Measuring Nantucket Sound Water Temperature

A number of people e-mail mail us and ask how we get the daily water temperature of Nantucket Sound that appears on the Home Page. Well this is not as automatic a thing as we would want but requires us physically going down to the dock with a thermometer and taking the temperature. We always give the report in Fahrenheit, however , if you need to convert the temp to Celcius you may use the chart on the page bottom.

Actually the test is made using the YSI 550 DISSOLVED OXYGEN INSTRUMENT or Radio Shack precision indoor /outdoor digital thermometer which is accurate to +/- 0.1 ° Fahrenheit with the probe. The test is taken at 10AM and alway three feet (1 M) below surface of the water at the bow of the Harbormaster Boat COMMANDER berthed at slip WA 15 in Saquatucket Harbor. The harbor has a 75' wide open entrance channel dredged at 6' MLW with a short 1/4 mile distance to the Sound. (Alternatively, sometimes I take the temperature at Atlantic Ave Beach in the campgrounds, like when the harbor is frozen.)

In the alternative I will be posting Nantucket Sound seawater temperature taken at the Nantucket Sound Wind Tower when it is not practical to take the harbor test.

Convert ° Fahrenheit to and from ° Celcius.


Enter the temperature in ° Fahrenheit :	° F	° C
Enter the temperature in ° Celcius :	° C	° F

Water Temperature
in Degrees F (Degrees C)

Loss of Dexterity (with no protective clothing)

Exhaustion or Unconsciousness

Expected Time of Survival

Recommended Paddling Clothing*

32.5 (0.3)

Under 2 min.

Under 15 min.

Under 15 to 45 min.

Drysuit with fleece layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves

32.5 to 40 (0.3 to 4.5)

Under 3 min.

15 to 30 min.

30 to 90 min.

Drysuit with fleece layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves

40 to 50 (4.5 to 10)

Under 5 min.

30 to 60 min.

1 to 3 hrs.

Drysuit with fleece or polypro layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves

50 to 60 (10 to 15.5)

10 to 15 min.

1 to 2 hrs.

1 to 6 hrs.

Drysuit with polypro layers or wetsuit plus drytop, neoprene booties, hat

60 to 70 (15.5 to 21)

30 to 40 min.

2 to 7 hrs.

2 to 40 hrs.

Wetsuit with light paddling jacket, paddling shoes, hat

70 to 80 (21 to 26.5)

1 to 2 hrs.

2 to 12 hrs.

3 hrs. to indefinite

Thin or shorty wetsuit

Over 80 (Over 26.5)

2 to 12 hrs.

Indefinite

Indefinite

Swimsuit

Water Temperature in Degrees F (Degrees C)	Loss of Dexterity (with no protective clothing)	Exhaustion or Unconsciousness	Expected Time of Survival	Recommended Paddling Clothing*
32.5 (0.3)	Under 2 min.	Under 15 min.	Under 15 to 45 min.	Drysuit with fleece layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves
32.5 to 40 (0.3 to 4.5)	Under 3 min.	15 to 30 min.	30 to 90 min.	Drysuit with fleece layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves
40 to 50 (4.5 to 10)	Under 5 min.	30 to 60 min.	1 to 3 hrs.	Drysuit with fleece or polypro layers, neoprene booties, beanie, gloves
50 to 60 (10 to 15.5)	10 to 15 min.	1 to 2 hrs.	1 to 6 hrs.	Drysuit with polypro layers or wetsuit plus drytop, neoprene booties, hat
60 to 70 (15.5 to 21)	30 to 40 min.	2 to 7 hrs.	2 to 40 hrs.	Wetsuit with light paddling jacket, paddling shoes, hat
70 to 80 (21 to 26.5)	1 to 2 hrs.	2 to 12 hrs.	3 hrs. to indefinite	Thin or shorty wetsuit
Over 80 (Over 26.5)	2 to 12 hrs.	Indefinite	Indefinite	Swimsuit

* This table is intended as a basic guide for paddling apparel selection for various water temperatures. If water/weather conditions are rough or paddlers are inexperienced, clothing one or two levels more protective should be considered. Always wear a PFD.

Hypothermia Info