first point why would you be cold if wet - back to the safety aspect - we wear thermal gear that holds heat when wet we use purpose built outer layers and if it was a still a problem and the guys in cold areas can get kayak dry suits and stay dry even while in the watercantcatchem wrote:
Provided you don't die of hyperthermia when you are 20 k's out and have to paddle back wet, I think that you are always at risk in a kayak and a boat, plenty of experienced boaties have died unexpectedly
and if you are getting cold paddling 20 km you arn't doing it right it is fairly warm work
but of cause there is aways risk in all forms of boating - reducing the risk is the key - knowing your limits and your crafts limits are a great start
hence we tell all newbs to practice deep water re entries - many of us have fallen in it just goes with the territory thats why we practicelaneends wrote:A DECENT kayak in EXPERIENCED hands is safer than a small tinny in rough whether, you cant swamp a kayak and if it tips you can flip it over, climb back aboard and continue, neither does it sink bar structural failure.