Dry suit maintenance

[Gasguzzler]

I've just bought a second hand neoprene dry suit. This being my first dry suit, what sort of maintenance / care is required?

Now I can get wet over here instead of waiting for the warm waters of the Red Sea.  

Dunc

[daz]

Depends on the seals, but assuming they are neoprene seals.

A good hose down of the suit after diving.  If possible store unfolded but use a hanger that provides good support across the shoulders and top of the arms (A piece of pipe with a bit of string in the middle works as a reasonable hanger).  When hung up let the boots rest on the floor to take some of the weight off.

Finally use beeswax on the zip to keep it moving freely.

Oops almost forgot,  make sure the valves are operating freely and no grit has found it's way in,  I usually rinse my autodump through from the inside of the suit out every so often.  As for the inflation valve, never had to do anything with mine but I always make sure it is operating freely and does not feel gritty.

Daz

[Wacker]

<font color='#0000FF'>if you can hang your suit up by the boots, it will allow any damp to drain out rather than down into the boots, and go mouldy.
i find it a good idea to turn it inside out and make sure the inside is properly dry before storage.
wack

[daz]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Wacker @ Nov. 11 2003,20:57)]if you can hang your suit up by the boots, it will allow any damp to drain out rather than down into the boots, and go mouldy.
i find it a good idea to turn it inside out and make sure the inside is properly dry before storage.
wack

Where do you find somewhere tall enough to hang yours up Wack &nbsp;

[MATTBIN]

Daz
as long as you promise not to come round and rob me I'll tell you, I keep mine in the garage.

Matt

[parahandy]

When stored keep it out of direct sunlight, when donning the thing, talc or some water based lubricating jelly helps getting the seals on.( KY or the like)
Don't use silicon spray on the cuff seals to ease the seals on ( yes some people actually do it) makes seal replacement a nightmare.

Oh and yes, they don't like petrol, as I Witnessed when one joker showered my cuff seal with with petrol and two stroke oil whilst fuelling a rib  

[Mary]

<font color='#000F22'>if you don't have the space to store hanging up etc I have mine all folded up but with dampire thingys inside for any moisture

[Gasguzzler]

Luckily for me the hanging the suit up wont be a problem - I ain't that tall!!!! &nbsp;

Mary, how do find the Dampire? Is it worth investing in or a waste of dosh?

Many thanks for all the replies.

Dunc

[John Gulliver]

If you're not going to use your drysuit for a while, my local drysuit repairer recommends the following:
Store your drysuit rolled up, with the zip lubricated and open and the seals (if latex) well talced on both sides, in the bag it came in, in a cool place and away from radiators and electrical equipment (ozone).

[Mary]

<font color='#000F22'>got mine in castle mountain moor in notts but they're sold as being for all sorts of outdoor sports so my best suggestion would be to give a couple of your local outdoory places a call. very strangely they're also more expensive if you buy them direct (I guess they don't want the bother).

Mine cost about £20 and despite 1 guy taking the piss and saying why not just use cat litter in a sock (a very constructive comment), other mates have been impressed especially when I have a bone dry suit to get into in the morning instead of slightly damp/clammy (you know what I mean) from the day before