New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

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Winter wetsuits

overdog		Posted : Friday, 15 June 2012 9:56:19 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Hi all... need some advice and or recommendations on a wetsuit for sniping/dredging.Obviously got to be warm enough to get me through 5 or 6 hours in South Island rivers and creeks all year round.Dont want to go the 10 mil thick route cos you just tire yourself out fighting thick neoprene so thinner the better. Heard good things about Seventhwave suits but find it hard to beleive 4 mil will stand up to much abuse so Im struggling really. Or should I just go drysuit? Opinions please people-what do you use?

gingerbreadman		Posted : Friday, 15 June 2012 10:03:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Man i dont even use a 4mil in the summer!.

kiwikeith		Posted : Friday, 15 June 2012 10:54:01 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		hi overdog cold try coming up to my claim in the lewis pass the grounds covered with snow at the present time not to bad once one is in the water im using a 3mm vest over legs with 8mm bib pants with a 8mm top both the vest and top have hoods on my feet i wear neroprne socks with booties gloves are dive gloves with large leathers over them im still cold i find that its the face that gets me out of the river i tried putting the vest on back tofront and pulling thehood up but couldnt see (just joking) thinking of trying a dry suit but its the cost and they dont seem to stand up to the wear and your face is still exposed

Lammerlaw		Posted : Friday, 15 June 2012 11:22:59 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Hi Keith How about a dry suit with boiler suit over the top and Car tyre tubes for knee protectors and elbow protectors? A friend down this way who will read this - Gidday 'E' - wears a dry suit and he doesnt seem to mention to me having to replace it - I will ask him how often he has replaced it and how much use he has out of them.

gingerbreadman		Posted : Friday, 15 June 2012 11:26:50 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		You fellas tryd hotskins...? there basically stretchy skintight longjohns but made of silky lycra kind of stuff they sell them at keene i got some a wile back they do seem to make quite a difference its also much easyer to get in and out of your suit and helps your suit getting stenchy.

kiwikeith		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 10:55:22 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		thats the way to go makes ones mind conjour up all sorts of things skin tight lycra !!!!!!! a whole lot of old gold diggers in the river all wearing skin tight lycra maybe we could use it as a theme for a get to gether for a weekend can i invite the women as well??????

simon		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:01:33 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		bbrrr, getting a bit cold to go near the water. i wear 5 mm gloves (with cheap gauntlet gloves over top) and they don't cut it this time of year. another guy bob was using 17mm of wetsuit in summer! i have trouble just being at the water as it is so cold near it down here in the gorges that see no sun for months. the best thing i found for footwear was muckboots. neoprene high boots. they insulate your feet well. and i wear 5mm dive boots inside. if still cold some nice thick socks over top. i've had these for 2 winter and summers and boy they've stood up well. not cheap tho. $165. put on too much gear and you can't hardly move properly. this year i have learnt my lesson and are planning to hibernate!
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kiwijw		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:14:21 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Originally Posted by: simon bbrrr, getting a bit cold to go near the water. i have trouble just being at the water as it is so cold near it down here in the gorges that see no sun for months. this year i have learnt my lesson and are planning to hibernate! I totaly agree Simon. Time of the year to brake out the detector & head up in to the hills ....& the sunshine. :) Good luck out there JW :)

gjj109		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:16:06 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 14/03/2011(UTC) Posts: 464 Location: Thames Thanks: 217 times Was thanked: 194 time(s) in 115 post(s)		Every now and then some, of us northern folk become quite envious of the opportunities available to the mainland people. The way you stumble over great finds and display copious quantities of nuggets; spoiled for choice as to which goldfield you shall go to next. Then we read posts such as these and everything falls into perspective.

simon		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:35:50 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		gjj: yep, it's not all roses down this island, esp at present. the copious gold you talk of is all hard earned. what is shown here is just a portion of what is really being found of course. staggering to look at the crown minerals data at how much the small scale miner is finding "officially" these days. if only the powers that be would allow small 2 inch dredges out there on a simple permit fee scheme. the govt could get the jobless to hit the rivers on a new depression scheme. for those that are motivated to work as i guess it would not appeal to many. i can think of many places i'd love to get at on a bigger scale. just need money. well, and a lot of paperwork!
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gingerbreadman		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 11:57:23 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Originally Posted by: kiwikeith thats the way to go makes ones mind conjour up all sorts of things skin tight lycra !!!!!!! a whole lot of old gold diggers in the river all wearing skin tight lycra maybe we could use it as a theme for a get to gether for a weekend can i invite the women as well?????? Lol Trust you to think of that Keithy....it sounds more like a orgie....i think you needa limit the amount of time you spend awaaay in the bush....still at least you want to invite the woman haha!!!

overdog		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 3:04:53 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 2/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 418 Location: nelson Thanks: 69 times Was thanked: 82 time(s) in 68 post(s)		Lycra?Sounds too much like a bloody cyclist to me and thats a whole other rant! I like Lammerlaws idea but drysuits are not cheap-may have to harden up and get some more yellow before I can afford one. Friend of mine suggested ladies tights under a wetsuit but he listens to Abba in the car so I think hes taking the piss lol!

gingerbreadman		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 3:32:40 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/07/2010(UTC) Posts: 473 Location: south of the black stump Thanks: 34 times Was thanked: 96 time(s) in 74 post(s)		Here,s the link for the strechy pants ....dan at cromwell can get any of this stuff if anyone is interested in trying them the other good thing about them is they dont really hold anywater unlike longjohns etc. www.keeneeng.com/Merchan...VHS&Category_Code=AG they have wetsuits as well but surely you could get the equivalent here in nz ? www.keeneeng.com/Merchan...DV4&Category_Code=AG

simon		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 3:52:42 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		dodgy stuff on the coast aside, i like the idea of tyre tube as wetsuit knee protection. seems to be how to spot a sniper. because it involves a lot of kneeling on jagged reef a suit of any sort doesn't last too long. another guy pointed the tyre tube idea out to me. he also had a great idea for hand snipers, using a hydraulic oil gun. going to have to make one of those. the key to it is the weight. which stops it floating off downstream and losing all your day's gold as a result. i've dreamed of buying a dry suit so i can get out there in the cold but indeed they are not cheap. would have to start finding a lot more gold to justify that one! even with a dry suit there are many winter challenges that make it hard to operate in the cold. ie. the sluicebox freezing up. no, it just gets extra dangerous as every rock is extra slippery, both to stand on and to handle. and it's amazing the effect of running water on the local air temperature in a dark rocky gorge. not good for the health at all. at least not on a daily basis.
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digahole!!		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 4:08:26 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 22/01/2012(UTC) Posts: 89 Location: chch Thanks: 19 times Was thanked: 47 time(s) in 28 post(s)		I tried getting in the water on the coast last winter, I had a full 2 piece 7mm suit with 3mm vest underneath as well as 2 hoods, got in for about 15 minutes, then couldn't move for the next 20, stick to the waders in winter, warm and dry.

kiwikeith		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 5:11:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 648 Location: hector Thanks: 359 times Was thanked: 230 time(s) in 154 post(s)		love the idea of the car tube over the knees a must do for me last winter it was so cold when we got to the hut we had to chip the frozen smoke out of the chimney before lighting the fire but last winter i left water in my pump over night so the next day was out till that thawed out put it under the exhust pipe of the truck with the motor running

Lammerlaw		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 5:28:38 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		Simon - I ruine dmy health partly with the winter mining and today have no idea how I did it - I had a Moray 7mm wetsuit followed by an Apollo 8mm Straight jacket, oops Wetsuit.' I was diving up at one of our claims at 2660 feet, snow falling, huge snowdrifts on the bank and ice out across the water in the sheltered and still areas...I really have no idea how I did it now,. I also remember getting changed and down to Speedos with snow blizzarding around me and filling my clothes with snow before I could get them on. I had an uncle collapsed with me during a heavy snowstorm - May 1978 - he died four nights later and is currently dead at the moment. I had a gold mining partner who originally had been my uncles partner before uncle turned up his toes who at the age of 88 fell in the river during another snow storm, also at 2660 foot altitude and got wet through - I had to get him to the hut, get a fire going, hot cuppa and nip of the good stuff and all he could say is "By gum this is a great adventure" - about 1987. Edited by user Tuesday, 19 June 2012 5:52:12 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

mineforgold.co.nz		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 8:55:27 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 14/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 299 Location: Nelson Thanks: 58 times Was thanked: 38 time(s) in 35 post(s)		Sorry to hear about your uncle. I hope his situation improves in the future.
		Own: Lobo SuperTraq, Garrett ATPro, Minelab Excalibur
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simon		Posted : Saturday, 16 June 2012 9:58:23 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 7/01/2011(UTC) Posts: 789 Location: Central Otago Thanks: 33 times Was thanked: 239 time(s) in 150 post(s)		lammerlaw, sorry also to hear about your uncle. yes, it's all fun and games until you a. lose some fingers or toes, b. freeze solid, or c. most likely suffer ill effects until further notice. i think last winter i realised i had an addiction. had to get some decent gear to be able to keep going. the key is to keep dry. might have to invest in some waders as a wetsuit in my bag is trouble. i have now stashed it away at home until the sun shines hotter.
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Lammerlaw		Posted : Tuesday, 19 June 2012 5:57:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 24/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,721 Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 579 time(s) in 396 post(s)		mineforgold - Hes sorta dead right now - not good because I can totally guarantee that the golden throne on high has been pillaged, looted, polundered and misappropriated as he has got there first - I think - unless hes gone down and only nasty sods go that way and he was an all round good guy - He gave away gold by the ounce - for example one dayhe told a new chum that he would be given all the gold for that day - he got two crevices in Deep Creek in the Skippers each with 3/4 of an ounce in and so he gave the entire 1 1/2 ounces away...he was a great guy. Simon - got to be careful in waders especially if you fall over in a swift river and they fill full of water.