Curated Post: Don't Blow a Drysuit Gasket

As part of the changes/additions I will be making to this blog (as referenced in my CWK Celebrates its 30th Post! post), I will be adding some curated content when I don't see a way I could improve on the topic being written about. I will publish content I believe is important (or should be) to kayakers, and is educational as well.

This particular article from Canoe & Kayak, written by Conor Mihell is a great example of a well written and photographed short guide on dry suit gasket repair. I've written in previous posts like 8 Tips for Dressing Right for Your Kayaking Adventure that you should consider a dry suit purchase if you intend to push the boundaries of the season and temperatures in which you'll be paddling. I bought one a couple years back, and sadly, haven't made much use of it. I've been trying to figure out how to shorten the legs (mine has socks/booties attached) without damaging the suit. I'm going to make that more of a priority, so I can put that suit to good use for the increased safety it offers - especially in cold springtime waters. I also intend to give the gaskets a thorough going over, and if they need repair, the first guide I will turn to is this article:

Don't Blow a Gasket

How to replace drysuit seals

May 01, 2017 By Conor Mihell    

I'll never forget the first time I ripped a neck gasket. I was three days into a two-week solo sea kayak trip on Lake Superior's north shore. It was early May and ice still sheathed the sheltered bays; my drysuit was a critical margin of safety against the deadly cold water. When the latex seal shredded, so did my confidence. I fretted away the cold evening. The next morning I resolved to jury-rig a duct tape repair. It was ugly but it worked.

When I got home I replaced my first gasket--a project I've repeated just about every two seasons ever since. Neck, wrist and ankle gaskets are a drysuit's weakest links. Fortunately, they're easy to replace at home. Here's what you'll need:

• 
  
• New latex gaskets (can be ordered from your drysuit's manufacturer or purchased at your local paddling shop)
• Aquaseal adhesive (one small tube is enough to install one neck gasket and two wrist gaskets, with some to spare)
• Sturdy cardboard (or better, ¼-inch plywood) cut in a circle, 10.25-inch in diameter; sand smooth if using plywood
• Sturdy cardboard (or better, ¼-inch plywood) cut in a "donut"-shaped ring, with an outer diameter of 10.25 inches and an inner diameter of 7.25-inch. Cut this ring in two to create two U-shaped pieces and sand smooth if using plywood
• Sturdy cardboard cut in a 8-inch-diameter circle
• 1 medium soup can (19 oz.) or yogurt tub (22-24 oz.) for replacing wrist and ankle gaskets
• 60-grit sandpaper
• Two-sided tape; masking tape; waxed paper
• 8-12 spring clamps
• Scissors
• 303 Protectant

**READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE AT Canoe & Kayak: DON’T BLOW A GASKET    


Do yourself a favor and the read the rest of Conor's article, and maybe check out some of his other posts on Canoe & Kayak.

- TB on the Water