Howdy. So I have a 2013 ish purchased Seasoft XV-4 drysuit that developed a leak in the right wrist area. It started very small, just a bit of dampness, but then got worse and worse over time. I had stopped diving for a few years and when I took it out to continue diving, did several leak tests, no problems found. However, when diving it was clear the valve leaked like a siv.
After taking apart the valve many times and realizing it was probably just the rubber bits worn out, I replaced it with a new valve, which is a SiTech, just like the original. We sealed it with aquaseal, so it wouldn't be any issue with the mating of the valve on the suit. New valve? Leaks just like the old one.
So how do I know it's the valve? Simple, if you don't touch the valve at all during the dive and keep it totally shut, the water ingress is manageable. The moment you push the valve to let the air out when going back up, the water flows in like someone has just cut a hole in the suit. The moment you let go of the valve, it stops. Also, when you pull the protective cap off from the inside of the valve, the whole assembly is soaking wet on the inside, the outside is not wet at all. So it's leaking out the port area and into the membrane then into my underwear and its cold!
I've torn the new valve apart, every sealing surface seems totally fine. My boyfriend has the same suit, same valve, works fine. I've taken it apart, the both look identical. So I'm totally stumped, which is why I'm posting on here!
Leak tests show nothing, zero.
Any ideas?
After taking apart the valve many times and realizing it was probably just the rubber bits worn out, I replaced it with a new valve, which is a SiTech, just like the original. We sealed it with aquaseal, so it wouldn't be any issue with the mating of the valve on the suit. New valve? Leaks just like the old one.
So how do I know it's the valve? Simple, if you don't touch the valve at all during the dive and keep it totally shut, the water ingress is manageable. The moment you push the valve to let the air out when going back up, the water flows in like someone has just cut a hole in the suit. The moment you let go of the valve, it stops. Also, when you pull the protective cap off from the inside of the valve, the whole assembly is soaking wet on the inside, the outside is not wet at all. So it's leaking out the port area and into the membrane then into my underwear and its cold!
I've torn the new valve apart, every sealing surface seems totally fine. My boyfriend has the same suit, same valve, works fine. I've taken it apart, the both look identical. So I'm totally stumped, which is why I'm posting on here!
Leak tests show nothing, zero.
Any ideas?
