Please help...

[Bandito]

I am a new diver and have a new one piece 7mm wet suit for diving the cold waters here in New England. We dive primarily in Maine ($10,000.00 fine for snagging lobsters for each lobster as a diver in the bay of Maine if you can believe it!).

At any rate...I am a short guy 5'5" in my socks...my suit fits well but the legs are a bit too long making it difficult to put on.

Question: can I just cut off some of the leg material or do I have to have this done by a specialist of some sort?

If I can cut the suit can someone point me to where I can find some instructions to do so?

Thanks...Cliff

 

[MSilvia]

If you think the fit will be good if the legs are shorter, and if you're handy with tools and such, I think you can get away with doing it yourself. If it were me, I'd get a tube of Aquaseal neoprene glue to seal the cut ends and make sure there isn't any fraying of the outer material or anything like that.

That said, there are probably specialists who deal in wet suit alterations if you're inclined to shell out the money to have it done professionally.

 

[Bandito]

Thanks Matt...appreciate the tip. I guess my main concern was about the possibility of the cut ends fraying...but sonds like the Aquaseal stuff is the trick to that.

Thanks again...

Cliff

 

[MSilvia]

No problem.

Good luck!

 

[Scottri]

I would see about having someone with a sewing machine dress the ends up a little. Maybe fold them over and sew them with an industrial sewing machine to keep the from getting frayed and tattered.


Scott

 

[Green_Manelishi]

If you think the fit will be good if the legs are shorter, and if you're handy with tools and such, I think you can get away with doing it yourself. If it were me, I'd get a tube of Aquaseal neoprene glue to seal the cut ends and make sure there isn't any fraying of the outer material or anything like that.

That said, there are probably specialists who deal in wet suit alterations if you're inclined to shell out the money to have it done professionally.

You will probably need to taper the ends after you cut the suit. That will require sewing And/or glueing.

 

[ChrisA]

At any rate...I am a short guy 5'5" in my socks...my suit fits well but the legs are a bit too long making it difficult to put on.

Question: can I just cut off some of the leg material or do I have to have this done by a specialist of some sort?

If I can cut the suit can someone point me to where I can find some instructions to do so?

Thanks...Cliff

I'm only 2-3/4 inches inches taller but have short legs for my
hight so same problem. Here are some observations but no
recomendations:

1) Wetsuit legs taper downward being smaller in ankles then
calves. If you simply cut off the bottoms the ankles will be
to big around and let in water.

2) Some suits (like mine) have seals at the ankles, nothing fancy, just a different material that sticks to skin, you'd loose that

3) I simply pull up the legs making some baggieness in the upper legs as I want the knee patches over my knees

4) to "do it right" someone should cut the suit at the upper leg
and at calf then resew it. I'm guessing a $70 mod at a local custom suit shop. but as I can distribute the baggyness around, it's not to bad and I can only feel chill in my arms, never in the legs and I was in 51F water last night after work so I'm not motivated to customize suit

5) Possibly cheaper/better mod is to cut off legs and add
ankle zipper, but then any knee pads would be below knees

 

[Bandito]

Thanks Chris: I was concerned about some of the "hidden" issues regarding making this type of modification and it seem like you pretty much pegged them for me.

The bottom line seems to be that if you need to do this and want it done right you need to consult "the experts"...

Thanks Chris

 

[bnaudie]

Cliff,

Off topic from your original post, but I have a Maine cold water question. I've always dived a two piece, sometimes with regular pants, sometimes farmer john.

How do you like the one piece?

Do you wear any other neoprene underneath (e.g., shorty)?

Does your one piece include the hood?

And completely off topic.... I'm in Saco. Where abouts are you? I'm trying to find a dive group or club in order to increase dive opportunities.

Bruce

I am a new diver and have a new one piece 7mm wet suit for diving the cold waters here in New England. We dive primarily in Maine ($10,000.00 fine for snagging lobsters for each lobster as a diver in the bay of Maine if you can believe it!).

Thanks...Cliff

 

[k9buzz]

Or you can go here http://www.inlandivers.com/ and they will alter your suit for a cheap fee. I had my sleeves done for less than $10.00.