Dry Suit Repair- any recommendations?

[shoupart]

I have an old crushed neoprene drysuit (circa 1990, I'm guessing) that seems to be in decent shape, but I think the seals need to be tighter, especially around the neck. (The neck seal is just neoprene, but the wrist seals are latex)

Plus, there is a weird valve installed. It's more like a BC inflator hose than one of those little button-style valves.

Does anybody know if any shops around here could install a real valve on it, and put in better, tighter seals?

 

[Empty V]

Hey brutha, you can send it off to these guys. Superior Diving Repair, Inc. They did some custom tailoring for me on my trilam and did a good job.
Billy

 

[Peter_C]

I have a 1995 DUI CF200, so I can speak from experience. Unless you repair it yourself, you will spend more money paying someone for repairs, than it would cost to buy a brand new Bare or something slightly used.

Zippers to purchase are $150 and to have someone install one is over $300. There comes a time, and around 15 years old would be the time, that a suit will need a zipper (Zippers are hard to install on an old compressed neoprene, the material wants to tear and stretch). Plus $100 min for wrist and neck seals and maybe a couple more leaks along with an $80 inflater valve and you are well on your way to spending $600.

 

[shoupart]

Thanks for the breakdown. I hadn't considered the life of the zipper and the need to replace that.

 

[Empty V]

To have my trilam suit altered completely Superior Diving Repair(Superior Diving Repair, Inc.) only charged me $270. I added kevlar knee pads for another $90. It took about a month to get it back.

Billy

 

[Tampico_ED]

Hi,

The repair/add of drysuit is cheaper than you might think....call Divers Cove :: Home

Ed, Always fix my suits. I swear he has at least 15 years doing it !

He just had a workshop on Boston Sea Rovers....Repair suit.....yes, someone who actually do not mind to teach how to fix them.

Ed

 

[orangelion03]

Gamble Scuba in Florida Contact

They replaced wrist and neck seals, and zipper on my CLX450 for $380 including return shipping. Turnaround was three weeks including shipping time (ground).

 

[limeyx]

To have my trilam suit altered completely Superior Diving Repair(Superior Diving Repair, Inc.) only charged me $270. I added kevlar knee pads for another $90. It took about a month to get it back.

Billy

I agree. Superior has good prices and does an excellent job on my suits (and other people I know)

They are also honest, if they think the suit will just cost way too much to repair, they will more than likely give you the straight-up news.

 

[Izu]

My trilam drysuit is going in for neck and wrist seals. Should I stick with latex or change to neoprene ? The wifey has neoprene seals on hers and they seem very durable if not a bit tight. I like the lightweightness and inherent stretchability of the latex but at times it seems like a bit thin. Advice appreciated.

 

[Underwater Ogre]

Try this...it helped me out a bunch of times.
www.frogkick.nl/files/drysuit_repair_outline.pdf

If you have small neck latex works well...otherwise go with neoprene...much warmer.

I tend to lean towards latex wrist seals.