Re: [Paddlewise] Dry suit storage

Clyde Sisler wrote:
> 
> Are there any problems in storing a Gortex dry suit rolled up in a ball?  I
> plan on taking it out every couple of weeks (at least), airing it out,
> 303'ing the gaskets, maybe even using it if the water's cold enough.

Might be a problem.  At the end of about 3 seasons of use I had a Goretex
Kokatat drytop fail at the outside edges of the seam tape -- developed many
tiny leaks along that line.  Shipped it off to Kokatat, and they replaced it
for the cost of the seals.  (A really good deal, I thought -- I had used the
thing a lot.)

The Kokatat people were a little mystified about the failure and queried me
about my use.  One of the questions was:  "When you are not wearing the
drytop, how do you store it."  Naturally, on longer trips where I do not need
it continuously, it sits in a stuff sack below decks, or rolled up behind me,
ready for use.  They *speculated* that excessive crinkling had made the PTFE
film fail.

Since then, I have avoided storage tightly packed, and the 3 (!) of these
things I own have survived another 3 seasons plus, and are still OK.

BTW, I just rinse the things each day, even with salt water, to avoid salt
buildup, which is supposedly the reason sometimes a Goretex garment will quit
breathing.  (They recommend a fresh water rinse after use, but salt is OK.)  I
have NEVER laundered the paddle jackets since I bought them -- to avoid
wasting the DWR coating.

I'd take the thing out of its bag at night and let it flop around in the
cockpit.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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