Re: [Paddlewise] Latex Cuffs - How Tight?

Grant,

BEFORE you CUT the cuffs do a couple of things.  (again my experience is
more from scuba than paddling, but the drysuit seals, or gaskets as the
kayakers want to call them, are the same).

Do not use baby powder.  The fagrance and chemicals will cause the rubber
compounds to break down.  You can buy a powder from a dive store or kayaking
store.  To be honest, I paid for one bottle of the powder, just so I would
have the shaker bottle.  Since then, I've been refilling the bottle with
Corn Starch.  Works great, cheap and won't ruin the rubber.

Second, before you start cutting the seals be aware that with time they will
stretch a bit.  If you cut them to size now, they may be too loose in a
month or two.  I'd recommend you place a coke can in each sleeve and just
leave it there.  After storing the drysuit (or drytop) with the cans in the
sleeves for a couple weeks it will stretch a bit.  (On the other hand, my
wife has very small wrists and she still has to trim a lot of rubber off the
seals. She's had to do this with every drysuit she's bought and the the
replacement seals when  replaced. So whos to know <g>).

Good luck!!
Wade

Ps:  4-5 hours from the nearest paddling?  Where in BC are you?  You must be
inland, near Kamloops?  Maybe up north by Prince George?  Didn't know you
could be that far away from coast anywhere in BC <smirk>.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Grant Thompson" <tfm2_at_shaw.ca>
To: "Paddlewise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 7:15 PM
Subject: [Paddlewise] Latex Cuffs - How Tight?

> My problem is this:  The latex wrist cuffs are extremely tight.  I had to
add a bit of baby powder to slide in.  Within 30 secs. I started to feel
blood cut off.  I would expect that a few minutes of paddling in cold water
my hands would be icebergs.
>
> How does one judge the appropriate tightness of latex cuffs?  Does the
latex stretch after an hour or two or should I be sending this back?

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