Recommendations for outer wear

So I am all set to go. Only more thing what to wear to keep safe. So far tried three sizes of Kokatat dry and semi dry suits but the neck and wrist were to tight. (19.5" neck). I could cut the entire wrist part out and just use the velcro strap but does not solve the neck problem.  lots of pros and cons regarding the farmer Johns wet suits, which I may not have an option on, just curios to see what everyone else might be using.

Kokatat has a great reputation for customer service. I would try giving them a call, and see if they can do some custom work for you. In the meantime a farmer john wet suit would be fine for awhile.

I went with the neoprene neck size large Goretex, wrist gaskets get more comfortable as you get used to them.

A dry suit isn't a dry suit unless it has a neck gasket, wrist gaskets, and dry socks.  Velcro cuffs don't give you an adequate seal.  While some kayakers find latex gaskets uncomfortable and prefer "semi-dry" paddling suits with neoprene gaskets, those are not real dry suits, because if you spend an extended time in the water in a semi-dry suit, water will get in, and you will only be semi-dry, and may take on enough water to interfere with climbing back onto your kayak.  I snorkel and speargun for pike in Montana while wearing a drysuit, and after 4-6 hours in the water, the insulating clothing which I wear under the drysuit will still be dry, except for a minor amount of condensation in the clothing from perspiration.

Neck gaskets will loosen with use.  If your face turns red and your voice cracks after you jam your head through a neck gasket, try putting a large cylindrical object in the gasket for several days to loosen it. If that doesn't produce adequate results, I suggest that you replace your current neck gasket with a neck gasket which is the right size for your neck. OS Systems sells neck gaskets in seven different sizes, see http://ossystems.com/?page_id=802. NRS's neck gaskets come in four sizes, see https://www.nrs.com/product/2284/nrs-latex-neck-gasket, as does Immersion Research, see https://immersionresearch.com/products/latex-neck-gasket.  Bare's neck gaskets come in three sizes, see https://www.amazon.com/Bare-Latex-Drysuit-Neck-Seal/dp/B07BNCBZHN, but Kokatat's neck gaskets only come in sizes large and small, see https://kokatat.com/latex-neck-gasket-zcufnek.

Replacing neck gaskets is easy.  I've replaced a dozen or so.  But if you aren't into DIY, find a kayak dealer who will replace your current neck gasket with a neck gasket which you ordered to fit your neck.

The dry suits I've used have rings marked on the neck and wrist collars - meant to be used as cut guides to help size them appropriately for your dimensions. It's been a long time I've used one though; the new models might not have those anymore. 

We used to stretch it over something slightly larger than the neck/wrist, then use an exacto knife to very carefully slice along the marking lines.  Slice a little off, try it again. Slice a little more if needed, just don't take too much. 

The dry suits I've used have rings marked on the neck and wrist collars - meant to be used as cut guides to help size them appropriately for your dimensions.

The primary purpose of the ridges on the inside of a neck gasket are to improve the seal of the gasket on a boater's neck by digging lightly into the boater's skin.  If you want to trim a neck gasket, they also provide a guide for trimming it evenly.  I have never trimmed a neck gasket.  Neck gaskets get looser with use, and if you trim them you loosen them and reduce the amount of gasket which is contacting your neck.  As a result, when a trimmed neck gasket inevitably gets looser, it may not provide an adequate seal.  If you find that the neck gasket which came with your drysuit is uncomfortably tight, the better way to address the problem is by replacing it with a neck gasket which is the proper size.  See my post on February 17 at 1:30 pm.

People who have just bought their first dry suit often complain that the dry suit's  neck gasket is uncomfortably tight.  People who have used dry suits for very long rarely complain about their neck gaskets, because they have become used to neck gaskets. So unless your neck gasket is making your face turn red and veins stand out on your forehead, just live with it, because (a) you'll get used to it, ad (b) it'll get looser with use.

The primary purpose of the ridges on the inside of a neck gasket are to improve the seal of the gasket on a boater's neck by digging lightly into the boater's skin.  If you want to trim a neck gasket, they also provide a guide for trimming it evenly.  I have never trimmed a neck gasket.

My dry suit, used for diving, the neck seal (gasket) comes cone shaped and intended to be trimmed to fit, exactly as SpeedyStein says. The ridges are only a trim guide and are on the outside of the neck seal. The inside is smooth. I think ‘smooth’ makes the best contact with skin to keep the water out. Same for the wrist seals – smooth inside. Because the neck seal is cone shaped, regardless of how much is trimmed, the same amount of material contacts the skin, the fit is just tighter or looser.

I suspect there is no difference between ridges inside or outside of the neck seal. Either way they are a trim guide and, if inside, are unlikely to be of any significance to keeping water out. It is really all about getting the right amount of pressure on the skin. Perhaps the ridges, being too small to be effective as a seal, are probably on the inside of some neck seals more as a fashion thing, making the dry suit look sleeker, something like that.

The primary purpose of the ridges on the inside of a neck gasket are to improve the seal of the gasket on a boater's neck by digging lightly into the boater's skin.  If you want to trim a neck gasket, they also provide a guide for trimming it evenly.  I have never trimmed a neck gasket.

My dry suit, used for diving, the neck seal (gasket) comes cone shaped and intended to be trimmed to fit, exactly as SpeedyStein says. The ridges are only a trim guide and are on the outside of the neck seal. The inside is smooth. I think ‘smooth’ makes the best contact with skin to keep the water out. Same for the wrist seals – smooth inside. Because the neck seal is cone shaped, regardless of how much is trimmed, the same amount of material contacts the skin, the fit is just tighter or looser.

I suspect there is no difference between ridges inside or outside of the neck seal. Either way they are a trim guide and, if inside, are unlikely to be of any significance to keeping water out. It is really all about getting the right amount of pressure on the skin. Perhaps the ridges, being too small to be effective as a seal, are probably on the inside of some neck seals more as a fashion thing, making the dry suit look sleeker, something like that.

The ones I've seen are all on the outside, and definitely inconsequential to the actual seal. Just a trim guide to ensure evenly round seals, centered properly with the opening of the suit.

I've only used Kokatat - but again, this was about 15 years ago.  Suits have probably changed since I last wore one.

Guys, I know everyone here is trying to give good advice but I think most are missing the key point of OP's post... 19.5 inch neck.

That is MASSIVE and no minor cutting or stretching is going to make your standard drysuit work.

Average male neck circumference is 15 inches. Mine is 18 and that is such a pain in the ass you cannot imagine. Most shirts don't fit well. Most ties feel a bit short. On my drysuit, I cut to the very largest adjustment ring, then stretched the thing with a good sized pot for a week, and even now after a day on the water I still start feeling lightheaded.

19.5 inch neck.... I dunno man, I don't know if I've ever met anyone with a neck size bigger than mine lol - not sure what advice I'd give, except maybe some custom suit stuff.

As a side rant, my feet are also ridiculously wide. Total duck feet.

It is pretty much impossible to find correctly fitting shoes/boots, and when it comes to water-wear it's even worse.

I hear from people who also say they have wide feet but mine are next-level. My feet are the length of normal people's size 11, but the width requires me to get at least size 13 and up... so everything ends up with a ridiculous amount of space in the toe and heel areas.  :/

As a side rant, my feet are also ridiculously wide. Total duck feet.

It is pretty much impossible to find correctly fitting shoes/boots, and when it comes to water-wear it's even worse.

I hear from people who also say they have wide feet but mine are next-level. My feet are the length of normal people's size 11, but the width requires me to get at least size 13 and up... so everything ends up with a ridiculous amount of space in the toe and heel areas.  :/

Crocs?

Crocs?

Haha, yes - I've been known to wear crocs, even those I still sometimes go a size up but they tend to be better than most other things in terms of fit.

I have a Kokatat, and I’ve tried both the rubber neck gasket and the neoprene. Chose the neoprene because it’s more comfortable on the neck. Flipped in the surf a couple of times and came out dry. I love how they’re easy on and off.
However, 99% of the time I use my farmer johns because if I’m in the middle of the ocean in a difficult situation, I don’t want to worry about my suit tearing or failing for some other reason. Also, I find the dry suit to be too hot and sweaty.

Thank you for all the suggestions. Sounds like the only person who feels my pain is Maethlin. Same situation with feet. 3ex wide. Will most likely go with the farmer johns for now. Did speak with Kokatat rep. She was very helpful but they are not doing custom fittings.