DIY "oops"

[kidspot]

Monday was my DIY day. I stitched together two nice bellows pockets for my drysuit, both 11"x8"x4" and glued them on. Then I moved the shoulder exhaust valve to the cuff and patched the hole left in the shoulder. Quite pleased with my work I went diving today with Uncle Pug. I had a wonderful time - spent 100 minutes in the water, though I was a little chillier than I had been the last few dives since going dry I figured it was just cooler water (which U.P. had mentioned when we entered the water) so I didn't give it a second thought - I was after all much warmer than I'd been back in my 3mil suit. The water was nice today, vis was about 40 ft, lots of beautiful coral formations, the fish were great specimins and several larger eels near the end of the dive made for a great time of weightlessness. While exiting I realized there was a little water in my sleeve... must have gotten in while we were climbing out. Got back to the truck and I poured out a little water (about 1/2 cup total) began getting out of my suit and noticed the inside of the sleeve was wet all the way up to my shoulder... U.P. looks at me "what did you patch that with?" "Same stuff I made the pockets out of was my reply..." as I looked at the pourous weave they were made of, my mistake became quite clear.... so back to the drawing board to find a little better patch material - Hope you all get a laugh out of my fun for the day at least.

Aloha, Tim

 

[do it easy]

Don't replace the patch, just add more aquaseal! What kind of suit do you have and what glue did you use?

 

[kidspot]

U.P. was gracious enough, through his bemusement , to show me how to do it next time... the patch peeled right off - I'd used a waterproof contact cement similar to aquaseal... I just figured someone else might need a laugh tonight ...

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Note to self, when patching drysuit use waterproof material.

Thanks Kidspot!

 

[pasley]

It is a good man that can laugh at himself and allow others to share both in the insite and the humor of the moment.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Randy43068]

I got a big chuckle out of it, too.

Thanks!

 

[Soggy]

Then I moved the shoulder exhaust valve to the cuff and patched the hole left in the shoulder.

Out of curiosity, what made you decide to do this? I have a cuff dump, which I used to think was 'superior', but after I learned to dive in trim or in any sort of overhead, I quickly realized that a shoulder valve is a much better choice.

We've all made our DIY mistakes...don't sweat it

 

[Captain CaveMan]

Why dont you put the old exhaust valve back in and plug it up so it wont exhause and it wont leak? or make it avlable if the cuff malfunctions?
just a thought?

 

[waynne fowler]

Out of curiosity, what made you decide to do this? I have a cuff dump, which I used to think was 'superior', but after I learned to dive in trim or in any sort of overhead, I quickly realized that a shoulder valve is a much better choice.

We've all made our DIY mistakes...don't sweat it

I had this same experience.. I finally after almost 2 years of suffering with the cuff dump went the suit in and had it removed and a shoulder dump installed... some of the best money I've spent on diving. I was one of the few here that truly hated my cuff dump.

I did get a good chuckle out of your patching job Kidspot.. classic.. thanks for the smiles!

 

[jagfish]

Hi, Tim
How did you end in diving with UP on the other side of the Pacific?

Jim