Dry Suit Questions

Thanks Allen. How much does the rehab run?

I'll get back to you on that shortly ...

-Allen

You must pay shipping.
$15-25 for leak test and repair. (Bargain IMO!)
$62 for neck seal replacement if you have the latex ones.
$32 for wrist seal replacement.
$37 for ankle seal replacement.

Here's an example of the repair work.  This picture is of the lower back section of my drysuit.  Other "high use" areas like the thighs and seat got equal treatment.  The repair is high quality.  It is very flush and as you can see, after a couple years they are not peeling up at all.

-Allen

While we're at it, I took a picture of the neck ring device I use.  I use this to hold the neck seal away from me in calmer weather.  It pops out in an instant if you so desire, like if the weather comes up, or you're traversing the surf zone.  It's 1/2" I.D. with a plug that joins the 2 ends.  Be careful to trim the ends so they are flush and nothing sharp sticks out lest it tear your neck seal.  This invention was courtesy of George at Kayak Academy.

-Allen

I use a similar neck ring device not to keep my neck gasket open, but to suck excess air out of my Kokotat GMER so that I don't look like the staypuff marshmallow man.  My range of motion feels more natural when the suit doesn't feel inflated.

On the flipside, it sure is nice to be floating high when out of the boat and swimming towards a nasty hole.

Great thread...been thinking bout this for sometime...Salty made us a little more aware in a previous thread...thank ya brother...

So the Ultimate way to go is??? Looking @ PolePole's suit after yrs of abuse, looks like the way to go...

price/longevity/comfort=??? be curious to see the over input as this thread evolves...

Thanks for posting it...

Without reservation I can recommend any of the Goretex products by Kokotat... if you want a lifetime warrenty, great customer service, excellent construction, and you want to be dry in the mankiest conditions, go with Kokotat!

Me running Big Bend on the North Fork of the Feather River, wearing a Kokotat Tropos drytop.  ...and yes, I have a telescoping trout rod in the back of my whitewater boat.  I fish places you simply can't get to any other way.

on Kokatat customer service...TOP NOTCH. I had a tear in my pants. Sent them in and they had them back in my hands in a week. Cost was $5 plus shipping. And they patched a few pin holes as well (free).

You are going to damage gear. Customer support is important on this purchase (IMHO)

Without reservation I can recommend any of the Goretex products by Kokotat... if you want a lifetime warrenty, great customer service, excellent construction, and you want to be dry in the mankiest conditions, go with Kokotat!

Me running Big Bend on the North Fork of the Feather River, wearing a Kokotat Tropos drytop.  ...and yes, I have a telescoping trout rod in the back of my whitewater boat.  I fish places you simply can't get to any other way.

ManBearPigInsane    Holy F'ing sh!t bro your freaking insane... than u paddle over to a calm pool and cook some fish and clean out your suit....Damn!!!  and I thought some of the stuff i do is crazy...  just don't expect me to paddle along on one of those adventures...I will just read it from here...

So Kokotat sounds like the way to go... also would match up nicely with that  sweet kokotat PFD u kicked down after LaPaz PolePole thanks bro....

I would reccommend the Tropos Super Nova Angler suit . Since Im not taking my fishing kayk over any waterfalls real soon or spending 18 days in sub 32 degree temps. Save your self some dough for the fishing stuff. Kokatat for sure. All the way. The cordura upper legs and seat will save your suit.Period.

I would reccommend the Tropos Super Nova Angler suit . Since Im not taking my fishing kayk over any waterfalls real soon or spending 18 days in sub 32 degree temps. Save your self some dough for the fishing stuff. Kokatat for sure. All the way. The cordura upper legs and seat will save your suit.Period.

+1 on that Craig. Picked up my suit at Claveys on Saturday then headed to the Central coast on Sunday for a commando test. Got hot on the long portage but not too bad. Kept me warm in the wind and rain. Was fairly dry after a 10 minute ocean swim. And easy to self rescue in. My only complaint is that the zipper is hard to close the last 1/4". I used a wax zipper lubricant but still hard to close. Any tips? Also, really good looking suit, if that matters. 

Good to hear Scott. I wasnt having any difficulty zipping the fly closed OTW at Shelter. I used it quite frequently too. Especially after I saw Terrys halibut. It will get easier from use I would bet. Im going to ask Matt Porter at Kokatat about the zipper.

ZIPPER INFORMATION AND CARE
 

Broken zippers cannot be repaired but can be replaced. This work may be performed only by Kokatat at our factory; if you feel your zipper has been damaged, please contact Customer Service to obtain a Return Authorization Number (RA#).

Kokatat’s TROPOS dry suits are supplied with TiZip® entry and relief zippers. This watersports zipper is effectively waterproof for surface watersports. All GORE-TEX® dry suits are supplied with a metal tooth Optiseal zipper, which has larger teeth and is factory tested to be completely waterproof to 20 feet.

The zipper is one of the most sensitive component of your dry suit. Avoid aggressive pulling, and NEVER force a jammed zipper. Keep sand and dirt out of the zipper teeth and the closing end. Clean it occasionally with mild soap, water and a toothbrush. Lubricate the zipper with a light coat of paraffin, beeswax or a zipper lube product. A dab of Vaseline in the closing end improves sealing. Make sure you read the instructions on your garment's hangtag before use!

 

Thanks Craig, I will try the vaseline. I did read the instructions and the zippers were hard to close when I tried the suit on at the store. I have only used wet suits so the zipper thing is new to me. I did really enjoy the comfort of the suit. Thanks! Scott

Use wax on all sides of the zipper.  I don't just mean the left and right obvious sides.  Wax the backside nubs.  These are the parts that push through and lock.  If waxed properly, they should not be hard.

-Allen

I would reccommend the Tropos Super Nova Angler suit . Since Im not taking my fishing kayk over any waterfalls real soon or spending 18 days in sub 32 degree temps. Save your self some dough for the fishing stuff. Kokatat for sure. All the way. The cordura upper legs and seat will save your suit.Period.

I would not recommend that people make decisions purely on saving themselves some dough.  Know the tradeoffs and make a conscious decision.  A drysuit has a watertight neck seal, a paddling suit doesn't.  You can get Tropos full dry suits for under $500.

-Allen

I was talking about the sale Allen. Which ended today at Claveys.

I swam about 100 yards in the surf zone and some water did leak in around the neck but probably not enough to be a safety issue.