Open boats and sun exposure...

[Bushman]

Contrary to popular belief, the sun does get this far north in the summer time. Given that there is no place to hide out on the lake, how do you protect yourself from sun exposure? WI. has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the country due to our northern European fair skinned ancestry. I was messing with the umbrella on the patio table yesterday and got to thinking about how I could rig it for my boat. That or I'm remembering the blue sun shade that Bill Gunn used out in Dakota prairie dogging last year. I usually sun screen lotion myself, wear big brimmed hats and long sleeves, but I note that the back of my right hand is developing sun spots and I don't like that. What is the alternative if a guy wants to fish?

[dave-t.]

My Dad is red headed, fair skinned and spends a lot of time fishing, and outdoors in genneral. Long sleave shirts, big hat, and fingerless gloves. He doesn't mess around when it comes to the sun.

[ncboman]

I doan recommend sunscreen of any kind. It's more dangerous than the sun. Research it.

I wear long pants, long sleeve shirts mostly and always a cap or straw hat. Being out in it every day, I can tell you the most intense sun is in winter ... actually Feb - March for me, not midsummer.

btw, the right kind of long sleeve shirt is actually cooler.

ncboman

[Bushman]

I like that fingerless glove idea. The customs guys always look at the back of your right hand for a sunburn to make sure that you are telling the truth about fishing all week. My dad, my grandfather, my sister in law, my father-in-law, my fishing buddy... all have had skin cancers removed. The trouble with lake fishing is that you get so much reflected sun off the water. 20 years ago I wore a shorter sleeve shirt than I had been wearing and in one day I got that one inch strip of skin burned on my upper arms. To this day there is a one inch band of freckles around each upper arm. If the sun can do that to you in one day, think of what a summer of that can do to your skin.

[ncboman]

I think the skin toughen ups to it over a summer of tanning. The initial sun on 'pale' skin is probably the most penetrating and dangerous.

I haven't tried fingerless gloves but it's a good idea.

Something to ponder ... The men of old, that lived for hundreds of years referenced in the Bible, lived pre-flood when water vapor cloaked the earth and the sun didn't shine as we know it.

ncboman

[Bill Gunn]

I wear a long sleeve shirt, and a large straw hat when the sun is really bad.

I should do a lot more, the Immunosuppressant drugs I take make it easier to get skin cancer. :(

[Altjaeger]

It may look a little hokey but I have gone to loose fitting, SPF rated quick dry material. The outfits consist of long sleeve shorts with tabs to roll the sleeves up and the pants have zip off legs. I have several hats but the two I use most are either a well beaten and missshapen old Stetson straw hat or a pith helmet. Since I am kayaking the shoes are cheap $3.00 Walmart knock off of Crocs.

[ncboman]

I was just lookin at those shirts in the Bass Pro catalog and wonderin about comfort. What's the SPF rating about? Is that based on the amount of sun they block or let thru or is there some kind of coating? :confused:

I've been wearing these cotton work shirts so long I doan know if I'd like anything else. :rolleyes:

ncboman

[Bill Gunn]

My wife got me 2 of these.
Their good shirts.... IF I remember to wear them :o

I usually wear work shirts too.

[Altjaeger]

I was just lookin at those shirts in the Bass Pro catalog and wonderin about comfort. What's the SPF rating about? Is that based on the amount of sun they block or let thru or is there some kind of coating? :confused:

I've been wearing these cotton work shirts so long I doan know if I'd like anything else. :rolleyes:

ncboman

SPF is a sunblocking rating applied in this case clothing but usually sun blocking lotion. I bought the cheap house brand at Academy sports store. Columbia makes them at almost twice the price.

[ncboman]

ok thanks, I understand the rating now.

Some of the SPF shirts in BP must be pretty thin.

ncboman

[Bill Gunn]

My wife got me 2 of these.
Their good shirts.... IF I remember to wear them :o

I usually wear work shirts too.

I forgot to put the link on this post.
That's the problem with those late night posts :o ...

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0030074902834a&navCount=1&podId=0030074902834&parentId=cat400018&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat400018&catalogCode=IK&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat400018&hasJS=true

[Altjaeger]

ok thanks, I understand the rating now.

Some of the SPF shirts in BP must be pretty thin.

ncboman

The one I just slipped on is about the thickness of a dress shirt and made of polyester with a net nylon liner in the shoulders. The pants are lined like a swim suit of nylon net also. I am heading over to Inks Lake in Burnet for a gathering from the Texas Kayak Forums for a showing of owner built kayaks and cook out. I may even wet a line.:)

[Bill Gunn]

Their good praire dog huntin' shirts too...

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2250/777751/13525437/328322240.jpg