Really helpful video! I recently found out the hard way, about the cost of not maintaining gaskets adequately (or at all in my case). Now I have some 303.
I just got my first semi dry top! Excited to be able to paddle safely in the colder weather. I'll admit I was already going out in very cold water the past couple of springs in lakes and channels I knew well. I think I will have to try that neck stretching technique and get some of that 303. Thanks for the informative video!
As always PaddleTV made a great video. I wish my 15 year old heavily used gore tex dry suit could still be good. I guess mine effectively has the equivalent of over 20 years of normal use. It is still usable but it is showing serious signs of age. If you take care of your dry suit like the video suggests, you will get many years of hard use like I did.
Very timely&informative.I have used 303 for years with great results.I have a Delta 16 with a gloss gel coat and the 303 gives the entire boat a great shine and protection without unnecessary abrasives that I don't need.Have also used it on some of my paddling gear and it is the best of what is available.Keep up the in depth and thorough reviews;definetaley adds trust and credibility to your reviews.I do look forward to them.Thanks! p.s.just recommended paddle t.v. to someone for foldable boats.
The best way to trim gaskets to avoid nicks is to pre-stretch the gasket over a round object (exactly like the coffee can Ken shows for stretching). Then, use an exacto knife to cut the gasket with the round item as a base underneath. No nicks. I have a big neck and have trimmed three gaskets this way with no fear of damage.
How big is your neck? Mine is 17" and the new latex gasket is so tight I can't stand it even for a few seconds. I have a new Kokotat Meridian XL. Thanks for the trimming advice.
Your local scuba diving shop likely has the ability to replace drysuit neck or wrist seals. That could be an option rather than sending your suit away. Many scuba drysuits these days come with replaceable drysuit seals that can be replaced on the spot without glue...assuming you have a spare seal on hand. It would be handy if paddling drysuits offered the same option.
Awesome video yet again. I recently bought a dry suit, made sure to use your videos to inform me or what to look for and all before I bought. However, I didn't know anything about caring for the dry suit. So this was incredibly helpful. Thanks!
I wouldn't use scissors on a latex gasket. (If you have and it's worked, please correct me). The best gasket trim advice I've seen is to get an orange traffic cone and pull your latex over it and stretch it a little. Then use a new sharp razor blade or utility knife blade. (With scissors I think you can leave a 'jag' that can start a tear. I used scissors on one, it soon ripped.) Also the tip about sun is good. (I bought a new paddle float. Six months left in the sun it looks like my 15 year old one.) I have a swim suit that I'd once forgotten in my car for several days. It reeked. I tried washing it, even with a little bleach, tried two kinds of wet suit wash/deodorizer. Nothing worked. I finally left it hanging in direct sunlight, four days changing it every day so all sides got sun. Completely sanitized it. The sun is powerful, use it only as needed. I just bought a Mustang drysuit, I'm impressed by how much better and more comfortable it is than the gear I used 16 years ago.
Thanks for the tips, I just got my first dry suit. I didn't have any luck stretching my kokatat neck gasket though and trying to convince myself to cut it still
Dumb put the gasket over a pot nice and even. Follow the lines around slowly with a single edge razor blade. Cut no more than two lines at a time. Wear it for 20 minutes and see how it feels even sitting in a chair watching TV. Forget about sizzors.
My Kokotat Meridian XL Drysuit arrived this morning! Everything is great except the latex neck gasket is so tight as to make my face turn red and scare my wife. I have a 17" neck and the XL comes with the large neck size gasket. I will use the coffee can technique and maybe do some trimming. Is it possible my neck is too big?
I think if I was going to trim the gasket, I would pull it over a larger pvc pipe so I could razor blade it and it would be easier to monitor my cutting.
Not really an issue... just like a pair of pants that's supposed to shrink after you wash them - they'll only shrink so much no matter how many times you wash them.
Bought a dry suit many years ago and hated it. Cant remember how many times I replaced the gaskets. Getting old so I just dont paddle white water below 50
Have you done / can you do a video for people just getting into whitewater? I recently just got into whitewater kayaking and didn't realize how new everything would be gear wise. Especially looking for some good whitewater paddles.
please upvote this or comment if you want suits with adjustable gaskets (and possibly the rest of the suit too) and downvote if this is not interesting. please comment why.
Just on the gaskets. The drysuit fabric will use a different protectant. Nikwax has a product for Gore-Tex that preserve a drysuits waterproofness and breathability.
That's the worst feeling in the world... and then every time you put on a dry top for the next year, you think the gasket is going to break every time... :). Fortunately, they're remarkably tough in most cases.
or does it just leak slowly, so that if you have to swim against your will, you won't get soaking wet and cold right away - buys you time to get out, or get rescued?
Depends on how you treat it! :). You should rinse it and clean any dirt off them. Also, any dry gear does need to be treated every year or two in order to stay optimally waterproof. Here's a great article with more details: www.nrs.com/learn/dry-wear-care
