Reinforcing a trilam drysuit

[Tassie_Rohan]

Folks: what’s the best way to reinforce the inside of a trilam drysuit?

My suit is a year old, and there's been a few pinhole leaks adjacent to solid attachments (i.e. around the pee valve or next to the built-in dry glove rings). It’s totally user error: I haven’t exactly been gentle when pulling the suit inside out during washing and drying. Lesson learnt.

I wish to reinforce the inside of the suit in these areas. I’m considering using gorilla tape, or sail repair tape, but do let me know of any better, more professional ways to do this (i.e. glues, sealing tapes, etc)...

Cheers,

Rohan.

 

[lermontov]

reinforce to do what ?reduce wear and tear ? stop leaks ?- you can put on rubber patches but you'll need a specialised glue Bostik unigrip 999HR and desmodur RFE is recommended

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Thanks - reinforce to reduce the amount of stress on the fabric adjacent to hard points - and so reduce its tendency to tear and leak.

 

[PR_SMITH]

I use SC4000 2 part glue, and a pvc backed polyester fabric for reinforcements. I put a pee valve in my semi-dry wetsuit and had to reinforce the suit around the hole for the valve. Works great.
You could also use crushed neoprene.

https://www.rematiptop.com/assets/tech/ind/tech-info/REMA-TIP-TOP-SC4000-Cement-Bonding-Procedures-v8.pdf

 

[lexvil]

I assume you have sealed the leaks, the best next step is to stop causing them, you don’t always need to turn the suit inside out, you don’t need to get crazy cleaning it. More things are ruined by over care than under care.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Folks: what’s the best way to reinforce the inside of a trilam drysuit?

My suit is a year old, and there's been a few pinhole leaks adjacent to solid attachments (i.e. around the pee valve or next to the built-in dry glove rings). It’s totally user error: I haven’t exactly been gentle when pulling the suit inside out during washing and drying. Lesson learnt.

I wish to reinforce the inside of the suit in these areas. I’m considering using gorilla tape, or sail repair tape, but do let me know of any better, more professional ways to do this (i.e. glues, sealing tapes, etc)...

Cheers,

Rohan.

You wash your suit?

I think I've only ever done that twice when the catheter came loose.

 

[Boarderguy]

Spray the outside and hang to dry with the gloves off (kubi rings) and only the zip cover closed. Once the outside is dry I bring it inside and let the condensation dry out by hanging it feet up on a stand I built. No inside out flexing needed so far.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

Spray the outside and hang to dry with the gloves off (kubi rings) and only the zip cover closed. Once the outside is dry I bring it inside and let the condensation dry out by hanging it feet up on a stand I built. No inside out flexing needed so far.

Or get a dive in fresh and call it a day.

Sometimes my stuff might be salty for a few days, but a fresh dive around the corner takes care of all that (at least hope!)

 

[lexvil]

Or get a dive in fresh and call it a day.

Sometimes my stuff might be salty for a few days, but a fresh dive around the corner takes care of all that (at least hope!)

As Rob can attest, overzealous cleaning of sensitive “gear” can lead to “issues”

 

[Boarderguy]

Or get a dive in fresh and call it a day.

Sometimes my stuff might be salty for a few days, but a fresh dive around the corner takes care of all that (at least hope!)

Mine often sits for a couple days because I'm both very busy and lazy. I dove in salt last night and got home well after my bedtime so the truck got unpacked and my crate set in the shed. I'm busy today after work so it may stay untouched still. Saturday I'm busy from 0800 - 1800 so it might get rinsed off then... I used to be very good about full rinse/cleaning the day of but I value sleep a bit more sometimes.