Drysuit Seals

[Bill S]

I would like to attempt replacement of all 5 seals on a drysuit, and don't know where to start. Whats the best way of removing remnants of old seals? Any recommended adhesives? etc ..etc.
Any tips welcomed!

Thanks in anticipation...

Bill

[Pete7]

Is the suit neoprene (thick rubber) or tri laminate (very thin) ? either way the seals will have been glued on with a comerical version of evo stick. Cleaning this off without damaging neoprene will be tricky but have a go. Even if you make a mess of it the worse that you are in for is to have the seals replaced by a comercial firm. Is there a dive shop near you ? they will probably be able to assist and offer new seals. They are sized so you need the correct ones.

Use a football in the hole for the neck seal to stretch the material and a bottle for the leg and wrist seals. Fit the new seals then roll them back so you have access to both the inside of the seal and outside cuff. Apply a thin layer of glue (and it must be thin) best with a small paint brush which will be scrap when you have finished. Evo stick will work well but there are other two pack glues that are available. Wait for glue to dry depending on the instructions then roll the new seal over the cuff and press down. Make a cup of tea and congratulate yourself on a job well done.

Peter

[Bill S]

Thanks Pete7,

I should have said...its a surface type (thin) suit.

I'll give it a go and see what happens. As you said, even if I make a total cock-up of it, I can always get it re-done at the dive shop. I just prefer to do things myself, when and if I can.

Bill

[georgec]

Carefull use of a heat gun should make removing the old seals a bit easier. You can also get acetone cheaply from Scotplastics in Glasgow which will help remove old glue.

[Alan Mckewan]

I have found a good trick to hold the seals out while glueing or replacing - blow up a large oval (prereably thick) balloon inside the suit - it works a treat and you just burst it to get it out when the glue is dry!

[xr770a]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bill S
[B]Thanks Pete7,

Use an American football for the legs !!

[nickjaxe]

Why do you want to do it your self, dive shops dont charge that much.

Nick in cheshire.

[Bill S]

Thanks for all the input folks - I will have a stab at it!

Marky, - What size ball would you recommend? Peewee, Junior, or full size?

Nickjaxe, - I believe I answered that one already when I said that I prefer to do it myself when and if I can. Just one of those things - I prefer driving to being driven, putting up shelves myself rather than getting a joiner in, keeping the missus smiling myself rather than relying on the milkman, etc, etc, etc. I have no problems with using professionals (except my wallet), and do so when it suits, but I just prefer to do things for myself.

Right then, lets get these seals ordered up ..........

Bill

[seafariskye]

send the whole lot to -- http://www.trident-uk.com/ send it away knakered-- get it back fixed -- cheaper than average and allot less hassle, also a real family business and will not mess you about, get all mine done thro them and no problems whatsoever.

This whole thing about fix it yourself, and get the seals, glue etc, load of rubbish, takes forever and will still leak, after 'you' have attempted to fix it -- give it to the people that know what they are doing....................

pete f

[Bill S]

Some of you guys are missing the point here. I mess about with ribbing as recreation - I do not do it for a living! Replacing seals could be part of that recreation. I can find out how to do it, and enjoy attempting it, while my Rib is locked up in the garage for the winter. This is now the third Post where I have used the phrase 'Prefer to do it myself' (the operative word here is 'prefer').

Thanks to those who took the time to try and help with answers to my questions. If my suit still leaks, yes, I may well get the seals done professionaly, but if it's OK, then I'll get a wee kick out of fixing it.

Bill

[Pete7]

Bill, go for it, afterall it's hardly rocket science sticking 2 bits of rubber together with a tin of evostick. If you look into the history of wet suits the early ones came as a sheet of rubber material and a set of dress makers patterns, so a cuff seal on a drysuit isn't that difficult.

Buy a spare cuff seal and carry it on the boat.

Pete

[Bill S]

Cheers Pete,

I fully intend to give it a go. My next post is likely to be along the lines of 'How does one unglue oneself from a drysuit'

I think I might just stick (no pun intended) to my modern versions of wetsuits tho.

Roll on summer.......

Bill

[matiboy]

"while my Rib is locked up in the garage for the winter."

You cant say that on a hardcore Rib site you'll get linched

[Bill S]

It was -5 degrees this morning, and I am too bloody old and carnapcious (spelling?) to go out in this weather without a dry suit. So until the new seals go on the aforementioned suit, I'll be quite content to sit here in my armchair, in front of the fire, with a glass of Macallan 10yr old by my side, having a read on the forum, and staying nice and toasty, thank you very much.

It's cold enuff in the summer here without being out in the winter as well. Don't get me wrong - I've been there, got the Tshirt etc, sat on the bow breaking ice with an oar, suffered the 'bursting for a wee' syndrome when one's hands are numb blocks of ice and one's wedding tackle has dissappeared due to the cold, I'm simply older and less tolerant (of everything) these days, and prefer not to suffer quite as much as I was when I was younger. I'm quite sure my wee Rib appreciates being inside too, and when we get back on the water come springtime, that'll be quite quick enuff for us!

I'll leave the arctic-type stuff for all those true masochists out there.

Bill
(nicely warmed inside and out)

[Andy]

- Use 2 part Glue.
- Make sure all surfaces are clean using a solvent.
- Prep both surfaces 3 times with a cover of glue and let it completly dry.
- After the last coat push the surfaces together.
- Get some elastic rubber tape and releat the process taping over the seal joints with the suit on both sides.
- Use chalk on the glue spillover to kill its stickyness otherwise it will stick to other similar surfaces
- People use allsorts of things stuffed in their suits to give them a solid structure while performing the opperations.

[Pete7]

Bill, don't worry the sun will appear again in your northern latitudes in about 4 months time.


Pete {Frost free in Pompey this morning}

[Bill S]

Pete,

Sun? Whats that? Never heard of the stuff!

Bill (filling his hipflask)