Repairing a well-used DUI drysuit?

[jellycatsdad]

I picked up a well-used DUI TLS350 drysuit, it was used two years ago and the owner said there was a leak in the chest area. But hey, it was a $100 gamble. I know, be patient and save up for a Seaskin. But diving Monterey in a wetsuit even with my current “high-end” suit(Henderson Aqualock 7mm with another 7/5mm hooded vest on top for a total of 12mm of neoprene over my core, 7mm on my head and limbs) gets old fast - not enough to call the dive but I’m chilled.

The zipper has seen better days, the owner said there’s a chest leak. The neck seal can use a fresh coat of seam sealer which I might take on myself. Is this worth having someone replace the zipper or with patience and the help of someone versed with a sewing machine(I wager I need a heavy-duty machine that can sew through sailcloth and backpack material) I can take on the zipper replacement myself? This is shaping up to be a DIY or “i kNoW a gUy” endeavor here. I want to get a year or two of dives with this while I save up for a new(or gently used) drysuit - I lust after a Fourth Element but the Seaskin looks like a winner.

 

[DrakeTheDiver]

I attempted to go this route and got pretty shafted, I purchased a DUI suit used that was maybe 8 years old, owner pretty much misrepresented it to me and then ghosted me. But I sent it to DUI and they told me that getting it fixed would be nearly $950 US, was really disheartening. They said that even after this work I would be chasing leaks and likely would see it leaking in a new place after every dive. I never fixed the suit up and did end up saving for a Seaskin. YMMV but I think all you'll end up with is a bunch of headaches. That said, aqua seal goes a long way, you could also see if your local dive shop would be willing to locate all the leaks for you, might make the patch job easier if you don't have anywhere good to do it.

 

[jellycatsdad]

I attempted to go this route and got pretty shafted, I purchased a DUI suit used that was maybe 8 years old, owner pretty much misrepresented it to me and then ghosted me. But I sent it to DUI and they told me that getting it fixed would be nearly $950 US, was really disheartening. They said that even after this work I would be chasing leaks and likely would see it leaking in a new place after every dive. I never fixed the suit up and did end up saving for a Seaskin. YMMV but I think all you'll end up with is a bunch of headaches. That said, aqua seal goes a long way, you could also see if your local dive shop would be willing to locate all the leaks for you, might make the patch job easier if you don't have anywhere good to do it.

Yea, I should have been patient and saved up for a Seaskin but the big unknown is tariffs(they’re in the UK so not part of the Eurozone but still) - I priced one out and it’s $1600 with the options I want - replaceable neck/wrist seals, P-valve, Kevlar knee pads, bigger pockets, reinforcements on the “high wear” areas. I’m desperate to ditch the wetsuit as soon as possible(except when my future drysuit is in the shop for repairs or I travel somewhere where diving wet is fine).

I’m trying to find a used G1 neck ZipSeal to do a leak test. I can drop this off at my dive shop for them to an evaluation.

 

[Badger7]

To know what you're up against, you need to know exactly where its leaking (zipper seam, zipper exterior seal, etc).

I might suggest pulling the inflator valve, remounting it backwards, figure out a good seal on the neck and the wrists (conic salad bowl, plastic drinking glasses, whatever it takes, replacing the neck seal as neccesary), turn the suit completely inside out, reach through the neck hole and totally close the zipper, plug the wrists and neck with the above, put it on a tank while inside out and pump it up slightly plump, and grab a spray bottle with water and a healthy squirt of dish soap, saturating the inside (out) of the suit and see where it is bubbling from.

 

[jellycatsdad]

To know what you're up against, you need to know exactly where its leaking (zipper seam, zipper exterior seal, etc).

I might suggest pulling the inflator valve, remounting it backwards, figure out a good seal on the neck and the wrists (conic salad bowl, plastic drinking glasses, whatever it takes, replacing the neck seal as neccesary), turn the suit completely inside out, reach through the neck hole and totally close the zipper, plug the wrists and neck with the above, put it on a tank while inside out and pump it up slightly plump, and grab a spray bottle with water and a healthy squirt of dish soap, saturating the inside (out) of the suit and see where it is bubbling from.

That’s my plan - if I had a neck seal laying around.

 

[lexvil]

Yea, I should have been patient and saved up for a Seaskin but the big unknown is tariffs(they’re in the UK so not part of the Eurozone but still) - I priced one out and it’s $1600 with the options I want - replaceable neck/wrist seals, P-valve, Kevlar knee pads, bigger pockets, reinforcements on the “high wear” areas. I’m desperate to ditch the wetsuit as soon as possible(except when my future drysuit is in the shop for repairs or I travel somewhere where diving wet is fine).

I’m trying to find a used G1 neck ZipSeal to do a leak test. I can drop this off at my dive shop for them to an evaluation.

You just lost $100 and will be throwing good money after bad as you try to make it divable. $1600 for a seaskin is way over accessorized but you may not know what you don’t need until you have it.

Order a plain Jane neoprene ultra suit from Seaskin and dive it as it comes.

 

[Badger7]

You just lost $100 and will be throwing good money after bad as you try to make it divable. $1600 for a seaskin is way over accessorized but you may not know what you don’t need until you have it.

Yeah, for fun I specced a new seaskin a couple days ago and it was like $1200 including shipping and rolocks. If you're pricing one out, go all the way to the point of shipping address so it removes the VAT.

 

[jellycatsdad]

You just lost $100 and will be throwing good money after bad as you try to make it divable. $1600 for a seaskin is way over accessorized but you may not know what you don’t need until you have it.

Order a plain Jane neoprene ultra suit from Seaskin and dive it as it comes.

It’s not in the cards now - and neoprene back-entry drysuits just look “dorky”. I overspeced since some things can be added on later(P-valve) but to do it right you have only one shot(pockets, the stitching will need to be sealed. I’ll just have to bear and grin it with my current wetsuit.

Then again, it could be worse, a well-worn rental wetsuit. Fixing this drysuit might become an DIY project until I can get a new one of my own.

 

[lexvil]

$750 plus shipping so less than $900 look dorky and be warm or stay cold.

 

[runsongas]

do you have access to a pool? you can just put the suit on and hold your hands over your head, get up to about chest deep and at least see how bad the leaking is from the chest. if its already from the seams, you can slather with aquaseal, but you're bailing water out of a leaking boat at that point. main zipper is doable, just need a good heat gun and acetone nail polish remover to clean off and get the old zipper off. then its order what you need from DRIS (or even consider mailing it to them)

if you have a good relationship with a local dive shop that carries DUI, ask if they might have broken zip seals you can have. then just glue new seals onto the zip rings.