Wetsuits - Help!

[Chowdah97]

I'm a newbie in RI; but would like learn up to Thanksgiving/first week of December.

Looking at the 3/2 vs. 4/3 Xcel Drylock wetsuits (on sale and seem to be top of the line). My fear with 4/3 is I will end up being boiling hot in the late fall and early spring but the 3/2 won't keep me warm enough in late-October, November nor March and April.

I'd appreciate any help from surfers on the Cape, RI or NH (or other cold water environs).

Many thanks,

Chowdah

[billie_morini]

chowdah,
Rhode Island does have a wide annual swing in ocean temperature from low of 4C (39F) in Feb/March to high of 22C (72 F) in August. A single wetsuit cannot cover this range. Maybe something I do will help you, though. In my cooler water temperatures 12C (54F) to 15C (59F) range I will often wear a sleeveless rash guard shirt and rash guard shorts under my 3/2 suit. I also use a thin pair of booties and a very thin hood. I find I only need to use my 4/3 suit in the coldest of winter (10C, [50F] or when I want to stay out all day in cooler water. Because you can have colder temperatures than I can, you may want to try a long sleeve rash guard shirt under your wetsuit.