So here's a question that probably doesn't have a definitive answer but I'll ask anyway. 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 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? --andy *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
From: <andykeck_at_mac.com> > So I trimmed off about an eighth of an inch, which was better, and then > another eighth, which might be good. > > If comfort was the only goal, I might go ahead an make one more trim, I'd leave it at this point and use it a couple of times. Mine seemed to loosen up a tad with use, but maybe I just got used to it. You wouldn't want to trim too much. > Can anybody out there describe what the right fit might be like? If the water's cold enough, you want it to feel tighter than it is. If it's really warm, you wish it was looser. If you keep saying to yourself "I refuse to wear a tie, but I'm willing to wear this &^%&% thing, that must prove I'm a paddler", then it's about right. Sorry I can't come up with a more serious response, but I think it's a personal fit thing. I find that I have to move the top of the gasket up and down relative to the adam's apple to get it feeling right, and then I fuss with it if I'm looking over my shoulder a lot. If you shave close (including the back of your neck if you're a hairy sort like me), you could probably get away with a looser fit. Ditto if you're carrying a bit of fat around the neck and aren't an ultra- thin runner/athlete type. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
andy, check this link: http://www.kayakforum.com/cgi-bin/Technique/indexh.cgi/read/14555 andykeck_at_mac.com wrote: > > So here's a question that probably doesn't have a definitive answer but > I'll ask anyway. > > 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 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? > > --andy *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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 *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sunday, March 2, 2003, at 10:32 AM, Gary J. MacDonald wrote: > If it is a new suit, wear it for a day or two between further cuttings. This is exactly the point I'm at today. Everybody at work is wondering why I need a drytop to sit at my desk but I think they're afraid to ask... Thanks to everybody for all the helpful info. I think that now I've trimmed enough that my vision doesn't go red when I put the top on I'll just leave it be awhile and see what I think in a couple of weeks. *************************************************************************** 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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