Drysuit Seal Repair?

Anyone know where I can order replacement seals for a O'Neill Boost Drysuit? Also is this a hard project to go at alone? The shops want close to $100 to fix one seal, the whole drysuit was only 300, so doesn't seem worth paying to fix. Thanks for the help

100$ for 1 seal?! ive heard that you just send it into oneill and they charge around 25$ per seal to do it. and ive also heard from my local pro shop, if you send it in to them, the do a water test to make sure the seals they repaired are completely sealed. 100$ for 1 seal is outrages, i would email oneill and see what they say.

If there is a local scuba diving shop check them out. My dad owns a shop here and he repairs them for about $40.

Paging Sparky!

He fixed his,and can give you the scoop.

Gregg
David is right, O'Neill only charges $25 and its like new. I noticed that they used a much heavier rubber this time around too, I like it.

They even test it to make sure the whole suit is still good. I think they blow it up like a balloon or something.

www.ossystems.com It's not too bad to do yourself but the hardest part, and unfortunetly, the most important, is correctly supporting the seal and suit at the same time for gluing. First try at an ankle seal worked for a while but I wasnt able to get the new seal installed wrinkle free so it developed a small leak. Now I have the repair mandrels to do the job correctly. The glue and the mandrels are pricey, but the seals arent bad. I have glue and now the mandrels so maybe I should offer drysuit repair to my fellow WWer's? LOL

Also, O'Neill can be 4 to 6 weeks out this time of year...thats what they told me a few weeks ago.

(Message edited by wake upppp on February 04, 2010)

I don't think OS seals are the same as O'neill's.

(Message edited by bill_airjunky on February 04, 2010)

Actually they are very close and are also availabe in 2 thicknesses, 25mil and 30mil I believe.

I have glue and now the mandrels so maybe I should offer drysuit repair...

Now that's a good idea!!!! I just bought a used drysuit off the classifieds that has a couple blown seals...where exactly in Nor-cal are you??? =)

Thanks for the info, I checked with the scuba shops and they wanted like $70 and the boardshop wanted what I though was around a hundred to send it off to 'neill for me. Maybe I should just send it myself, but like Sparky said if it takes that long by the time I get it back I won't need it anymore.

I thought I could do it myself if I could get the seal, glue, etc.

(Message edited by gregg_rossi on February 05, 2010)

I have done countless number of seals for drysuits. I go through a complete set every year it seems and am tired of the OS Systems ones failing so I am experimenting with other brands. Now I am also changing to an Si-Tech ring system so I can change them onsite.
http://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/tite-drysuit-neck-seal-system-p-2712.html

Seals that already have adhesive on them and they are heat activated. Welcome to modern systems.
http://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/adhesive-drysuit-latex-wrist-seals-p-2213.html

No adhesive on the wrist seals.
http://www.diverightinscuba.com/catalog/drysuit-latex-bottle-wrist-seals-pair-p-2717.html

The problem is Dive Rite In Scuba is a scuba shop duh! and they do not stock ankle seals.


For glue the DAP 610 is the same as the PB-300 that OS sells. The product is manufactured by Weldwood and labeled The original contact cement. It is 4 bucks for 16 oz at the hardware store. PB-300 from OS is four times as much.

The mandrels are really nice but typically a nalgene bottle fits the arms and I am sure you can find something to fit the legs. Just a nice snug fit.

For neck seals there is more than one way to skin a cat.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/4132433-post4.html

Edit: BTW duct tape works in a pinch on a ripped seal. Aqua Seal and some Cotol can fix small pin holes on a suit in a few minutes.

(Message edited by peter_c on February 05, 2010)

I did both ankle seals and a neck seal on my suit a while back. It was pretty easy once I came up with an idea on how to fully support the openings of the suit in order to get the seal on flush all the way around.

The trick I came up with (for the ankle seals)was to buy a mini basketball about 5-6 inches in diameter. Deflate the ball, place it half way in the opening (ankle or wrist opening), inflate the ball until the opening is taught around the ball, apply adhesive, and then roll the seal over the opening.

This may sound confusing to read it, but when you start trying to get the seals on you'll understand what I'm talking about.

I called Dive Right Scuba, Thanks Peter. They are going to see if they can get me a seal. Looks like around $35 bucks. Then I will be back to ask how to do it, I like the idea that Richard has with the basketball.

dbdan, Santa Rosa. Peter you ever try the OS 30 mil seals? I know of a few people with the OS 26 mil and they're holding up just fine?

I just got mine back from o'neil. 1 ankle and 1 wrist. Like Sparky said 4-6 weeks. Very reasonible price too..

Not sure about other suits but with the Boost you cant just use a bottle or whatever because whatever you use has to come down the leg or sleeve and the cuff on the suit is slightly smaller than the seal mating surface. In other words you need something that can expand once in position. This is why the mandrels work so well because you squeeze them to get by the cuff then when you let go, they expand and support the gluing area perfectly.

Sparky,

Do you have pictures of the mandrels you could post? I'm getting ready to replace my seals and would like to see what they look like. Thanks.

Dan

"Peter you ever try the OS 30 mil seals? I know of a few people with the OS 26 mil and they're holding up just fine?"

The thicker seals do hold up better but they are not as comfortable and will often cut off blood flow unless they are cut looser. As to OS I was tearing through them on my drysuit every 70 uses or so, and do not consider that acceptable. I buy zippers from either OS or Global, but the seals from Global are complete crap and do not fit properly.

Could you possibly pull a sleeve/ankle over a cut bottle? I am just cheap and prefer a bottle I already have over spending $60 or what ever the mandrels are.

4-6 weeks for a repair is unacceptable. Dive Rite In Scuba has a 24 hour turn around time. Steve Gamble is also one of the top drysuit repair guys.

I looked and looked for something cheap that fit and the problem I found with the Boost suit is the cuff before where the seal glues to the suit is slightly smaller. So whatever you find to slip in bottoms out on the cuff before you actually get any support on the seal gluing surface area. The mandrels are tapered and are stainless spring steal so you squeeze them dowm and go past the cuff, then once in position, you release and they spring open, supporting the glueing area really nice so you get a perfect fit with no wrinkles.

Every 70 uses makes me feel better. Thats alot of use. It would take me probably 6 or 7 winters worth of riding to hit 70 uses!