" enough that you will not survive the experience out in the ocean...you just won't.

Personally, my friend and I, were on a blown out river where we shouldn't have been during a spring melt. Upon checking out the temperature after my experience, I found out it was 38 degress. At anyrate we dumped. Here is the purpose of my story. When you dump in 38 degree water your body IMMEDIATELY goes into survival mode and closes up any hole that may lead into your body. That includes your throat. The instant I was in, I tried to encourage my friend to hold on. What I specifically said was "gug..gug!" I couldn't talk! I had absolutely NO control. Later that day, when finally near a phone, the first thing I did was call up my family and inform them that I was still alive even though they had no idea how close they had come to me being just a memory.

Sell job?...Frankly, what ever it takes to keep us alive. I was already sold on the need. I found it interesting to learn that I was correct in my assumption that the "survival suit" I already own is a bust. I also can't afford to just run out and buy one, but you know what...I'll be wearing one this spring, because my boys and wife can't afford for me not to be around.

A thought...I realize $20.00 coupons were generously handed out, but I wonder if an Ifish deal couldn't be struck if we ALL purchased them at the same time? Perhaps, as suggested we could all show up at St. Helens one day.

[ 01-26-2004, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: Tuna Tom ]

[FullDeck]

I'm sold on the need for the suit. Wearing one of those suits is the only way I ever want to see my wife in the water. Thanks for the great (scary)story Rod, and thanks for the solution Capn Kujo. If a group arrangement can bring down the cost a little, so much the better. I really feel humbled and grateful for all this safety info. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]
Btw, it was great meeting so many of you at the TA meet.
FD (Walt)

[Bait O' Eggs]

I have known I need something to help ensure I get home to read bedtime stories to the kid. [img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img]

I wanted to go to USIA last week to pick up my exotherm I fleece liner, but was told Lana was the drysiut expert and I should stop by on one of the days she is working which did not match up last week with my schedule.

I think on Wednesday of this week, I will try to get some of my questions answered as Lana will be at USIA and I am going to sneak out of work early. :grin:

Questions like:

1. how confining are these suits,
2. how hot are these suits to fish in,
3. how long do they take to put on should I decide to just have it in the boat for the incase situation,
4. can I put it on in the water or is that impossible,
5. can I put it on in less than a minute if the boat is going down,
6. does the coming in thru the shoulder access take 2 men and a small boy to get it on and zipped up
7. do they tear easily
8. How long will this last me
9, 10 ,11 ........????????

I have never had or handled a dry suit and I think putting one on, feeling the material, walking around the show room will answer most of my questions.

I sure wish I could have made this in the water survival class :depressed:

[R Jackson]

BOE, I have four USIA drysuits. I'll answer your questions based on my experience and add a few points.

1) Burp the air out and they are very form
fitting.
2) They do get warm, even hot, on nice days, but it depends on what you are wearing underneath.
3) About the same as a pair of chest waders,+/-.
4) Don't think its possible.
5) Don't think that's possible either. They are
designed to be worn.
6) No, you can do it yourself.
7) They are surprisingly tough and can be
repaired.
8) That would depend on use and I am hard on mine
9) Consider adding suspenders to them.
10)Add a relief zipper (fly).
11)Ask about Bioflex in the crotch.
12)Consider adding an external pocket on each leg
13)Double the butt and knee/shin material.

[corrirod]

Roy,

I'd be up for a run out to the factory if you go. I tried on a heavy duty version during the class and would like to try again with one of the lighter versions.

Kim has the ability to add/subtract any feature you want. Longer/shorter/tighter/looser/more pockets/less pockets/heavy/lite/self dawning/etc..

Let me know if/when you want to go and I'll split the gas.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Thanks for the pointers RJ, hadnt thought about customizing them. That relief addition sounds like a good deal, the ol bladder isnt what it use to be. :blush:

Rod, I am headed out on Wednesday unless something big comes up, I already talked to Lana @ USIA today and told her I was coming. I will be leaving Gladstone area around 3:30 headed thru Portland out HWY 30. Email me if you want to hook up and ride along. Thanks for the gas offer but I burn Diesel :tongue: I am going either way so if you want to ride along its on me.

I see a few drysuits for sale on ebay, but not any port midget sizes

[skein]

BOE and Pilar,

DipSeaDiver was wearing her USIA dive suit on Saturday, and Kim said he could fix her up with a cover (?) for the inlet valve and that it would work. So I guess you could get one that would double as a dive suit and survival suit. Since the difference in price is around $500, there must be considerable modifications to bring it up to a dive-capable suit.

She also told me she didn't want to see her dive outfit all slathered up with tuna blood and various fish scales, so I think we're going to buy her some RockitWear - only let her use her exotherm's for either. I tell ya, I'm too good to that woman.

Skein

[CAPT KUJO]

Hey thanks for all the nice comments! Dolphinlyn and I had a great time. Sounds like everyone got something out of the Cold Water Survival Workshop. Hope we can do it again and educate more ifishers. I'm glad you guys realize I don't make a living selling dry suits to fishermen, just trying to educate the general public so they can make an informed decision. I'll see some of you at USIA soon.
CAPT KUJO