Re: [Paddlewise] Dry Suit Neck Gasket

SeaKayakNH_at_aol.com wrote:
> 
> Dave,
>     After a week of stretching my neck gasket over a 21" circumference pipe I
> still had to trim a full 1/2" off just to be able to survive a few hours in
> my suit. Recently I ran into a winter diver that told me my gaskets (neck and
> wrist were way to tight).  Long story short, he says that anything tighter
> than light contact is overkill. SNIPPED
>     Has anyone had personal experience with a gasket that was trimmed too
> much?  If so what was the effect?  What did the fit feel like?  Certainly
> it's possible to over-trim a gasket but I think we've been misled regarding
> how tight a gasket must be to be effective. Another benefit of a loose
> fitting gasket is it's resistance to tearing. Since it's under less stress
> when stretched over a body part for donning or doffing.

I think you may be on to something.  It was part of the subtext in my
running dialog with Kevin Whilden and his indicating that use of a neck
ring lets in just minute amounts of water when Eskimo rolling.  If
little water enters even in that situation, then a neck gasket that is
just touching your neck, with just a tad of stretch to it, would
certainly keep water out.  I also think that the latex material, in
general, if not so extensively stretched on your neck, will also tend to
last longer.  Also what you describe in terms of the stretch and
possible damage when donning or doffing seems to be an added benefit of
a looser fit.

I imagine if you were a diver and deeper in the water with all sorts of
added water pressure, you might want a tighter fit (although that diver
you refer to seems to say it is not necessary even for them), you might
need a tighter seal.  But if it is matter of wearing the dry suit as a
just-in-case emergency clothing item, then perhaps tightness isn't
critical, especially since your neck would be mostly out of the water
while effecting a self or assisted rescue.

My dry suit is currently being replaced at the neck (and booties at the
ankles).  When I get it back, I will likely be quite aggressive in
cutting the neck down to a tolerable fit, something I have been loathe
to do in the past.

When I first got the suit around 10 years ago, I was quite happy with
the neck gasket.  The fit was very comfortable and the latex was
basically just touching.  It was as easy as a cotton turtle neck sweater
to put on over my head.  At the time, I could not understand why people
complained so much about donning neck gaskets.  But lookinig back, I
suspect the suit may have earlier been "borrowed" by someone in the shop
with a burly neck or who may have done an initial cut.  The two neck
gasket replacements since then have been awfully tight but I just
grinned and beared it and never dared to cut any rings at all.  The
later replacements also did not last as long as the original before
disintegrating or going limp.

ralph diaz
-- 
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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."
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