I recently picked up a Fourth Element Proteus and it is quite the comfortable little suit, with one exception. I have been afflicted with a very sensitive gag reflex (my dentist and I seriously don't get along) and this suit not only rides a touch higher on the front of my neck than my past suits but it also has the Hydrolock seal that is a secondary seal (think hooded vest without the hood) just underneath the neck of the wetsuit. This thing felt like it was trying to kill me before I even hit the water. I placed it over a rather large bowl for the entire night before diving the next day but as soon as I slipped it over my head on the boat I was choking and no amount of tugging or pulling seemed to do anything to relieve the constriction on my neck. I ended up just laying it as flat as possible against my back, without actually pulling it over my head and while this alleviated the choking, it left a big lumpy mass between my back and my rig.
I'm considering modifying it myself by either making a straight vertical cut on the front part of the Hydrolock seal or possibly even a v-shaped notch. My question is what do I do after this in order to keep the cut(s) from running further? I was thinking of simply throwing a few stitches around the bottom of it to prevent further tearing and then sealing it with some kind of neoprene glue or cement. Any other suggestions on how to make this work or other ways to go about it? Exactly what kind of sealant should I use to clean up the edges and cover the stitching? I've heard Aquaseal is a no-go. I do have a small bottle of this stuff Aquarium Accessories Leaking Aquarium Silicone Sealant | Marineland although I'm not sure where it came from. Says it's 100% clear silicone rubber, stays flexible, won't crack or shrink and should be harmless to me and fish after it's cured but I'm all for getting the right product if this won't work.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I'm considering modifying it myself by either making a straight vertical cut on the front part of the Hydrolock seal or possibly even a v-shaped notch. My question is what do I do after this in order to keep the cut(s) from running further? I was thinking of simply throwing a few stitches around the bottom of it to prevent further tearing and then sealing it with some kind of neoprene glue or cement. Any other suggestions on how to make this work or other ways to go about it? Exactly what kind of sealant should I use to clean up the edges and cover the stitching? I've heard Aquaseal is a no-go. I do have a small bottle of this stuff Aquarium Accessories Leaking Aquarium Silicone Sealant | Marineland although I'm not sure where it came from. Says it's 100% clear silicone rubber, stays flexible, won't crack or shrink and should be harmless to me and fish after it's cured but I'm all for getting the right product if this won't work.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
