Wet Suit? SF Bay

[Hiker]

Should I have a wet suit paddling SF Bay? I will not be far off shore and out for an hour or two at a time. Probably put in from Marin or East Bay. I am a newer paddler. Be on a 12'6 Bic Wing.
Is a leash a good idea?
Thanks!

[hbsteve]

You did not mention your experience on SF Bay.  So, my first recommendation is, GET SOME KNOWLEDGE of the TIDES and CURRENTS.  There are sources that will tell you the expected speed of the tide at different points in the bay, as well as basic flood and ebb information.  Yellow Bluff can can up 6 knots.  Try BASK.org, BASK Trip Planner.
Wear a leash.  It is too easy to have the wind and/or tide separate you and your board.
Wait on the wetsuit.  You probably would be too hot, most of the time.  There are many good clothing options for paddlers.  Both O'Neil and Quicksilver make good paddle jackets.  Gloves, wetsuit boots, hats, etc. make layering easy and you more comfortable.
Have fun.

[Zooport]

Unless you are hanging right by the beach, SF Bay can be a dangerous place, especially for the inexperienced.  Recreational boaters, commercial ships, winds, tides, currents, sharks.  I would go out my first few times with a guide, or at least a friend who knows the bay, before I ventured out very far. 

[Skate]

Unless you are hanging right by the beach, SF Bay can be a dangerous place, especially for the inexperienced.  Recreational boaters, commercial ships, winds, tides, currents, sharks.  I would go out my first few times with a guide, or at least a friend who knows the bay, before I ventured out very far.

I would try to find someone to go with.

[JimK]

I would get a component suit like the SUPreme catch jacket and blade long John
You'll be able to adjust on the water how much warmth you need
These are very good suits at a great price
Be careful and have fun
JimK
www.extremewindsurfing.com

[Thor SFBay]

You don't need a wetsuit - you'll overheat too quickly.  Just wear clothing made of man made materials so that if you fall in and get back on the board they will dry quickly.  A leash isn't needed, although it would be a good idea if you were to paddle in areas like Crissy Field that have strong currents, but don't do that until you have a more experience.

The tricky thing about the Bay is finding a good place to launch your board.  You need to be able to park close to the water where there is a beach or boat ramp instead of big rocks or other obstacles.  Considering how big the Bay is, there are surprisingly few places that are suitable for paddling.  I recommend that you go to Crown Beach in Alameda.  It is a long sandy beach with views of San Francisco.  This time of year you might have to pay $5 to park, but it's worth it.  When you go into the parking lot, drive all the way to the end and park there.  You'll see a small building, the Boardsports shack.  They sell SUPs, kiteboarding, and windsurfing gear. 

At Crown Beach you won't need to worry about the tide, currents, or boat traffic.  But you will need to worry about one very important thing - wind.  In San Francisco Bay this time of year, the wind is usually very strong in the afternoon.   (That's why it's a great place for kiteboarding and windsurfing).  So always go paddling in the morning.  Depending on the weather patterns, the wind usually starts picking up around 2pm but could be earlier or later.  Another nice thing about Crown Beach is that if the wind does pick up, it will blow you to shore instead of out into the Bay.

[Hiker]

Thanks everyone for your good advice. I have paddled kayaks in the Bay (as well as Tomales Bay) a number of times over the years. My paddle board experience has been limited so far to lakes and no more than class one rivers.
Hopefully I have enough respect for the Bay. In a kayak I have put in at Sausolito, paddled in the direction of the Golden Gate, and experienced the outgoing tide flowing like a massive river. I was aware I was moving into it before I did but the power was unnerving. Also interesting how quickly it changed. Almost like a line drawn on the edge of the calmer water I was coming out of.