Dry vs Semi-Dry Suits

Mark - if you send it in to Kokatat they give the suit a full going over for any other leaks, delams, etc. They are a top notch company. That being said, the do-it-yourself replacement isn't that bad. I'm about to do a wrist seal on one of my suits.

Cheers,
Brad

They are 2-3 weeks plus shipping time on repairs. I think I will give it try on my own.

I sent mine to Kokatat a few years ago for gasket replacement.  Much to my surprise, I received an email from them, informing me that my suit was delaminating and would be replaced with a new one.  A couple of weeks later, I received the new one. No Charge!

I have a drysuit, which I love.   However, I do wonder about malfunction (i.e. leaks).  If I have to do it over, I would probably purchase two pieces drysuit, a top and bottom. But if you do with the two pieces, I dont think you can wear a wetsuit inside (I would imagine the thickness of the wetsuit will let the water sip in.  I dont know that for sure, but that's just my theory. 



As far as too tight, I know the tight neck is a big pain as well as health hazard, mine does stretch overtime and you can also follow tedski's advice, pre-stretch.


But I think I am fairly safe with my one piece drysuit.

Which two piece would you get exactly? I think this is actually a great idea. The image of a drysuit filling with water and sinking is scary as hell.

I have a drysuit, which I love.   However, I do wonder about malfunction (i.e. leaks).  If I have to do it over, I would probably purchase two pieces drysuit, a top and bottom. But if you do with the two pieces, I dont think you can wear a wetsuit inside (I would imagine the thickness of the wetsuit will let the water sip in.  I dont know that for sure, but that's just my theory. 



As far as too tight, I know the tight neck is a big pain as well as health hazard, mine does stretch overtime and you can also follow tedski's advice, pre-stretch.


But I think I am fairly safe with my one piece drysuit.

Which two piece would you get exactly? I think this is actually a great idea. The image of a drysuit filling with water and sinking is scary as hell.

I never got a two piece, but if I have to do it again, that would be what I would do. I have had cases where I didnt zip up completely but luckily I didnt take a drink.

This is a good thread. Good timing too. I have a Kokatat Gore-Tex dry suit that I purchased in 2016. While at Albion this summer, the neck seal and one of the wrist seals ripped. I've been using my NRS wetsuit after it ripped.

The neck seal had always been tight when I first put it on. Gets more comfortable over time.
I also noticed it was much looser after I lost 20 pounds.

I've been wondering what would be best. Send it to the factory for repair, or just replace it.
I think I'll try the repair first.

Thanks for all of the good advise.
Al

Here is a video by Kokatat on how to replace the wrist/ankle gaskets:

<iframe title="vimeo-player" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/120169858?h=0fc31159a3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

At my first kayak class one of the students who had easily gotten back into kayak earlier, was not able to get back in towards the end of the day. We were close to the dock so the instructor got him to swim over to it. Took a few of us to pull him up. Turned out that his relief zipper was not shut all the way, and his suit slowly filled with water without him noticing. After that I always look to confirm the zippers are closed completely.

I've been wondering what would be best. Send it to the factory for repair, or just replace it.
I think I'll try the repair first.

I like to send it to the factory.  They'll also do a pressure test and patch all the micro leaks that you have no idea are there.

-Allen

I agree with sending it to the factory.  I had no idea my suit was delaminating but they diagnosed it and did the "right thing". 

This is a great thread.  I have been wanting a dry or semi Dry suit for a while.  I am a little concerned the dry will be annoying and uncomfortable for me.  I have never liked latex.(have to wear the gloves at work). And I have a pretty thick neck so I’m thinking I would feel like I was choking all the time.  For those that have the semi dry suits, Are the neoprene necks more adjustable? I like my farmer John wetsuit but I do a lot of multi day trips and putting a wetsuit on day 2,3 or more is always uncomfortable and damp.

I tried on a kokatat dry suit and with my thick ass size 18 neck it didn’t feel great. I would be open to trying a semi-dry suit out though, seems like the better choice for me.

This is a great thread.  I have been wanting a dry or semi Dry suit for a while.  I am a little concerned the dry will be annoying and uncomfortable for me.  I have never liked latex.(have to wear the gloves at work). And I have a pretty thick neck so I’m thinking I would feel like I was choking all the time.  For those that have the semi dry suits, Are the neoprene necks more adjustable? I like my farmer John wetsuit but I do a lot of multi day trips and putting a wetsuit on day 2,3 or more is always uncomfortable and damp.

By design, any gaskets are supposed to be tight to the skin.  Whether they choke or not, that's when proper size and stretching will help.  I would say you will get used to it overtime.  But if you try it on land and they choke and causing pain, I would take care of that by stretching.  My advice is to stretch in incremental. 

But to answer your question, I've never try any neoprene gaskets.

I am too impatient to send it in for repairs.
Ordered the wrist seals and did it myself.
Then went this method for the seams. It works!
I was ready to go before Kokatat would have even started to fix it.

I worked in a drysuit for a while but went back to wetsuits for a few reasons

One of the reasons was that drysuits are pretty awkward to swim in and I was in the water a lot of hours so was a big factor Not a problem as long as you don’t need to swim say back to shore

I’m sure the materials are better now but not sure what they could change in the design to fix that

Anyway maybe one thing to consider

Curious what a semi-drysuit is

I worked in a drysuit for a while but went back to wetsuits for a few reasons

One of the reasons was that drysuits are pretty awkward to swim in and I was in the water a lot of hours so was a big factor Not a problem as long as you don’t need to swim say back to shore

I’m sure the materials are better now but not sure what they could change in the design to fix that

Anyway maybe one thing to consider

Curious what a semi-drysuit is

kokatat "Semi-drysuit" has a neoprene neck which allows for greater comfort. It is not a tight fitting seal like a latex neck gasket, and does allow for water entry. I find it to be an acceptable trade off for kayak fishing. Wearing a snugl fit PFD probably helps.

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



side note: If i fart in my semi-dry, gas does not immediately vent out the neck. I usually pull on the neck and move around some to release