Drysuit Neck Seal Replacement

[nproctor]

Has anyone Replace there Dry suit or Dry top Neck seal before? Just watch a few YouTube videos on it and it doesn't look to bad to do. But I was just thinking about justed sending it off so its done right. I call NRS and they can do anything for about $50 bucks (+shipping). Any other suggestions would help.


Thanks Nathan

[perspective7]

Told u man...duct tape

[nproctor]

Man your smart!!!

[Chicago Bob]

I tried to do my own years ago, now I send everything back to Stolquist and them hassle with it. One thing I can recommend is that if one seal goes the others are not far behind. I replace all the seals at the same time. BOB

[Shep]

I've done it. Finding a good form is the worst part. I had way more trouble with the neck gasket than with the wrist or latex socks on the beater drysuit I got. The wrists fit well over a quart Ball canning jar, and the legs fit nicely on a growler. The neck requires a much larger diameter and possibly a certain taper.

I think OOO will do this...

[rugger]

I've heard of using a baloon as the form...haven't done it yet, so not sure how well it works.

[okieboater]

Over the years I have done quite a few.

Wrists and ankle seals are real easy if you put the seals on the garment properly so they fold over shiney side up.

Necks are another thing.

First Gen necks used to be conical and were a pain to glue up. I ended up making a gray foam mold that fit my suits like a charm. Just drew some circles on several layers of foam, glued em together and cut then sanded to fit. Works great.

on the newer flat seamed suits, Kayak Academy make a really neat form that works great. google them if interested.

I have used proper sized highway cones as well. got mine at one of the box home depot type stores.

The seals kits have increased in price to the point I am thinking about sending my gore tex kokatat in to kayak academy and have them do new seals and run the tests for leaks etc. Getting old and lazy I guess.

Note to Paul, want me to bring that form to canoe school for you or have you got the problem solved? dave

[Shep]

I got the neck on, and it works well enough. The suit cost me $100, and I have since spent another $75 on new gaskets. I'll be looking for a much newer suit before I take the time to replace the gaskets again, but thanks for the offer!

[Cowper]

I've done it, but now always send to factory or someone who does it for hire.

It is one of those things you get better at with practice. Which means your first one will work, but it will look rough.

Kokatat also checks the suit for leaks and repairs any pinholes they find. I don't ever want to experience a gasket failure on a day that was cold enough to wear the suit in the first place, so I just send the suit in for all gaskets plus a leak check about every three or four years.

Sure, it feels like you're saving money by using the "run to failure" approach, but lets do the math: assume you spend $150 every 6 years, I spend $150 every 3 years. If we both wear the suit 50 days per year, I spend 50 cents more per trip than you for Drysuit maintenance. You can save more than that by slowing down about 3 mph on your way to the river.

But the biggest advantage is that I get to choose when the suit goes in - I won't get caught without the suit for 2 weeks in the middle of paddling season!

[ckuntz]

Tim Muse is your man
Send him a message or you can have Jeremy at OOO in Hot Springs get it too him..

Chris

[davidbob]

What Cowper said makes sense, particularly if you are in college and taking math and logic classes in the same semester (Hey Cowper - if you leave Sandbar bridge wearing a drysuit at 10 a.m., and Cap'n Downstream leaves the Ed Banks bridge wearing a drysuit at 11 a.m., what time will the last ARG raft get to the take out? (extra credit if you get the color correct))

Tim Muse fixed the gaskets on my Kokatat a year or so ago and did an excellent job.

[Cowper]

But I've never left the sandbar bridge at ten, so this must be a trick question !