Re: [Paddlewise] Drytop gaskets. How tight is too tight?

andykeck_at_mac.com wrote:

> I'm trying to trim the neck gasket on my drytop to the right size. I've 
> followed the instructions which say to stretch the gasket for a day or 
> two on a can or pot a couple of inches larger than your neck. Even after 
> that process the gasket was tight enough that I seriously believed that 
> it might induce loss of consciousness. Probably not good. So I trimmed 
> off about an eighth of an inch, which was better, and then another 
> eighth, which might be good.

If it is a new suit, wear it for a day or two between further cuttings.

 > If comfort was the only goal, I might go ahead an make one more trim,
 > but I don't know how comfortable it's reasonable to expect a neck gasket
 > to be. Obviously, a delightfully comfortable gasket fit that lets water
 > in gallons at a time is not really what I want. Can anybody out there
 > describe what the right fit might be like?

I can only suggest that it has to be tight to do its job, and always 
seems to feel tighter than it needs to be.  The location on your neck 
may also matter.  I always seem to move it up and down a lot the first 
day of the season.

If your beard grows down your neck, shave close.  Otherwise the gasket 
irritates the nubs, pushes them inward, and you may be hardly able to 
wear the suit at all the next day.

(A collar of ingrown whiskers is a trifle itchy.!)

GaryJ
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