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We checked in with Matt Porter, Product Manager and Customer Service Supervisor at Kokatat, for advice on extending the lives of drysuits. His advice:
1. Keep your drysuit out of direct sunlight whenever possible. UV degrades both Gore-Tex and latex, shortening the life of the fabric and the gaskets.
2. Avoid insect repellent and sunscreen. DEET is particularly destructive of latex gaskets; sunscreen is also rough on them, so apply it at least 15 minutes prior to putting on your drysuit to allow the sunscreen to soak into your skin. When you reapply, avoid getting it on the gasket.
3. Rinse your drysuit in fresh water, with the zipper closed, after paddling in salt water. Hang it to dry on a wide hanger with the zipper open one or two inches.
4. Clean your drysuit with fresh water. If it smells bad, use a drysuit shampoo or a gentle, bleach-free laundry soap.
5. Never put your drysuit in a top-loading washer; the agitator may rip it.
6. Lubricate metal-tooth zippers with hard wax; use non-wax lubricants on plastic zippers. Plastic zippers should be lubricated every other time you wear your drysuit.
7. Protect drysuit booties by wearing socks and being careful not to walk or stand on surfaces that might damage them while you're changing.
8. Transport your drysuit loosely rolled with the zipper open one or two inches.
9. Store your drysuit in a dry area on a wide hanger with the zipper open one or two inches.
10. When the DWR wears out (and it will!), try ironing the Gore-Tex fabric on the nylon setting to reactivate it. If you decide to re-waterproof it, use a spray-on product, not a wash-in product, so that it doesn't get on the inside your drysuit. Dry it with an iron (on the nylon setting) or a hair dryer; never put your drysuit in a clothes dryer.
Routine maintenance, such as gasket replacement, can be done at home. Other repairs, such as leaks and tears, should be done by the manufacturer.
6 comments:
Wish the "reactivate DWR" rick actually worked - I've tried everything recommended, all to no avail :-(
What is DWR???
DWR stands for Durable Water Repellancy -- although it's not durable enough. It's what causes water to bead up and helps the GoreTex do its thing.
And when the drysuit is 10 years old and you have tryied everything and is still lets water through the fabric. Is it dead then?
Patrik
Any tips to restore breathability? I find my drysuit drier when I immerse myself (roll, practice rescues) frequently than on days where the outer fabric stays (mostly) dry.
Leave it soaking in fresh water?
Thanks,
Sean
Patrik: A ten-year-old drysuit that has been used extensively and been exposed to lots of UV may, in fact, be dead, but check with the manufacturer.
Sean: Without knowing what your drysuit is made of, this is hard to answer. Is it possible that you're simply sweating less on days when you immerse yourself more?
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