I agree with the point about a relief zipper - I regret not having one in mine! What makes it more difficult for you tall folks to get the ankle gaskets off? I'm 5'7" and also do not enjoy pulling the latex ankle gasket over my heels when I'm done paddling. Funds permitting I'm planning on having Kokatat replace them with neoprene footies later this year. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Dimond [mailto:superiorvisions_at_hotmail.com] > Sent: Monday, February 15, 1999 2:07 PM > To: Paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subject: [Paddlewise] Drysuits > > > I bought my first drysuit in 1993 and have never regretted > the purchase. > Seriously consider getting the relief zipper in the model you > purchase. > In addition I would recommend having Kokatat add latex socks that are > glued into the suit for tall paddlers. I am six foot three > inches tall > and I did not enjoy pulling the latex ankle gasket over my > heels when I > was done paddling. Be sure to get the extra air out of the > suit in case > of a capsize, if you don't you will not roll under your boat > because of > all of the extra buoyancy from the air inside of the suit. I > have also > worn some holes through the suit but that is due to extreme use. > > Good Paddling, > Don Dimond > > > > ______________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > ************************************************************** > ************* > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > ************************************************************** > ************* > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
David Seng wrote: > > I agree with the point about a relief zipper - I regret not having one > in mine! > What makes it more difficult for you tall folks to get the ankle gaskets > off? I'm 5'7" and also do not enjoy pulling the latex ankle gasket over > my heels when I'm done paddling. Funds permitting I'm planning on > having Kokatat replace them with neoprene footies later this year. My coated drysuit is about 8 or 9 years old (has had gaskets changed). I don't have a relief zipper but I do have the next-best-thing. It is a Stohlquist suit. Their suits (at least mine) have the zipper coming down into the pelvic area as opposed to the Kokatat drysuits on which the zipper comes to just the waist and angles off to one side. Before buying my Stohlquist dry suit, I sat in a double Klepper in the old Union Square store wearing the drysuit and went through the dry run motions of relieving myself when no one was looking. The zipper came down far enough for that purpose even in a seated position; many a time since then, I have taken advantage of this out on the water using a pee bottle. The zipper situation was one of the reasons why I opted against the Kokatat dry suit at the time. I don't know why they don't sew in the zipper differently so it can be used for relief. While it is a pain to get the ankle gaskets off at the end of the day, I guess I have developed a knack and can do it inside my minivan with no problem. Or maybe a higher threshold for discomfort. Back to Goretex for dry suits. It would be great on multi-day trips compared to coated ones because of the wet insulation situation. For day trips it doesn't matter much which one. Goretex has been known to fail as Peter C. pointed out in his posting about his Goretex hiking jacket suddenly leaking like cheesecloth. But its advantages are too much to ignore. Still my coated one seems to be working fine and I will stick with it. I am waving a white flag on the Goretex dry suit skirmish. I'll even use a Goretex cloth white flag. :-) ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
SOP for divers is to use KY Jelly for lubing gaskets. Would that help the ankle gasket removal? Could I have Kokatat attach those latex booties to my semi dry top? cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
KY will not degrade latex..DUH! -----Original Message----- From: Joe Pylka [mailto:pylka_at_castle.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 1999 2:48 PM To: Bob Denton Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] More on Drysuits >SOP for divers is to use KY Jelly for lubing gaskets. Would that help the >ankle gasket removal? A lot of paddlers are paranoid about stuff degrading the seals. Most people I know used 303 exclusively as a spray. > >Could I have Kokatat attach those latex booties to my semi dry top? You will have either: very loooooong booties; very short legs; or you plan on paddling with mittens! > >cya JP *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I have had the latex booties on my Kokotat drysuit for the last 5 yrs, and they are very comfortable, and make putting the suit on and off much easier. The only dissadvantage to them is that they make rinsing out the inside of the drysuit somewhat of a hastle. Evidently, the major way that salt water will compromise the effectiveness of Gore-Tex is if it's inside the suit (i.e., condensed/dried perspiration), so it's important to rinse it out regularely. Washing the suit in your washing machine is more difficult as well (the legs won't sink until you remove all the air). The relief zipper is worthwhile. Dave Carlson David Seng wrote: > > I agree with the point about a relief zipper - I regret not having one > in mine! > What makes it more difficult for you tall folks to get the ankle gaskets > off? I'm 5'7" and also do not enjoy pulling the latex ankle gasket over > my heels when I'm done paddling. Funds permitting I'm planning on > having Kokatat replace them with neoprene footies later this year. > > Dave Seng > Juneau, Alaska > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Don Dimond [mailto:superiorvisions_at_hotmail.com] > > Sent: Monday, February 15, 1999 2:07 PM > > To: Paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > > Subject: [Paddlewise] Drysuits > > > > > > I bought my first drysuit in 1993 and have never regretted > > the purchase. > > Seriously consider getting the relief zipper in the model you > > purchase. > > In addition I would recommend having Kokatat add latex socks that are > > glued into the suit for tall paddlers. I am six foot three > > inches tall > > and I did not enjoy pulling the latex ankle gasket over my > > heels when I > > was done paddling. Be sure to get the extra air out of the > > suit in case > > of a capsize, if you don't you will not roll under your boat > > because of > > all of the extra buoyancy from the air inside of the suit. I > > have also > > worn some holes through the suit but that is due to extreme use. > > > > Good Paddling, > > Don Dimond > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________ > > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com > > ************************************************************** > > ************* > > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > > ************************************************************** > > ************* > > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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