Dry vs Semi-Dry Suits

Don't rescue personnel(swimmers??) and scuba divers use dry suits nowadays? Don't recall much about free-divers using them, although I think pmmpete? in frozen waters kills fish in them

Depends on water and air temps.  USCG Swimmers wear anything from a spring shorty suit to a full dry suit. 

The drysuit I used was made by DUI for commercial divers, the problem I had with it was air migrating around the body and screwing with my balance when I was moving around working. Part of that is probably about fit. Also the mildew stink gets pretty bad

Good wetsuits are just as warm and for long hours in the water have the advantage you can pee with impunity. With the drysuit I had to stop what I was doing and come out of the water

None of which is relevant here unless you get separated from your yak and are looking at a long swim back to shore

I mentioned somewhere before I spend a lot of hours in the water these days, 2-3 times a week and usually 4 to 6 hours sometimes more. Before winter I need to upgrade my wetsuit for the 52 degree water temps that are coming

Last winter I was freezing my ass off and it got me thinking if I was separated from my yak and really had to swim some miles back to shore in winter waters my 3mm NRS farmer johns would be a joke

Yesterday the water temp was way colder than a week ago so it’s a factor already If I get out for salmon once this year it would be in a full wetsuit with the top peeled down while I paddle and can pull it up if I ended up in the water

I would probably look at the new drysuits but I’m an old man and old men have to pee more

From what I understand, air is a good insulator. If I were separated from yak and just bobbing around, I might just float and bob. If I had to swim, burping the balloon like air would probably be what I would do.

In wintery sonoma coast waters, I would get cold after only 1-2 hours in a non skin-in 5mm sporasub full suit. A 6.5mm skin-in Omer did the trick but the thicker suits does make for some gumbiness.

No comment on the urination   

Started with a Semi-Dry Kokatat, but sprang for a full dry/gortex suit a couple years ago. Both had seals that were ridiculasly tight for my wrists, and I needed to trim them even after stretching them.  Would cut off my circulation to my hands pretty bad.  And when I trimmed them, I botched it, went a bit looser than I think I should have, but with the velcro straps over them, they do not leak at all.  I'd say the Semi-Dry was a much less expensive, but I dont think it will last as long as this Gortex one.  Really happy with it, except I've lost enough weight now that I will probably need to buy another one soon 

But can you pee in it?

But can you pee in it?

I can pee in or out of it 

For those that have the semi dry suits, Are the neoprene necks more adjustable?

Yes, at least on the 2 Kokatat models that I've owned.

I wasn’t sure when I would receive the new gaskets from Kokatat so I decided to repair the tear in my wrist gasket. I went to CCK and picked up some Auqaseal to get the job done.

Then I took a good look at the tear and realized that it was curved and went from small section well into the proportionately larger area. I didn’t seem like it would be possible to align two sides in order to glue a strip of latex cut from the front of the gasket.

Frustrated but unwilling to concede defeat I kept trying to think of a way to pull it off. After awhile I came up with a plan. I took a toilet paper roll tube and started wrapping paper towels in a taper until it closely matched the gasket shape.

Then I wrapped the paper towels, and remaining tube section with electrical tape. After reaching the end I reversed the tape so the sticky side faced out, and wrapped back so when completed I had a sticky form to work with.

I was then able to get the two sides of the rip together by putting the gasket over the form and pressing the two sides together, and being held in place by the tape. I had to do it in three sections…. one at a time.

It ended up ugly as hell but it worked, and of course the gasket kit arrived in two days so I’ll never need to try it.

Saw a tear on my Kokatat Tempest jacket wrist gasket and changed it. Since I own an angler drysuit and this jacket I always have extra wrist gaskets. I prefer ordering from  Express Drysuit because they are cheaper, comes in different sizes and slightly thicker than Kokatat's which makes them more durable. Took me about 15 mins to put a new one on and let it dry overnight. This is the 3rd gasket I've replaced on this arm.

But can you pee in it?

I can pee in or out of it 

Sage

I’ve been wearing a Kokatat Hydrus semi-dry suit and have taken plunges in the Pacific Ocean (voluntary), just to test it out. With a PFD on, the neoprene neck seal didn’t allow much water into the suit . . . I made sure to fully emerge myself  . . . as best I could with a PFD and the air trapped inside the suit. It may be that the air escaping from the suit may have kept water from seeping into the neck seal.

I’ve been a diver for 50 years and LOVE my dry-suit . . . the relief zipper is a real blessing . . . just make sure it is completely sealed before you play in the water. Two legs filled with water are REALLY HEAVY . . . found out the hard way. 👍😎

. I made sure to fully emerge myself  . . .

I have ben striving for nearly 70 years to fully emerge myself!

Bouché

Oops . . . can’t blame autocorrect for that one . . . the relief zipper does help with “emerging” . . . 😜