Re: [Paddlewise] 303 substitute?

From: Dave Kruger <dkruger_at_pacifier.com>
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:39:18 -0800
Sisler, Clyde wrote:
> 
> I was on the verge of buying a dry suit [snip]
> I drove an hour or so to the Kittery Trading Post, a favorite sports shop in
> Maine, on Saturday and tried on a large (6', 185 lbs) Kokatat Gortex suit.[snip]

> Anyway, I spent half the morning looking for 303 Protectant for the gaskets
> without success.  Is there a reasonable substitue? 

Not that I know of.  I would echo the advice of others:  stick with the 303.  The latex in the
gaskets is one of the least chemically-resistant rubbers formulated.  (It is only a few steps away
from rubber tree sap.)  Many rubber-treatment products, marketed for restoring the shine of your
tires, etc., contain silicone(s), which will destroy the latex, but not the rubber in tires
(different stuff).  (BTW:  I am very surprised the paddleshop does not sell it.  The stuff is
critical for prolonging the life of the gaskets -- renew it every month or so when not using the dry
suit, and *every* time you use the suit.)

I believe any of the following will ship it to you mail-order, if you can not locate it in your
area:

NWOC:  http://www.nwoc.com/

Pacific Wave:  http://www.teleport.com/~pacwave/

Alder Creek:  http://www.aldercreek.com/

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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Received on Mon Nov 23 1998 - 08:42:42 PST

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