Question Ordering Seaskin, please double check

[Mario007]

Side mount diver, mainly shore dives, about 50 dives a year, this is my seaskin configuration any advice or suggestion to add or remove?

 

[happy-diver]

Yeah after deciphering your advice and suggestions still wait a week mate before you submit your order

 

[Zef]

I recommend changing the Si-Tech docking system 60910 to the Si-Tech QCS oval option. The 60910 is the older, larger, and round Si-Tech QCP cuff system, you will be very limited with regards to an itegrated dryglove system with these cuff rings. The oval cuff system is much more versatile and you will have more options from si-tech and other brands for seamlessly integrating a dryglove system...personally I recommend the Rolock 90 glove system. Also add some spare Si-Tech silicone wrist seals as Seaskin is the least expensive source for them...get a spare neck seal too.

I would also add a P-valve even if you currently don't plan to use one, you will most likely want one in the future, and it is better to have it factory installed rather than you needing to cut/punch a hole in your suit to install it yourself when that future desire arrives.

From what I can tell reading through similar requests and discussions, the consesus is the PU protective patches are not necessary and in the case of the crotch area, it was reported by at least one person that it caused wear and tear on their suit.

I am not sure how necessary the knee pads are....do you plan to spend a lot of time on your knees? if not, I recommend de-selecting this option.

Is there a reason you want the shoulder dump AND the cuff dump?....this is not conventional and unless you have experience where you absolutely know you want the cuff dump, I wouldn't bother with the expense and an extra unecessary hole in my suit.

-Z

 

[lexvil]

I recommend changing the Si-Tech docking system 60910 to the Si-Tech QCS oval option. The 60910 is the older, larger, and round Si-Tech QCP cuff system, you will be very limited with regards to an itegrated dryglove system with these cuff rings. The oval cuff system is much more versatile and you will have more options from si-tech and other brands for seamlessly integrating a dryglove system...personally I recommend the Rolock 90 glove system. Also add some spare Si-Tech silicone wrist seals as Seaskin is the least expensive source for them...get a spare neck seal too.

I would also add a P-valve even if you currently don't plan to use one, you will most likely want one in the future, and it is better to have it factory installed rather than you needing to cut/punch a hole in your suit to install it yourself when that future desire arrives.

From what I can tell reading through similar requests and discussions, the consesus is the PU protective patches are not necessary and in the case of the crotch area, it was reported by at least one person that it caused wear and tear on their suit.

I am not sure how necessary the knee pads are....do you plan to spend a lot of time on your knees? if not, I recommend de-selecting this option.

Is there a reason you want the shoulder dumb AND the cuff dump?....this is not conventional and unless you have experience where you absolutely know you want the cuff dump, I wouldn't bother with the expense and an extra unecessary hole in my suit.

-Z

What he said, without specific reasons the protection and knee pads will cause mose problems than they solve, I feel the same way about the warm neck. I use the standard exhaust location and can’t think of a reason I would ever want a cuff dump. A big YES to the QCS wrist rings and Rolock.

 

[Badger7]

100% agree on comments above, including the ability to insert Rolock90 system directly into the QCS oval wrist rings if you want dry gloves, and more convenient ring size and shape when diving wet gloves. Would absolutely avoid the older style 60910 rings. If you take your suit build and Zef and Lex's suggestions above into consideration, the only difference you'd have between your suit and mine is the position of the expedition pockets and if you're diving primarily SM, that's the right call.

Only regret I have with my suit was ordering a trilobite cutter stitched into the left arm, always seeming to get in the way of what I want to wear on my left arm, whether its a compass or slate or backup computer.

The best QOL improvement in my diving was the trigon pee valve option. Staying well hydrated and finding relief throughout the dive is amazing.

Instead of the crotch reinforcement, just slide a neoprene tube used for shoulder padding over your crotch strap, better suit protection and far more comfortable when cinched tight.

 

[runsongas]

the reinforcement/knee pads are more for sump divers i think

depending on your wrist / neck size, you might find extra large latex seals better than regular size silicone. afaik there is no source for extra large silicone seals, they are one of those one size fits most situations.

depending what wrist computer you use, you may want the dive computer strap patch

sidenote: wth happened that the light monkey tinkle valve is 2x the cost of the sitech trigon?

 

[Zef]

depending on your wrist / neck size, you might find extra large latex seals better than regular size silicone. afaik there is no source for extra large silicone seals, they are one of those one size fits most situations.

The Si-Tech Silflex silicone neck seals are available in size standard and small. There are raised rings molded into the seal to be used as a cutting guide if one's neck is too tight.

I wear a dress shirt with an 18-inch neck measurement and find the standard size neck seal to be functionaly comfortable, I have never felt it was too tight.

Waterproof also markets a silicone neck seal that is compatible with the Si-Tech neck ring systems....it has a bit of a different shape and may be an option for folks who don't find the Si-Tech silicon neck seals to be comfortable enough.

Waterproof also markets silicone wrist seals that come in the bottle neck shape and also ones that come with a tapered/bullet shape....the bullet shaped ones (depicted below) do not "hug" the wrist as tight as there is less of a contact patch between the seal and the forearm/wrist. I also find the Waterproof brand seals to be slightly thinner than the Si-Tech brand seals....this might equate to more stretchiness, but I question the durability.

I have both brands in my arsenal of spare seals but have only torn one wrist seal since I owning my drysuit (touch wood), so I have not had the need to use/test the Waterproof seals I have available.

It is also possible ot use latex seals with the Si-Tech neck and wrist ring systems, and they also make a neoprene neck seal for use with their neck ring system...so while there are not a lot of companies making compatible seals, there are a modicum of choices available.

-Z

 

[Zef]

sidenote: wth happened that the light monkey tinkle valve is 2x the cost of the sitech trigon?

Si-Tech is a company based in Sweden and Light Monkey is a company based in the US. I suspect that it is less expensive for Seaskin to have products shipped from Sweden and imported into the UK compared to from the US.

-Z

 

[vioch]

it was reported by at least one person that it caused wear and tear on their suit.

It was me. However, after further consideration, I concluded that the sealing tapes at the crotch area of my suit were not properly overlapped, unlike in other Novas. Therefore, I now believe the main issue is not the crotch reinforcement.
Still, I do not see the benefits of this reinforcement either.))

 

[admikar]

Agree with vioch. Unless you are doing a lot of DPV diving, there is not a lot of strees in crotch area.
I wanted to go with back protection to avoid any possible damage from back plate, but decided to go with Cordura insert on plate itself.
QCS and P-valve are great suggestions .
One thing I regret, but this is totally down to personal taste, is removing Seaskin logo. I like how it looks on hood and I think it would be real nice on suite too.