Leaky drysuit. Seams?

[just_jennypenny]

I've finally had it with my leaking drysuit. I'm baffled:confused: . I've been using it for a year and it leaks everytime:mad: . I was managing fine with my wet arms but now I'm getting a soggy bum too and I'm getting jealous of all my dry diving freinds.

I like my suit and don't want to buy a new one cause it fits well and works for me.

I've had the seals replaced, the suit inspected at a dive shop, been inflated to michelin man standards and covered in washing up liquid... and to no avail. I leak in my arms and have a soggy bum but I have dry legs, feet, chest and back? This happens as soon as my suit sees water.

Several people have concluded it's the seams... Can I repair this DIY with lots of glue? or do I have to fork out lots of pennies to get it fixed?

help?
Jennifer

[majo]

I had same problem never fixed it, brought new one

[David Walker]

What make of drysuit is it? Some of them offer lifetime warranties on the seams, although if you've only had it a year it might be worth taking it up with them anyway. If it is the seams (a pressure test will soon sort that out) they might fix it for you free of charge (depends very much on the company though).

Usually if the leak isn't obvious its generally the neck seal (if you look around a lot its easy to get water in there), or a loose valve occasionally. Particularly if your arm is getting wet and your seals have been ok, then check your dump valve - can come loose and let water in. Also check your inflator, since thats in just about the right place to get you wet where you're getting wet.

What did the shop who looked at it do exactly? If they did a pressure test that should have either ruled out or confirmed the seams as leaking. If they didn't, get one done. That might also find things like leaky valves, etc. Only problem is they will generally charge up to £20 for one, but at least you'll know where all the problems are. Though i'd check things like valves first...

David

[Ben Panter]

Might be worth having a look at the zip - I had a mystery leak for ages until I found that one of the bits that links the zip teeth together had broken. Unfortunatly a new zip isn't cheap, but at least you have a dry suit again...

Other option is to take it into the pool and get someone to check you over on the bottom. Might see tiny bubbling in the really clear water easier than the games people usually play with washing up liquid and the like.

Ben

[Andy Botten]

My son's membrane suit had a leak.
Lots of Aquasure and let it run over the seams.
He had no problem after that.

[Finless]

Is it an "ordinary" neoprene suit (not crushed neo)? If so, the leak may only occur under pressure when the neoprene starts getting crushed?

You appear to have done all the usual tests so the only conclusions are:-

The tests were not done properly OR the problem was not spotted.

You have pourous skin?

You leak.

:)

If the suit fits you well then you will NOT want to change it. I would phone up the manufacturer and speak to them. You may find they will bear the costs of returning it to them if it only just out of warranty. I have NEVER spoken to any UK diving supplier/manufacturer who hasn't been anything less than very helpful.

There is no point being wet and cold during a dive - just accept it may cost you to get it resloved.

[Bob K]

I found the 'pressure test method' of finding a suit leak to be inconclusive with my current suit.
At the time this really puzzled me, as its normally very simply to do at home !

I even went to the expense of talking it to my local dive shop, who confirmed my diagnosis,
that no leak could be found.

I eventually gave up after getting wet once too often, and took it back to the manufacturer.
Mine turned out be one of a batch of 'faulty' front entry zip's which was replaced FOC :)

You do not say whether yours is a front-entry or back entry zip. This might help with the
diagnosis.

[just_jennypenny]

It's a membrane suit with a back entry, chest inflation, and a left arm cuff dump. Oceanic,i think.

I can rule out zip problems and inflation problems because my back and chest are always dry. It's only my arms and bum that get all cold and soggy (i can ring out my weezle in those areas)

The seals are all new, and more than snug. The cuff dump has been inspected, and it is possible it's letting in some water. I'm currently doing trial and error methods to fix it.

I have tried looking underwater for bubbles but cant see any, and neither can anyone else.

Still puzzled :confused:

I might try pouring glue all over the seams, and then testing it again. Failing that, another pressure test (i'm sure I've already done one)

[David Walker]

It's a membrane suit with a back entry, chest inflation, and a left arm cuff dump. Oceanic,i think.

I'd get in touch with Oceanic (ideally through the shop you bought it from, but direct might work too...) and see what they can do with it. They do a lifetime warranty on "life support products", which unfortunately doesn't include drysuits but they might be nice and help you anyway :)

David

[Ian@1904]

I have an Oceanic Flex 2000 suit that did very well for about 200 dives over 4 years, it is now my backup.
In my case I had literally worn the fabric away between my legs at the knees and the crotch region. (I fin with my legs very close together.)
The leak locations were identified by turning the suit inside out, and filling the leg with water, and then identifying where the leak was. Sadly where the water enters the outer layer and where it enters inside the suit can be some distance apart so apply lots of tape.
On the outside of the suit apply lots of Aquasure to cover fabric that is worn away.

[Dave Sydenham]

It can often be difficult to locate a leak in a drysuit as the water often travels through inside and can give you a wet patch which may not neccessarily be near where the water is coming in but more where it tends to end up. Some undersuits in particular can allow the water to run over the surface without the water seeping through and then moving on to certain points before seeping through particularly where there is movement or pressure like at your bum (sorry!) :p

One way to try and find leaks is to stick on a pair of light coloured jeans or jogging pants and a grey t-shirt (as this shows up the water best), put on your dry suit and then jump in the bath. Use cold water as you'll feel it. After a couple of minutes get out and look for water marks on your jeans and t-shirt. That can give you a good clue where the water is coming in. A very small leak can make you very wet.

Another potential is for water to leak in through the wrist seaks if you have skinny wrists or if the sinews tend to stick up or hollow when you grip things or like for example when deploying SMB's or grabbing onto something.

I did once completely wear out the backside in an old suit to the point where I could see through it if I held it up to the light. Water just used to seep straight through the material and I got wet every time, even just sitting on the tubes in the rib. A couple of years after replacing it I lent it to a trainee who had completely dry dives in it. :confused:

Cheers!

Dave
:)

[BrianG]

The fact that the suit is leaking in areas of high stress/wear suggests to me that the actual material is breaking down in these areas. This happened on my last suit, started in the upper arms and around the elbows. The perforations are very fine and required the suit to be inflated to an alarming pressure before they produced bubbles when pressure tested. I could hardly believe the amount of water that these minute holes allowed in during a dive. If this proves to be the problem repair becomes a never ending problem as each dive creates more and more holes. The remedy is to replace the faulty panels or as I did get a new suit.

[Glenn Ford]

This was posted by a Michael Fisch of Germany on another board. I have heard reports that it is a very effective way of locating hidden leaks.

Turn suit inside out. Use slats with c-clamps to seal off a wrist seal and the neckseal.
Lay suit down on the floor of the garage (if you can put some indoor-outdoor carpet under the suit to protect it thats a good idea. The arm that clamped off is now affixed in a frame to hold it up higer than the rest of the suit.
Put the garden hose in the arm that is held up high and turn the water on. Shut off the water just before the suit starts to overflow.
Now take a permanent marker and draw a circle around every drop of water that developes on the suit. Take a half hour break and draw circles around the waterdrops that have appeared in the last half hour.
Drain some water out of the suit, clamp off the top arm, and turn the suit over. Put the other arm up and refill the suit. Back to drawing circles.

This is a pain in a**, but it will find every spot on a drysuit that is letting in any moisture.
After drying the suit smear a drop of aquasure inside every circle you drew. The suit shoul now be absolutely dry, until it devoelops the next microscopic hole.

One of my DUI clones now has over 90 (yes, ninety!) patched leaks, but is currenty absolutely dry.
The air, helium and light tricks only work on bigger holes/leaks and will not help you find leaking imperfections in the material.

Michael

Glenn

[Chris Cherrington]

My missus has a Polar Bears membrane that had a slight seam leak. To cure it you need some new seam tape and Bostick or Evo-Stick contact adhesive.

Rip off the old seam tape and then re tape all the seams.

If its not too bad and you can see where the seams tapes are lifting off you can just re-glue them (the existing ones) in situ.

This worked for the Polar Bears suit and it now only leaks a bit through the neck seal :(

Its neither a big nor difficult job and worth a try before you shell out for a new suit. If nothing else it will eliminate the seams as a source of leakage.

Chris

[Finless]

Please please please don't leave me in suspenders ......... where is the suit leaking from?

[Chris Cherrington]

Please please please don't leave me in suspenders ......... where is the suit leaking from?

The young lady has a soggy bum and is jealous of her friends Bryan. Read the OP. Now, conform to your stereotype and ask to see her friends' bums to see why she is jealous :D

Chris

[Finless]

The young lady has a soggy bum and is jealous of her friends Bryan. Read the OP. Now, conform to your stereotype and ask to see her friends' bums to see why she is jealous :D

Chris

"Excuse me young lady, may I please see pictures of your friends' bums ...... erm .......preferably only the lady friends ................and ............... er ........... preferably from the other side?"

NO, you misunderstand me, my post was directed at the young lady and is a plea to let us know where the leak(s) was/were found and how it/they was/were found etc ..............

:)