Gasket Repairs

[ericj]

Has anyone tried to fix a neck gasket on a dry suit?

Is it something that is within range of a person who is all thumbs?

Or is it best to just send it to the professionals? If so, which professionals?

[Cam]

I have done my wrist gaskets a couple times, but I have never attempted to replace a neck gasket. It just looks like I could easily mess it up, as I would need a form and some skill. So I always rely on Carl Ladd for that job. I say take it to Carl; he is still available for boat repairs and dry suit gasket replacements.

[Brenda R]

Tim has done it a couple of times. Kokatat has a good video on it. We use the Kokatat form (and you have to use the Kokatat gaskets with their form, the NRS gaskets don’t work so well). If you don’t use the form, Tim says that a growler bottle is a good size to use.

[Tony M.]

I've done two wrist gaskets and one neck gasket. If you are going to attempt it yourself, it's important to get the right size of the object used to set up everything (whether bottle, can, or whatever), before any Aquaseal is applied. As with many tasks (eg. welding) the set-up is VERY important. Also, watch a video (I watched a YouTube video) several times, so you won't have to refer back to it during any critical stage.
                                                      Tony

[Cat.Radcliffe]

Carl Ladd charged me $75 recently to replace a neck gasket (including the gasket).

If you come the the Ft. Wetherill trip on Saturday, I can drop your drysuit off at Carl's on my way home.

Call him first to see if he has a gasket your size  401-924-1409.

In the meantime, you could try Nexcare adhesive tape as a temporary fix to tape the gasket to your neck.  That's the flesh-colored stretchy waterproof tape in the first aid section at a pharmacy or grocery store.  You need to clean the latex and your skin really well with isopropyl alcohol.  If you're not picky, there's always good ol' duct tape

[ericj]

Carl Ladd charged me $75 recently to replace a neck gasket (including the gasket).

If you come the the Ft. Wetherill trip on Saturday, I can drop your drysuit off at Carl's on my way home.

Call him first to see if he has a gasket your size  401-924-1409.

In the meantime, you could try Nexcare adhesive tape as a temporary fix to tape the gasket to your neck.  That's the flesh-colored stretchy waterproof tape in the first aid section at a pharmacy or grocery store.  You need to clean the latex and your skin really well with isopropyl alcohol.  If you're not picky, there's always good ol' duct tape

At the Gales, where it split, we used Gorilla Tape  That left a mark.

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I cannot make the Wetherill paddle, but I think I'mm going to bring it to Carl.

There are also a few spots on the Aries that he wanted to investigate when he was rebuilding the bow, so I can give him both to look at over the holiday break.