Safety temperature guide

[soakingwet]

Do you chaps use the temperature safety guide?
The one where you add together the temperature of the sea, and the ambient air temperature, in Fahrenheit. If it adds up to 100 or more, you are in the safety limit, below 100 you are at more severe risk.
I see that the channel is now 9C, and some days air temp is 14C, so above the safety limit. The Atlantic is 10C at the other end of the channel, so folkestone will soon be up to 10C and rising.

[soakingwet]

That's a no then...

[essexbuoy]

That's a no then...

Not a very active forum soakingwet, most people seem to go here

http://anglersafloat.proboards107.com/index.cgi?

The example you give is a bit confusing though as you go from farenheit to centigrade and don't show whether or not it reaches 100

Cheers

Steve

[lagachette]

never actually thought of it
Does the measurements takes clothing into consideration?
I guess we're talking safety in case one falls into the water?

http://www.sussexkayakfishing.co.uk/

[soakingwet]

Well I chaged to C just to give the sea temp at the moment. The scale uses F because it's a finer scale, but you could use C.
I saw it on some kayak site, it's a useful guide. It took account of proper clothing, but even with that, in very cold water, you don't last long.
It was intended as a minimum temp that you should use for water sports, so when you add the two together, water and air, it should be a minimum of 100f for reasonable safety.
That's not to say it would be absolutely safe, just a starting point using common sense.
We use it as a guide, and it seems about right.

[Shropfisher]

But how do you factor in wind speed - direction and relationship to tide ? aren't these more important than temp ?

[soakingwet]

But how do you factor in wind speed - direction and relationship to tide ? aren't these more important than temp ?

Yes of course, they are other factors to consider, but temperature is as important I think.
In the summer, you can take a spill and enjoy it, but with a sea temp of 8C, or lower it's a matter of life and death.
Iv'e been in with sea at 8C, and it numbed my head! I had a dry suit on, but have you tried staying in very cold water with a dry suit?
The cold soon comes pressing through, like an icy clamp on your body.
The sea conditions of wind against tide etc are routine things to consider before you go out, the guide I mentioned just helps you to judge wether the sea/air temp is reasonably safe too.

[Dawsie]

very interesting bit of info that soaking wet, what kayak site did you see it in?