Re: [Paddlewise] Chlorine and Neoprene Sprayskirts

From: "Steve Cramer" <cramer_at_coe.uga.edu>


> On Sat, 9 Dec 2000, Michael Daly wrote:
> 
> > > in short -- DON'T DO it!!! most folks i know use an old nylon
> > > "pool" skirt... neoprene gets eaten pretty quickly...
> > 
> > On the other hand, when I asked my scuba instructor years ago how the chlorine
> > affected his wetsuit, he said (after years of teaching and using the a wetsuit over and 
> > over in the pool) that it doesn't affect it much other than to bleach the nylon outer
> > layer.   If, as Dave K. has said, the chlorine does eat the neoprene, it seems to 
> > take a long time.
> 
> Judging from the skirts the University WW Club has been using for roll
> practice, less than 2 yrs of 25-30 times a year pool practice (2 hours)
> results in noticeable weakening of the neoprene, but little fading. I keep
> telling them to rinse afterwards, but....

I wonder if the use (rolling, rescue etc) leads to more abuse than regular
paddling.  This also may reflect the difference in the chemicals (type and
concentration) used in the pools.

I have two nominally identical skirts, one of which I use in the pool, the other 
only on fresh water (Both Trailhead logo, made by Brooks).  I do rinse 
the pool one most of the time.  The fresh water skirt is two years newer than 
the pool skirt.  There is only a slight difference in fading (leading to the 
assumption that the sun accounts for most of it) and no difference in the 
integrity of the neoprene.   

I think some controlled experiments are in order before we can make some
definitive statements on the lifespan of neoprene skirts in the pool.  I think
it's safe to say - use an old skirt.

Mike


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