Water Temp

[pullmyfingers]

I am a new Moomba Outback ownner and I am really wanting to go skiing...now. I am curious if anyone knows what a "safe" water temp might be especially if my kids wanted to get in. I realize that some folks can tolerate near freezing water but I'm not interested in what I can tolerate. I live in Alabama and have been out on Smith Lake in north central AL 4 times since March but only when the air temp is 70F or more. I don't want to buy a wetsuit or anything like that, but I will be wearing a ski jacket and I guess that will give some added warmth. I think the water temperature is somewhere around 55F now. Thanks in advance.

[Dave A]

I went out on Lay Lake on Sunday. The water temp was about 60 degrees. It was 70 air temp. I bought a spring suit from Academy Sports, you can spend $75.00 on the body glove model or $35 on the Academy model. I was comfortable in the water. Don't know about kids though. You can get a full wetsuit for about $20.00 more. I figure if I need a full wetsuit, I'm going to have a hard time finding someone to pull me.

[TheBeeZ]

I also ski on Smith Lake. The lake being river fed and being so deep it takes a long time for it to warm-up. However, the water temp is very nice during our Hot Summers. We usually go out a few times in May but Memorial Day seems to be about the time you can really get out on the lake and enjoy it. I am cold natured so I wear a Chill Skin under a shorty wet suit until it feels comofortable to me. My son and daughter wears a shorty wet suit, my wife won't get in the water until it is hot. There are some charts which tell you water temps and the reccomendation of wet suits.

[aerophoto]

Depends if you fall a lot or not... Here in Alberta in the mid summer water temp is about 70 F but when we finish the season it can be 35 F. I ski once when it is that cold and we have the heater going full blast. If you fall in that water you have about 3 min without a wetsuit about 7 with a wetsuit. I always deep water start so Yikes. I have skied in a full blizzard just because also. It is all up to how crazy you are. But be safe..... 50 F can still cause hypothermia. Water is a great heat sink and can cool your core very fast.
If I had a scanner i would post some photos of me getting ready in March when I was younger I wore a parka, Hoodie, snow gloves, and jeans. Like I said crazy. ICe was forming on my hair from the spray it was so cold abot 30F. Air temp. But it was a blast and we had the house right there.

[Mikey]

I know how you feel,thats why for xmas i got a drysuit which i'm dyin to try out.Just waitin for a couple of local lakes to thaw and then LET THE GAMES BEGIN 8)

[zabooda]

I'm a fair weather boater so I don't get in the water without a wet suit until the air temperature is in the 80's and the water temperature is above 60 degrees. If your playing in the water it is still really cold but getting pulled behind the boat isn't too bad if you can get them out of the water quickly. Unfortunately, kids don't have much meat on them and they get cold rather easily. My kid wore a shortie wet suit through the early summer. You want the kids to be comfortable or you will start hearing some whining. The wet suits aren't too bad in price and I still have my daughter's old ones for others to use.

[jmvotto]

My buddy (crazy) skiis in january and feb in NY, they have a heated garage for the boat, swears by is dry suit Only thing gets cold oare feet hands and spray in the face. the ends of the lake have ice on them.

I am not that nuts, I was looking at wetsuits to ski and board in and help to get the docks and lift in earlier in the season. Any recomendations Oneil, gladiator, body glove etc.. :?:

[Mikey]

As for brands,some are made slightly better than others,but i think try to buy closest size you can to fit snug but comfortable. Some brands /styles go for length ie shortie vs full length depending on intended use or warmth desired and or some brands offer different thickness for better or worse thermal warmth.Drysuits vary as to style and what you are or want to be able to wear underneith. Also how they fit snug/or baggy style.I have three versions and brands. One no name 20yr old Canadian tire special shorty,full lenght Bare and Sahara drysuit/not tryed as of yet, so i have no brand favorite just different versions for different uses and or watertemp. Hope that helps alittle. Best time of year to buy is obvioslly at end of year but who knows. :P

[bamaspiveys]

You going to need a drysuit for a while on that lake, unless you are "tough". (if you are a nascar fan you know how to pronounce "tough")

Mid April you could probably make it with a wetsuit only. It really does depend on the kind of skiing you are doing and how much you fall.

I like the water temp above 65 degrees before I shed the extra layers.

This time of year I am mostly footing on the boom and I don't fall much, so I just slip a full suit on under my barefoot suit and keep a cooler of hot water in the boat for my feet.

Try this, run a bathtub full of water and get the temp around 60 degrees. Sit down and seeif you can stand it for 15 or 20 minutes. Move the temp up and down as you desire, and remember the air temp may not be as warm as you home, and the wind is always a factor this time of year.

[bamaspiveys]

Water Temperature (farenheit)
How the Water Feels to the Body What Type of Suit to Wear

80 degrees +
Bath Water
None Needed

72-80 degrees
Comfortable
Wetsuit Trunks or Shorty or Sleeveless Shorty

65-72 degrees
Cool at First
Short John Arms / Full Leg Wetsuit

60-65 degrees
Very Chilly
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit

50-60 degrees
Extremely Chilly
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit or Short John Arms / Full Leg Wetsuit with Jacket

50 degrees and below
May Cause Shock - use caution
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit with gloves, hood, and booties (if applicable)

[sar]

My parents let me decide on my own in Middle School. I missed skiing so much and so got in the water in April. April never saw me without a wet suit again in the public lakes in the mountains of GA (competition lakes are generally smaller and heat up faster).

Today, the Allatoona (north atlanta) water was near 60 which is warm enough for a shorty. It's a bit chilly anywhere below that. It was a bit uncomfortable at 49 degrees. Even at 54, the outside of my feet lost feeling in my ski after a full day.

I think that the water should be in the high 70s before considering without a wetsuit. Even in early May, Lanier is more comfortable in a wet suit.

I consider my wet suit one of my best skiing purchases. For $50 I can ski essentially year round. A heater/shower would be nice though.

[aerophoto]

Water Temperature (farenheit)
How the Water Feels to the Body What Type of Suit to Wear

80 degrees +
Bath Water
None Needed

72-80 degrees
Comfortable
Wetsuit Trunks or Shorty or Sleeveless Shorty

65-72 degrees
Cool at First
Short John Arms / Full Leg Wetsuit

60-65 degrees
Very Chilly
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit

50-60 degrees
Extremely Chilly
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit or Short John Arms / Full Leg Wetsuit with Jacket

50 degrees and below
May Cause Shock - use caution
Full Wetsuit or Dry suit with gloves, hood, and booties (if applicable)

What about 35 degrees LOL Yes I have skied at that temp Air about 55 degrees with and without a wetsuit.

[jmvotto]

I was walking through sams club today and they had "sea doo" shorty wet suits for men, womens and kids for 29 bucks. Is that a deal or just Junk??

I need a full suit, but th shorty may come in handy especially at that price. :D

[zabooda]

I got a shorty from Costco and it does fine. With children, it doesn't matter about the quality as they outgrow them quickly.

[spyder]

Coldest I have ridden is on May 6th 2007.

Wakeboarding on Rice Lake, Ontario.

Air 60-65F and Water 50F.

[zegm]

We took the kids skiing Sunday with the water temperature around 72F or 22C for you Canadians. Anyway they complained when they first got in but they love to kneeboard and ski so they did go. But I have to say after about 10 minutes they were ready to get back in the boat and dry off. They might have lasted longer if the sun was out but it was overcast.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff136/zegm/ze.jpg

[GeauxTigers]

Awesome picture Z! My wife and I bought a kneeboard and a wakeboard for the kids. We will try to get them on the wakeboard and we thought that getting on the kneeboard first would get them more used to the water and it would help coax them into the wakeboard.
I have also been showing my daughter some pictures and video of other 8-10 yr olds wakeboarding on Wakeworld.com.

[zegm]

Geau,

We started them on the kneeboards way back when they were 3 or 4. My wife would put them on one and then with her hanging onto the rear we would pull them at idle speed. They loved that and from there it took off. When they got a little bigger they could kneel on the kneeboard without it sinking. My wife would sit on the back of the boat and with her feet on the front of the board she would keep it balanced with the very tip still on the platform, then I would put the boat in gear at idle speed again. Then she would pass the rope out slowly while watching them. Something about mama being right there really helped. Now they cut up like crazy zooming across the wake etc. However they are not allowed to get so crazy when they are both riding at the same time. But when it was time to ski and kneeboard they were ready to go and picked that up so quickly. I really believe the kneeboard gets them used to being pulled across the water, once they know this feeling then it is time to try something different and they are already familiar with being pulled. PM me your private email and I will send you some pictures of them to show your wife.