RE: [Paddlewise] 303 substitute?

Don't know about any good substitutes for 303 - most paddle shops carry
it, at least the ones that I've been in.  Maybe one of the kayak shop
owners that frequent this list might be able to help out if you can't
find locally.

Part of the "wrestling match" issue with your dry suit is probably also
technique - it took me a while to figure out the most effective way to
wriggle into my drysuit.  By all means - stretch those gaskets - I used
a coffee can to stretch the neck gasket on mine; before finally
resorting to a little bit of careful trimming....

One thing that I'm going to investigate when I next have to replace the
ankle gaskets is switching to a latex "footie" - might keep my feet
warmer and drier and also alleviate the problem of trying to fight my
feet through those gaskets - I have small (size 7.5) feet, I can't
imagine what it's like for folks with big feet<g>.

The other thing to remember about getting out of your drysuit is that it
can be MUCH harder to get out of after you are worn out and cold after
an hour or so of playing, and in my case, frequently swimming<vbg>, in
32+ degree surf.  One winter day after playing in the winter storm waves
of Lake Michigan I was so worn out and the windchill was so cold that I
simply couldn't worm my way out of the drysuit.  Drove home with the
suit on feeling silly.  I certainly didn't stop at the grocery store on
the way home.  It was one of those limit defining experiences, "too
tired to get out of your drysuit....what would you have done if
something had gone wrong out on the water?"  

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sisler, Clyde [mailto:Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com]
snip
> As I was rolling around on the floor trying to get my foot through the
> gasket, a little 6-7 year old girl came over and very 
> seriously asked 'are
> you all right mister?'.  Before I could respond, Mom grabbed 
> her hand and
> pulled her away.  She must have thought I was over the edge too.
> 
> Anyway, I spent half the morning looking for 303 Protectant 
> for the gaskets
> without success.  Is there a reasonable substitue?  I have a TurtleWax
> product for vinyl, etc. that brags about it's 
> state-of-the-art UV protection
> I'm tempted to try.
> When I finally got my head through the neck gasket I noticed 
> it was just a
> wee bit tight and as  I was on the verge passing out, that my 
> feet were also
> starting to fall asleep too.  I heard/read somewhere to stick some
> appropiate sized objects into the gaskets for a few days to help them
> stretch.  Any comments on this technique?
> Getting into and out of the dry suit was quite a workout.  I 
> think I'll have
> to put it on the night before so I have time to rest up for 
> the next day's
> paddle.  Of course then I'd probably have to piddle in the 
> suit and slosh
> around in it all day :-(.  Any idea as to the cost of having 
> a fly put in
> and how long it takes?
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> 
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