Comfortable water temps?

[SkiTundra]

OK, not specific to Nautiques, but... My brother-in-law's wondering if I can bring our boat up to his place for his daughters birthday party on Sunday. Bunch of kids from about 5 - 17 will be there. Water temp is 61 today with air temp projected to be upper 70's on Sunday.

For me this is definitely shorty territory and maybe full wetsuit. Anyone know if these kids will want to be out behind the boat or will it be too cold? Worth it to go get my trailer from storage, load the boat on, and haul it 3 hours up there for 3 or 4 hours of potentially no skiing/boarding?

Thanks,

[AirTool]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

I think it depends on the kids.

If the wind is low and the sky is clear so the radiant heat is there...my kids would be all over it.

They might complain a little....but only when it's not their turn

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

Borderline for kids if you ask me. Some don't care, some won't like it much. Good incentive for them to not crash !! The high 70's air temp will make a huge difference though.
Our lake has been hovering at 68-69 for weeks now. Finally, getting nice weaather this weekend.

[HS]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

Little kids lose heat faster than adults, but as Slayer mentioned, if they're having fun, even blue lipped and shivering, they won't care.

I found a wetsuit guide on line for picking the correct thickness wetsuit for the given water temp. Below 70 I use a full suit w/ 4 mm on the trunk and 3 mm on the limbs. Over 70 and the shorty comes out.

61 is pretty cold. Late May the lake here was 64 and was nice with a full wetsuit.

[AirTool]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

Yea, they probably won't want to just stay neck-deep for long periods. If they are taking turns, the ones that are not in the water should probably were thin suits and dry off with a towel as fast as they can. If it is cloudy and windy, forget it.

We often swim in the Frio River (frio is Spanish for cold) and I've seen my daughter turn blue even with the air temp over 100. She still doesn't want to get out.

[TRO]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

that is freakin' cold. but i usually don't like being in the water unless it is 75 or above. guess i'm just too used to Texas weather.

[Dallas]

RE: Comfortable water temps?

61 is cold, take your breath away cold. My kids are hard like chicken lips, its funny to see them early in the season, all pumped about getting back on the board jump right in and there buddies will try and follow; hit the water like a cat. In and OUT! The 70 degrees outside air temp is not going to make it UNfun for a bunch of wet squids.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

The 70 degrees outside air temp is not going to make it UNfun for a bunch of wet squids.

If the sun is shining and no wind....the squids should dry off as fast as they can to get rid of the evaporative cooling.

If it is cloudy and windy....forget it for sure.

[SkiTundra]

RE: Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

Thanks for everyone's input. I think I'm leaning towards skipping the boat for this weekend and maybe take it up there sometime later in the year after things warm up a bit.

Thanks again!

[SkiTundra]

RE: Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

Interesting chart. Is this the one you were looking at HS?

http://waterski.about.com/od/wetsuit...tsuit_temp.htm

[HS]

RE: Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

The one I had referenced before was similar to this one.

http://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/imag...ck-ref_lrg.gif

I need to correct my original post. My full is a 3mm:2mm O'neill Epic. Same thickness for the kids' full suits. The shorties are 2mm.

[saceone]

RE: Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

water is 60F and I have been trunk'ing it for the past 2 weeks.

[MichaelD]

RE: Re: RE: Comfortable water temps?

When the water is 58-64 dF, I'll be in a full wetsuit (or possibly dry suit). Kids won't complain as much though.