First thanks to all who answered my questions regarding gloves. I just received a paddling jacket today that I ordered by internet/catalogue. I live about 4 1/2 hours drive from the closest paddling, thus I have not had the opportunity to test other jackets in the past. 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? BTW. My SO was QUITE entertained by my wriggling exercise trying to extricate myself from the jacket. She said it was sort of like watching a snake molt! Grant perplexed in Summerland, BC *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi, Latex gaskets on paddling gear are to tight for most people, from the shelf they need to fit the few with small wrists, necks, and ankles. We other have to cut them back to fit us. As you will notice the gaskets taper towards the opening, so by cutting rings of the end they get gradually wider, till they fit comfortably. Use really good sharp scissors and cut only a few mm at a time. Then try the fit, till you don't get strangulated anymore. Fit should be tight, but not cutting off blood flow. When cutting make sure to get a clean cut, little nips could turn into a starter for a ruptured gasket. Stripping down a paddling jacket, dry top, or dry suit can be very entertaining for bystanders. Take advantageand put a your hat in front of you, tell them that you are a busker and that you do that for your living, then ask for a donation for showing them your escape from the straight jacket.... Ulli *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
The gaskets will stretch out after a while. You should leave them slightly stretched for a day or 2. You can do this by slipping them over a cylinder. If the gaskets are still too tight you should be able to trim the cuffs to give you more room, but be careful not to leave a ragged edge. Here are the instructions Kokatat gives with their drysuit. http://www.kokatat.com/instruction2g1.htm Scroll down a bit triming is discussed. Don't over do it because they may become too loose and the gaskets will stretch out over time. The gaskets should be tight but not cutoff the blood supply wear it for a while and if it is uncomfortable stretch it again or trim them. This is not an unusual situation with a new suit. When I install new gaskets I have to fuss with them a bit. 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? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
[Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (i.e. headers/footers/sig lines/comments from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material in addition to removing header/trailers when replying to posts.] Hello Grant, Tight latex seals are the norm when you purchase a dry top or paddling jkt.. All you need to do is insert a soup can or some other cylindrical object and let the latex stretch for about 36 hours. In the case of neck seals use an empty coffee can. The material is an organic rubber and it will stretch out. The other issue is maintenance, be sure to treat the latex with 303 Protectorent or UV Tech as often as you think of it. Ideally this is done at least every 5-6 weeks. If you should neglect to do this,you can expect to replace the seals within a few short years. Maintained properly I've had ten years of service from dry suits I've owned in the past. Vic Hurtowy *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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