Drysuit Lifespan

[newportscuba]

Any tricks you can share???

(Ordered mine about 3 and a half weeks ago)

No real tricks.
I rinse in FW after every dive/ day of diving.
Due to the high volume of dives I do I use McNett's Wet suit Drysuit shampoo once a month. I hang it up on a drysuit hanger inside out first for about 4-6 hours to ensure the insde is dry (prevents mildewing inside) then right side out til it is dry. Storing away from ozone producing sources like my furnace.

I apply wax to my zippers after every dive.
McNett has this zip care stuff that comes in a bottle with a brush applicator I use that when I see vertigree (the green marine rust) forming on the zipper.

I use Mcnett's Seal saver a few times a season to keep the the latex seals from deteriorating and keep them supple.

and service my valves every year pre season.

Just the standard care stuff.

 

[rcontrera]

MAN!!! I don't know where you guys are getting your repairs done, but the pricing quoted here is REDICULOUS!! A new factory installed zipper is only $198. If you buy a $24 can of glue, holes you can do yourself for almost nothing. You can also buy replacement seals (a nick or a pair of wrists) for about $30 and again use about $1.50 worth of glue. Or send it to the factory and it is $65 plus shipping.

http://www.ossystems.com/adventure/dmindex.html

4693 dives on the same $879 drysuit doing 4-6 commercial dives a day. Looks like hell, but ...

 

[abitton]

No real tricks. ... Just the standard care stuff.

I guess than that the moral is to give the suit heck in the water, but be scrupulous post-dive?

 

[newportscuba]

I guess than that the moral is to give the suit heck in the water, but be scrupulous post-dive?

Yep Take care of the gear that is going to take care of you.

 

[abitton]

Yep Take care of the gear that is going to take care of you.

Words of wisdom if I ever heard any...

 

[newportscuba]

MAN!!! I don't know where you guys are getting your repairs done, but the pricing quoted here is REDICULOUS!! A new factory installed zipper is only $198. If you buy a $24 can of glue, holes you can do yourself for almost nothing. You can also buy replacement seals (a nick or a pair of wrists) for about $30 and again use about $1.50 worth of glue. Or send it to the factory and it is $65 plus shipping.

http://www.ossystems.com/adventure/dmindex.html

4693 dives on the same $879 drysuit doing 4-6 commercial dives a day. Looks like hell, but ...

Don't understand what is Riduculous about it.
OSS and DUI will have different repair prices and shipping from Newport RI to san deigo probably costs a bit more the seattle wa to whereever you are quoting the shipping too.

your quote of $198 for a factory seal plus $65 for shipping puts you in the $263 ballpark for that repair so what is so crazy about a $37 difference in shipping and repair between two vastly dissimmilar locations and with two different manufactuers?
I was thoroughly satisfied with the repair, it extended the life span of an otherwise perfectly good suit and for me it was a business write off so $37 diff is chump change.