Air Temp vs Water Temp- when can I get back out!

[bajoman]

Hello All,

Restarted surfing, but now I live in the Northeast of the US (New York). Had a great summer and fall, but now that it's early spring, I'm wondering how soon I can get out there again! The weather has been mostly sunny 60-70 degreesF (15-20 C) but the water temp is only 42 degreesF (6 C)! I have a 4/3 suit and 3mm booties and gloves (should I get a hood, too?) With warmer air temps and sun, how much warmer will the water need to be before I can go out for a comfortable 2 hour session? The beach is a 45min trek through NYC traffic, so I want to have an idea before I just give it a whirl... Thanks for the wisdom...
Brian

[Wave4Surf]

Bajoman,

If you ONLY wear your 4/3 suite (with booties and gloves of course (you definitely need a hat!)) with nothing under it, you will be cold very quickly. You can better put a neoprene shirt under your suite, because that helps to keep you warm as well. I think the best things you can do are: put a neoprene shirt under your suite, buy another warmer suite (of 5/0 or thicker) or wait till the water temperature is 50 F (10 C).

Hope I could help you out.

[tony g]

We wear mostly 5mm hooded wetsuits here in Oregon, and our water is usually between 48-55 degrees Fahrenheit. I think you are going to need a 5mm hooded wetsuit for that cold of water. Check out some of the new heated vests out there. You can control the temp as they are battery powered. Might work well for you, but they are around $200. That $200 would also make a good deposit on a nice hooded 5mm wetsuit.