Drysuit seals...
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Choosing a boat
Forum Discription: Ask any questions about the sport!
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1352
Printed Date: 04 Aug 25 at 9:30pm
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Topic: Drysuit seals...
Posted By: Andy
Subject: Drysuit seals...
Date Posted: 06 Jan 06 at 10:26pm
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Getting a drysuit begins to seem more and more of a good idea - the next safety boat course is February and I'd be surprised if I'm not in the water then, even if the boat's still in the garage... It all seemed simple after checking a suit (a Crewsaver Hyperdry breathable) for size at the Dinghy show last year, but now I find you can get them with latex or neoprene seals. What would make me choose one or the other? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? My only experience has been the one try-on-for-size, with latex seals which on a new-out-of-the-bag suit practically cut off the blood supply to my brain! I know you can stretch and/or trim them, but is a neoprene seal likely to be any different? Any thoughts?
Andy |
Replies:
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 06 Jan 06 at 10:51pm
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I changed to a neopreme seal cos the latex irritated my neck. I
find the neopreme seals to be more comfortable and harder to split but
the latex ones are more stretchy and often form more watertight seals
than the neopreme. Really it's just down to personal preference. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: lozza
Date Posted: 07 Jan 06 at 11:48am
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Neoprene seals are generally less tight and more durable but are not completely waterproof. But how many times will you be completly submersed in your drysuit to test the waterproofness??? Anybody know any companies which sell the neoprene seals to replace the latex ones? I've seen them on canoing websites but not on sailing sites. ------------- Life's a reach, then you gybe |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 07 Jan 06 at 12:31pm
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Hammond drysuits will sell either and convert if u don't like what
you've got. Are u sure neopreme isn't completely waterproof cos
i've been told that the material is totally waterproof.
------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Wave Rider
Date Posted: 07 Jan 06 at 1:48pm
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Some drysuits are made of neoprene so i imagine it can be waterproof, as i have been told it is a diffrent type and is more compressed than the neoprene in wetsuits. ------------- -[Franko]- Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club RS600 933 |
Posted By: Andy
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 2:29pm
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Sounds like neoprene is the way to go... Currently sailing an RS Feva with my daughter; unlikely to get a trapeze boat (pond sailers); if I ever move to a singlehander it's more likely to be a Solo than a Laser. So - front zip or back zip? Andy |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 2:41pm
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I'd go for a back zip. I had a front zip one first but i found it restricted my movement.
------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Harry44981!
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 4:06pm
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I'd go for a front zip- you can go for a wee on the water, good if you're out all day. Weeing in your drysuit isn't great (apparently). ------------- |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 5:34pm
I'm actually quite good at holding it actually but if you want you can get a special zip at the front just for the purpose!
------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 6:42pm
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With back zip you have to have someone handy to "zip-u-up". But with front zip you can do it yourself. ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 8:34pm
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With good flexibility and with some practise and technique i'm sure you can do it yourself. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: *GM*
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 8:35pm
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Always used to be able to do the back zip on my old suit on my own. That's what happens when youur knuckles drag on the ground... Neoprene is indeed waterproof but neoprene seals don't fit as tightly as latex ones. I've been using a neoprene suit and can vouch for the wrist and ankle seal being unpleasantly less than watertight - paled into insignificance once I managed to put a two inch rip in to it though... |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 9:48pm
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That I would like to see! ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:17pm
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I could do the back zip on my old drysuit myself but usualy ended up straining a muscle or something in the process
------------- |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 10:24pm
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I can barely get in or out my front zipped dry suit without pulling a muscle or getting stuck and feeling claustraphobic! So maybe I'm not the best person to help. ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 11:10pm
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Im never gonna be able to see you again without the image of you stuck
halfway in a drysuit wimperning about small enclosed spaces...
------------- |
Posted By: Strawberry
Date Posted: 08 Jan 06 at 11:15pm
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If you get it wrong, that's it, your stuck in a straight jacket! ------------- Cherub 2649 "Dangerous Strawberry |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 09 Jan 06 at 4:30pm
I don't wear a drysuit any more. But i'd show you how to get out of a back zip one with some slick techniques if i ever saw u. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: 5420
Date Posted: 09 Jan 06 at 5:24pm
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doing that is easy its not esaky hard ------------- |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 09 Jan 06 at 5:32pm
Yeah that's kind of the point i'm making. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 22 Jan 06 at 4:06pm
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Nope... Don't even wear a drysuit any more so i don't, but wen i did i wasn't, and if i did again i wouldn't. ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 22 Jan 06 at 5:28pm
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Yer but no but yer but no
------------- |
Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 23 Jan 06 at 9:51pm
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front zip drysuits are cr*p they restrict your movement too much i dont really like drysuits but if you want one get one with a back zip ------------- |
Posted By: Prince Buster
Date Posted: 24 Jan 06 at 4:48pm
Well that's one way to kill a thread!!  ------------- international moth - "what what?" |
Posted By: Isis
Date Posted: 24 Jan 06 at 6:48pm
Ive always had a drysuit in the past but going through this winter in a 3mm with a couple of craft thermals and a spray top. Its fine if you sail a reasonably energetic boat and even when you fall in its ok once you get past the 'OOOHGHH JESUS   CHRIST THATS COLD' moment
Im sorry, you seem to be implying that this thread is dead? ------------- |
