Question:

I’m not the master chemist, but it seems to me that this would be difficult.  The stuff you use to keep your hands warm is something like cayenne pepper, and it works by stimulation the flow of blood.

Many of the hand warmers available today are actually little packets of iron filings, common salt, and activated charcoal (and perhaps some secret ingredient, "X") which work by an exothermic high speed oxidation of the iron.  In other words, they really do produce a significant amount of heat…..it isn’t merely a matter of fooling the nerves in your fingers or toes. As for something that reacts with water, magnesium powder would do that.

Not sure about this one.  I used to mess around with magnesium as a kid and never saw any kind of reaction to water (other than noting that even large quantities of snow will not extinguish the stuff once ignited!). Sodium, on the other hand, reacts spectacularly when it gets wet.  Do NOT try this one at home boys and girls! Wolfgang

Response:

If you don

Question:

Ernie, I think you forgot the most important thing! The FLIES!! Or do you plan on catching your own while fishing? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Over the years I have learned there are several things in addition to flies I want in my vest .  If you are new to fly-fishing you can look them over for suggestions, or you may want to suggest things you don’t find on mine. 1.      Crusher type water resistant hat. 2.      Duct tape for patching waders 3.      Fly Floatant. 4.      Fly line cleaner 5.      Forceps. 6.      Hook sharpener. 7.      Knot tier (Blood Knot Machine). 8.      Leader straightener. 9.      Leaders. 10.     Mosquito repellant 11.     Polarized glasses 12.     Sinkers (wrap on) 13.     Small 110 camera. 14.     Small first aid kit. (with aspirin) 15.     Small flashlight. 16.     Spool of tippet material. 17.     Stream thermometer 18.     Strike indicators 19.     Swiss pocket knife with scissors. 20.     Tippet cutter with hook eye cleaner. 21.     Toilet paper. 22.     Waterproof pancho (lightweight).

– Doug Knight                                     metalfab<atpacbell.net Junk e-mail, solicitation, sales, products and services gladly accepted at $500.00 per mailing and billed directly to your ISP.

Response:

Over the years I have learned there are several things in addition to flies I want in my vest .  If you are new to fly-fishing you can look them over for suggestions, or you may want to suggest things you don’t find on mine.

                        EDITED VEST ITEMS BY A PRO! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – 1.      Crusher type water resistant hat. (Wide Brimmed Western Hat) 3.      Fly Floatant.    Gehrke’s Gink 4.      Fly line cleaner    Gehrke’s PZ Fly Line Cleaner 5.      Forceps.    Not needed with Barbless Hooks 6.      Hook sharpener. 8.      Leader straightener.  (PULL HARD then relax slowly) 9.      Leaders.    Hand tied of course. 10.     Mosquito repellant  (Famous Grouse) 11.     Polarized glasses    (Blue and Yellow) 12.     Sinkers (wrap on)    Gehrke’s XINK Wet Fly Dressing 13.     Small 110 camera.    Water Proof 14.     Small first aid kit. (with aspirin)  and a flask of booze 15.     Small flashlight.    (Water Proof) 16.     Spool of tippet material.  (Make this plural) 17.     Stream thermometer    (Only if you have a diary) 18.     Strike indicators    argggggggggggggggggggggggggh! 19.     Swiss pocket knife with scissors. 20.     Tippet cutter with hook eye cleaner. 21.     Toilet paper.        (Inside a Zip Lock Bag) 22.     Waterproof pancho (lightweight).

    23  A Box of Dry Flies     24  A box of Wet Flies     25  A box of Nymphs     26  A box of Streamers     27  A bottle of KNOT-PERFECT — Doug Knight                                     metalfab<atpacbell.net Junk e-mail, solicitation, sales, products and services gladly accepted at $500.00 per mailing and billed directly to your ISP.

– George Gehrke All Writings

Question:

        I got tired of catching the regular fish we had around here so I asked a friend what we could do about getting in some different species. He said that he had been to Arkansas and up there they planted trout. I called the Fish and Game people and they were more than happy to send me some baby rainbows. Now, here’s the problem….         I keep planting them and they keep dying. I asked my buddy about it and he thinks we’re planting them too deep. My thought is…maybe our soil ain’t right. ps. Would fish meal be a good fertilizer? Why aren’t you fishing? Da’ Capt

Response:

YOU GOT IT RIGHT!  They are definitely planted too deep.  Also, maybe browns would work better? Ed BTW – forget it!

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All hatchery trout should be planted, preferably in dirt. — Ernie Harrison Remove NOSPAM to send E-Mail Selling my Fly Fishing Books Go to: http://users.ccnet.com/~emh – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – YOU GOT IT RIGHT!  They are definitely planted too deep.  Also, maybe browns would work better? Ed BTW – forget it!

Response:

Are you planting the heads UP or DOWN ???? Bill – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –         I got tired of catching the regular fish we had around here so I asked a friend what we could do about getting in some different species. He said that he had been to Arkansas and up there they planted trout. I called the Fish and Game people and they were more than happy to send me some baby rainbows. Now, here’s the problem….         I keep planting them and they keep dying. I asked my buddy about it and he thinks we’re planting them too deep. My thought is…maybe our soil ain’t right. ps. Would fish meal be a good fertilizer? Why aren’t you fishing? Da’ Capt

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Question:

Does anyone know of any programs etc etc or web pages that talk about fly hatches… when they start etc..for pacific northwest or b.c. canada….any info would be appreciated…thanks.

Response:

I have a page listing general hatch info for western Montana. go to http://www.montana.com/dno/info.htm to view it. Hope this helps. Does anyone know of any programs etc etc or web pages that talk about fly hatches… when they start etc..for pacific northwest or b.c. canada….any info would be appreciated…thanks.

– Brian D. Nelson Diamond N Outfitters, Missoula, Montana http://www.montana.com/dno/dno.htm

Response:

Last weekend, I went to Wales near river Usk  and try to play fry fishing for  salmon. At that time  I heard that spring salmon don’t try to eat  flys, just try to bite being gotten angry. Is it true ?

Response:

Last weekend, I went to Wales near river Usk  and try to play fry fishing for  salmon. At that time  I heard that spring salmon don’t try to eat  flys, just try to bite being gotten angry. Is it true ?

Spawning salmon don’t have much of an appetite, but will strike at annoyances, like a crazy bug darting in front of its snout every 10 seconds or so… B

Response:

Last weekend, I went to Wales near river Usk  and try to play fry fishing for  salmon. At that time  I heard that spring salmon don’t try to eat  flys, just try to bite being gotten angry. Is it true ?

Not many Spring (ie early-running) Salmon in the Usk these days – runs are getting later.  Any that do enter the river this early are likely to be 10-12 lbs and they won’t spawn until December.  There just isn’t enough food for them to "feed" for 8 months. There are lots of reasons why Atlantic Salmon might take.  Hugh Falkus, the best UK salmon fisherman / writer for me, suggested: feeding habit, aggression, curiosity, irritation, inducement and playfulness. He gives a brilliant description of playfulness, observed from a high bank, when a fish intercepted a worm, did a quick figure-of-eight around it and then drifted downstream with the worm in its open mouth, never touching it, whilst doing swivels and tail-stands like a seal with a ball…! — Phil Jones Swansea, South Wales

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Question:

I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

Hi Guy, I don’t know if there is a best fly or not rather they may very well be favorite fly. For me my favorite steelhead fly is the green butt skunk. — Tight Lines Al Beatty BT’s Fly Fishing Products Bozeman, MT (97 materials catalog) http://www.flyshop.com/Expo/Specialty/BTsPdcts/index.html

Response:

I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

Response:

I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

 The Popsicle’s  are  great fly patterns . This may sound weird but I like to throw a Purple Muddler (wt). I have not fished B.C. , but I would not be surprised if most patterns that work here in Cal./Oregan/Washington would produce in BC . I’m affraid that FF’ing for SH in my neck of the woods is kaput. We are  in a major flood stage and will be blown out for weeks, months. Oh well… back to the bench….   Harry

Response:

The best fly is the one that the fish are taking at that particular day, time, and body of water.  Fishing conditions can change instantly during winter fishing season on the West Coast.  You will need a variety of patterns from bright and flashy to dark and subdued.  Steelhead fishing is a challenging prospect.   Good Luck Jeff

Response:

I am starting to stealhead fish this winter and need to know what the best fly would be.  I fish in the B.C. area.

Trey Combs, in his book "Steelhead Fishing and Flies" gives3 lists of flies for BC streams. Karl Mausser’s list (for the Kispiox, Babine, Bulkley and Morice Rivers, all Skeena tributaries) is:         1. Kispiox Special         2. Sack Fly (a Burlap with an orange hackle tail)         3. Black Beauty         4. Skykomish Sunrise         5. McLeod Ugly Bucktail         6. Royal Coachman A Morice and Bulkley guide lists these as favorites:         1. Van Luven         2. Wooly Worm         3. Burlap         4. Stillaguamish Sunrise         5. Orange Optic         7. Skykomish Sunrise A Northwest fly seller gives this list as their top ten over a 37 year period:         1. Skunk         2. Royal Coachman Bucktail         3. Umpqua Special         4. Kalama Special         5. Skykomish Sunrise         6. Fall Favorite         7. Golden Demon         8. Spruce         9. Thor         10. Silver Hilton A couple of other good performing flies are Purple Peril and Green Butted Skunk. Tight Lines, -Burton

Response:

The best fly of course is the one that is in the river on the end of your line. For a start, check out either of Trey Combs books ( eg. Steelhead Flyfishing and Flys) from your local library. My favorite fly is a Brad’s Brat (bright fly) or a Purple Peril (dark). Bart Phillips

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Question:

Anyone know how to calculate the age of the moon for a given date, lat and lon? Don Wise

Response:

Anyone know how to calculate the age of the moon for a given date, lat and lon? Don Wise

There is a shareware (i believe) progran called ‘earthwatch’ (ew.com). It is a dos program that displays the a map of the earth, time zones, positions of the sun and moon.  you can specify a point on the earth (lat, lon) and the day and time, and the screen will display the positions of the sun and moon, phase, etc.  If you would like a copy, email me, and i will forward (assuming your email supports binary transfers.) Brent copyright  Brent Borg 1996.  Microsoft Network is prohibited from redistributing this work in any form, in whole or in part, without license. License to distribute this work is available to Microsoft at $500. Transmission without permission constitutes an  agreement to these terms.

Response:

Anyone know how to calculate the age of the moon for a given date, lat and lon?

The Fish ‘N Time Watch by Casio is excellent. TimW

Response:

Anyone know how to calculate the age of the moon for a given date, lat and lon? Don Wise

You might want to try the news group "sci.astro.amateur" I’m sure they can help. Jerry

Response:

Anyone know how to calculate the age of the moon for a given date, lat and lon? Don Wise

The Old Farmer’s Almanac also has information about many weather/atmosphere related topics including moon information. They can be reached at http://www.almanac.com Check their menu listing "heavenly bodies". Best Regards,          Trent Roberson            Rx F Fish  For Your Good Health, Fly Fish URL=http://www.xnet.com/~rxffish

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Question:

i am taking a friend on a flyfishing vacation starting july 27. we are leaving from sacramento and will probably head to the upper sac. or maybe the mcloud the first day. eventually we’ll end up at the deschutes river, but what we do between the 2 areas is undecided. suggestions for waters to fish would be gratefully welcome. thanks a million in advance          greg

Response:

Greg, I have some advice on eastern Oregon lakes on my site, and The Scarlet Ibis Fly Shop has some more content re: Oregon.  Hit their tip archives.  You can get to all of this at the URL below.  The lakes are liable to be off, though, the way temperatures have been.  Why not try the upper McKenzie, after the Rogue? i am taking a friend on a flyfishing vacation starting july 27. we are leaving from sacramento and will probably head to the upper sac. or maybe the mcloud the first day. eventually we’ll end up at the deschutes river, but what we do between the 2 areas is undecided. suggestions for waters to fish would be gratefully welcome. thanks a million in advance          greg

– Greg Metcalfe            |  Affordable Web Development http://www.proaxis.com   |  IE or Netscape 3.0

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Question:

I NEED INDIVID’S WILLING TO USE THEIR TALENTS TO REFURBISH THE THE LATE                                           1) THE POOL IS COLLAPSED ON ONE SIDE—–NEED AN ENGIE TYPE WILLING TO SWAP FISHING FOR HIS OPINION.                                                        2) THE CESTE FOR FRESH WATER IS IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR.                                                       JOIN MAJOR SALTWATER FLYFISHING LEGENDS FOR A WEEKEND OF YOUR CHOICE AND HELP US RE-ESTABLISH THE BANG-BANG CLUB AS THE BEST BONEFISHING DESTINATION IN THE                                       PEACE,   CAPT. RAHE                                                          305-293-8088

Response:

I NEED INDIVID’S WILLING TO USE THEIR TALENTS TO REFURBISH THE THE LATE                                           1) THE POOL IS COLLAPSED ON ONE SIDE—–NEED AN ENGIE TYPE WILLING TO SWAP FISHING FOR HIS OPINION.                                                        2) THE CESTE FOR FRESH WATER IS IN NEED OF MAJOR REPAIR.                                                       JOIN MAJOR SALTWATER FLYFISHING LEGENDS FOR A WEEKEND OF YOUR CHOICE AND HELP US RE-ESTABLISH THE BANG-BANG CLUB AS THE BEST BONEFISHING DESTINATION IN THE

Hey, "Capt." Rahe, Your previous two posts show you to be an a–hole (not surprising considering the aol address) and furthermore, see that little key labeled "caps lock" over to the left on your keyboard? TURN IT OFF!!! David B.

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Question:

I’d like to her from someone in each State:  What are the water access laws in your State?  Doesn’t need to be long, but concise would be nice. Email or post.  Colorado is exempt from this request, as I already know. Thanx. –Chris

Response:

As far as Maine goes, water access is not very clear.  There is not one set of laws that cover rivers, lakes, great ponds, and their flowages.  The state owns the land under a Great Pond (10 acres if natural, 30 acres if man-made) and you have the right to cross private, undeveloped land to get access – IF you cross by foot for the purposes of fishing or fowling. No vehicles, no mechanical aids (wheels under a canoe are out), etc.  Developed land includes fields planted with commercial crops, so you can’t cross a wheat or corn field to get to the pond either. You also have the right to canoe any navigable water.  Navigable means it can float a log.  The right does NOT include access to the bottom of the river, nor does it include the right to go around obstructions like waterfalls – even if you stay below the high water mark. Fly fisherman cannot by law walk up any stream bed they choose – even if the water is navigable.  Canoeist cannot legally get out of their canoe and line, jump on a rock, or wade through a shallow – although this is not enforced anywhere I know of. Dams and their flowages are owned by the dam owner, and they can post them no tresspass, so you cannot walk around the dam to get access to the river below. Most do not, and on popular runs, the dam owners either provide, or let volunteer groups maintain portage paths around the dam to avoid indiscriminate damage to their property.  The legal liability of this access may cause more dam owners to post their property in the future.   Many people in the state operate under the position that anything under the high water mark in a river is fair game and that you can carry around obstacles.  This is not the case (according to the Parks and Recreation office) and you are trespassing when you do this.  Maine land owners are fairly tolerant of canoeists however, and so we get away with this. The laws that are in affect in Maine are a conglomeration of multiple colonial ordinances that are still in affect since the time when Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, something called the "Great Pond Act" and various court rulings over the years.   I have asked the reference librarian at the state law library for help.  If I get any better clarification on this I’ll let you know. Regards, -Tim

Response:

This would probably be better answered by someone with more law knowledge than me, but I haven’t seen anyone answer for California so I thought I’d post what I know.  I seem to remember that the there was a major legal battle concerning public access along the South Fork of the American in California (sometime in the late 70’s?).  The private land owners along some sections of it actually tried to get river rafting completely banned from the river.  The result of the long and ugly battle was that the South Fork of the American was considered a navigatable waterway and therefore the private owners cannot restrict boating traffic on the river.  Rafters also legally have access to land up to the high water mark.  Despite the legal rights of boaters to be there, the section of river with most of the populated private property (ie. nice riverfront houses) has been designated as a "quiet zone".  In the "quiet zone", boaters are supposed to speak in normal conversation and not yell or have waterfights.  Also, out of respect to the landowners, boaters are supposed to choose state owned lands for lunch spots (and their are plenty of adequate places to stop that are not privately owned). Unfortunately I have no idea what the access laws are in Pennsylvania (the state where I currently live). Lori

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So far I have: Colorado New Mexico California Arkansas Main Keep them coming.  This important information. –Chris

Response:

Here’s a quick summary of the Arkansas Access situation. From……Arkansas Riparian Boundaries           Richard L. Elgin and David R. Knowles           Surveying and Mapping, Vol. 44, No. 1, 1984, pp. 39-57      "Until the recent decision of State v. McIlroy (268 Ark. 227) (1980), the Arkansas navigability criteria rested on the watercourse’s commercial viability.      In State v. McIlroy, supra, the definition and commerce test for navigability was broadened to include recreational use. The case concerns the navigability of the Mulberry River, a favorite with canoeists, McIlroy, owner of land on both sides of the Mulberry River, sought a lower court ruling that he be declared the owner of the bed of the Mulberry River since the river was nonnavigable. The defendants were the Ozark Society, a conservationist group, and two companies that rent canoes for use on the Mulberry. The defendants generally claimed that the Mulberry was a navigable stream, but that even if the court found otherwise, a public easement in the Mulberry should be recognized.      The lower court found that the Mulberry River was nonnavigable, that the McIlroys owned it as riparian property owners, and that they could prevent the public from using the stream (the McIlroys owning both sides).      The State, the Ozark Society, and one of the canoe companies appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court." From the record:      The facts presented prove that the Mulberry River at the point in question is capable of recreational use and has been used extensively for recreational uses. We must now decide whether such a stream is navigable.      While navigation in fact is widely regarded as the proper test of navigability…it is a test which should not be applied too literally… Arkansas has adopted a standard definition of navigability. Lutesville Sand & Gravel Co. v. McLaughlin, supra. The test, which was similiar to the general test used by the federal courts, defines navigability in terms of a river’s potential for commercial usefulness; that is whether the water could be used to remove the products of the surrounding land to another place…      Therefore, a river is legally navigable if actually navigable and actually navigable if commercially valuable. (The court predicted that the waters of the state would be used to a much greater extent for recreational purposes than they were at the time of the decision (1915). The court observed that since that time no case had been before them that "involved the public’s right to use a stream which has recreational value, but lacks commercial adaptability in the traditional sense." The Court said the Arkansas definition was "remnant of the steamboat era.") Concluding, the majority decision concerning the navigability of the Mulberry, the Court said:      Arkansas, as most states in their infancy, was mostly concerned with river traffic by steamboats or barges when cases like Lutesville, supra, were decided. We have had no case regarding recreational use of waters such as the Mulberry. It may be that our decisions did or did not anticipate such use of streams which are suitable, as the Mulberry is, for recreational use. Such use would include flatbottomed boats for fishing and canoes for floating – or both. There is no doubt that the segment of the Mulberry River that is involved in this lawsuit can be used for a substantial portion of the year for recreational purposes. Consequently, we hold that it is navigable at that place with all the incidental rights of that determination. In follow up, this case set the precedent which almost every paddler in the state knows about and several carry copies of the ruling in their shuttle rigs, however, there still remains landowners weilding guns, who insist on the respect of their ownership. As with many other states paddlers here backdown, avoiding confrontation many times. Currently most of the hairy runs either begin or end on private property and we have to be very careful here, even though we have an excellent precedent set by the courts. — Shelby D. Johnson,    Research Specialist         TEL: (501) 575-6159 CAST, Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies    FAX: (501) 575-5218   12 Ozark Hall, University of Arkansas

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What exactly are you looking for?  I didn’t see the original article. Just this followup. -Dennis

Response:

What exactly are you looking for?  I didn’t see the original article. Just this followup.

I’m trying to find what the legal river access is in each state.  So far I have: Colorado New Mexico Alaska Arkansas Main California I know people paddle in more states than that….. –Chris

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Question:

        On my first ocean cruise in 1981, I bought some "Offshore" foul weather gear at R.E.I. in Seattle.  Total piece of shit. After some pretty rough usage (we lost a rudder) and 31 days at sea, the seams leaked.  I took them back to R.E.I.  They said that they wern’t meant for the kind of sailing I do, but for the "weekend" sailor."  I said "Well why the fuck! do you call it "Offshore"? To make a long story short, they wouldn’t refund my money and it just confirmed my opinion of R.E.I. as a fashion house for frustrated yuuppies. Growing up in Seattle, I have resisted the R.E.I Clone look mightily although I have to admit, Pile Jackets are great for me as I’m allergic to wool.         Where is this leading to?         Buy Helly Hansen fisherman foul weather gear. No seams, no fly, no pockets, NO LEAK!!!!  I’ve worn mine for 10 years fishing in Alaska and California and on many trans ocean sails.  Still wearing them.  My mother is borrowing them for a river rafting trip this month.  About $80 last time I bought (I have two pair) —

Response:

A foulie jacket should either have built-in flotation, or be light and flexible enough to be worn comfortabley with a pfd. This rules out most of the jackets on the market, imho. Ever try to swim in foulies and boots? Either buy an expensive float-coat (very warm, too) or get a light nylon shell (the kind made for white-water canoeing are perfect) and use it in conjuction with sweater or fleece jacket and a pfd, when called for.

I used a canoeing jacket for a few seasons. I don’t agree that it is the best choice for heavy weather sailing. It worked fine for an occational light spray, but it didn’t hold up for the constant pounding with water on rough days. I would quickly get all soaked. It was an enormous improvement when I bought a real foul weather jacket. My usual advice to new sailors is to spend money on the pants and boots, and wait on the jacket.

This makes sense. You’ll quickly wear out any light pants. At least the jacket doesn’t have to take all that abrasive abuse. I wear my pfd inside of a seriously oversized jacket. I have found that this gives me less problems with condensation than doing it the other way. It also reduces the risk of getting tangled in or caought somewhere, and keeps your pfd dry (= fewer wet things in the boat, wich is nice if you’re out for several days.) I don’t think the heavy foul weather gear makes me less mobile. I may feel less mobile after a few hours of constant hard work in a heavy weather race, but that’s because I’m tired. /m

Response:

     I just got the notion to go up to the lake Erie and check the cover on the boat this weekend.  While I am up there I may as well go by the West store and see if they have any of there foul weather gear on sale.  I will be looking for a warm waterproof jacket suitable for use in the spring or fall sailing. Does anyone have any recomendations regarding particullar brands or "features" that I may want to look for?                                                         Thanks,                                                                 Doug — Tar is not a play thing..I will not steal school property..Spit balls are not free speach..I will not bribe principal Skinner..I will not Xerox(tm) my butt .I will not teach others to fly..I will not do that thing with my tongue..BART

Response:

:      I just got the notion to go up to the lake Erie and check the cover on the : boat this weekend.  While I am up there I may as well go by the West store and : see if they have any of there foul weather gear on sale.  I will be looking : for a warm waterproof jacket suitable for use in the spring or fall sailing. : Does anyone have any recomendations regarding particullar brands or "features" : that I may want to look for? :                                                       Thanks, :                                                               Doug : — : Tar is not a play thing..I will not steal school property..Spit balls are not : free speach..I will not bribe principal Skinner..I will not Xerox(tm) my butt : .I will not teach others to fly..I will not do that thing with my tongue..BART — Is that "West" as in West Marine?  My wife and I both have their "Explorer" (? I think) foul weather gear and we are very happy with it.  It did quite well in Practical Sailor’s review of foulies, as well.   The ONLY down side of it that I’ve found is that it is a little heavy for warm weather sailing.  Since that’s not usually a problem here in the Pacific NW, I’m quite happy with it. Chas Douglass/the "Emma Christine" + When I was in school, I cheated on my metaphysics exam.              + + I looked into the soul of the boy sitting next to me.                + + Woody Allen                                                          +

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:      I just got the notion to go up to the lake Erie and check the cover on the : boat this weekend.  While I am up there I may as well go by the West store and : see if they have any of there foul weather gear on sale.  I will be looking : for a warm waterproof jacket suitable for use in the spring or fall sailing. : Does anyone have any recomendations regarding particullar brands or "features" : that I may want to look for? :                                                  Thanks, :                                                          Doug

Waterproof helps. Seriously, a big thing I cared about that many jackets didn’t address was adequate sealing about the neck. a $500 Henri Lloyd isn’t much good when spray hits you and runs inside the jacket repeatedly!!!! I got a pretty good deal on serious offshore gear – from Boat/US, actually. They sell other companies’ gear with their name on it – I have heard doubts about the quality, although mine has lasted very well. I hear Gore-Tex (Helly-Tech, whatever!) eventually leaks, but mine works okay for light spray. The PVC coating in my heavier gear, along with the sealed cuffs and neck, keep me surprisingly warm. It’s really too warm for active races. Alan Moore My opinions only.

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