My first Drysuit Leak

[skdvr]

So I have two drysuits, and one set of Viking Bayonet Rings. I have a Whites Fusion and a No Name suite the is just like the DUI CLX 450. I have swapped the dryglove rings back and forth a few times depending on which suit I felt like wearing. Over the winter the No Name suit was much easier to get into with my thick undergarments so that suit has had the rings on it. This past weekend I was getting into the water for the first time in about a month and a half and wanted to dive the Fusion. It was kind of a last min decision to go and dive so I did not have time to swap the rings around. Plus I had not dove with wetgloves in about a year and a half so I thought I would put my 5mm gloves to good use. So I meet up with my buddy at the local quarry along with another diver that was just there looking for a buddy. I am never one to turn down a fellow diver so we invite her along. After getting in the water and sitting on the surface for a few min helping our new buddy get her gear on I noticed that my arm felt a little wet. In my mind I thought that it was just my brain playing a trick on me because my hands were wet which they had not been in about a year and a half. We got everything situated and started our decent. Our new buddy was still at the surface so we go back up and figure out that she forgot to add weight to her BC after adding the top half of her 7mm farmer jane. When we got back on the surface I could feel that the left arm of my undergarment was soaked. I thought that maybe I had pinched my wrist seal with my wetgloves when I strapped on the velcro, so I took the glove off and took a look at my seal and carefully put the glove back on. OK, so we are all ready to start the decent again. We started to decend and when I got below the thermocline I could tell that I was getting water getting in my suit still. Back to the surface we went. This time I decended a few feet and held that arm up and had a buddy check for bubbles. Sure enough there were some coming out of my wrist seal. I got out and the other divers continued on. When got my suit off and took a look there was a good size hole right where the rings were from the dryglove rings. After thinking about it for a little while I can remember them being particularly difficult to get out of my suit last time and I think I was starting to loose my patients when I took them out. I can remember my thumbs hurting from trying to seperate the rings. I am sure that I probably cut the seal with my thumb nail or just from pushing so hard on the rings one of them may have cut the seal.

Oh well, you live and you learn I guess...

Here is a pic of the hole in the seal. You can see the imprint from where the Bayonet Rings were on the seal...



Phil

[Jack Hammer]

Sorry to hear that, I carry a bicycle tube patch kit in my gear just in case. I'm not sure it will work but I figure I'll find out when I get a hole, notihing to lose at that point. I use a ring on mine that is just snug because I'm paraniod about pinching a hole in mine. I've only had it on a few months but it's held fine.

Jack

[skdvr]

Yeah, I actually have a patch kit too in my gear but I was only going to be there for one dive anyway so I did not bother. If I had been out for the weekend somewhere I would have gave it a shot. I think that it would work just fine for a little while if given proper time to dry...

Phil

[CompuDude]

Bummer. Should be easy to patch, though.

My personal take on dryglove rings is they should stay put, and NOT be switched back and forth. Just too hard on the seals.

If I were you, I'd look into picking up a second set of rings for your other suit.

One advantage of zip seals.

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Bummer. Should be easy to patch, though.

My personal take on dryglove rings is they should stay put, and NOT be switched back and forth. Just too hard on the seals.

If I were you, I'd look into picking up a second set of rings for your other suit.

One advantage of zip seals.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I was going to pick up another set for my b-day (next week) but I have spent a ton getting all my stuff together for O2 cleaning and for Viz's. Between the tumbler, media, mirrors, lights, and all the associate crud I think I have already spent my b-day money

I wish I could just buy the suit side rings. Maybe I will talk to Bob3 and see if he happens to sell any that way...

Phil

[bsktcase93]

Just look on ebay for the rings I'm sure someone has got to be selling a set

[baywatch106]

could you use aquaseal to patch it?

[skdvr]

Originally Posted by baywatch106

could you use aquaseal to patch it?

You could use aquaseal and a piece of innertube, but I ordered new seals and I am going to replace it myself...

If I was out on a dive trip somewhere I would have repaired it and it probably would have been fine, but I do not know how long it would hold up, and with my luck it would probably hold for a few weeks and then leak on me again when I am up in the great lakes and skrew up my day or weekend of diving.

Phil

[FoxHound]

after recently having a hole in my drysuit, i did manage to patch it with aquaseal, but after a few dives it doesnt look to healthy and just sent it in to the pros for a fix, for a few dollars i have a nice professionally sealed leak. But on a trip or charter, aqua seal and a patch kit are life savers haha

[cummings66]

For temporary repairs I use duct tape. There is a marine version out there that's extra sticky, and I guarantee you it works. I ripped a 3 inch slice in my drysuit and used it to effect a repair so I could dive again. Did 5 more dives that day without a single leak.

Real PITA to remove the residue to repair it once I got home, but I lost no time at all due to the tear, and when it's 10 degrees outside and ice all over I'm sure it would have been rather obvious to me if it leaked.

Duct tape, works great. Recommended by me.

New seals or a good patch on them for a permanent repair though.