Dry Suit Seal Oil

(nj_alex) · (nj_alex) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 10-12-2005, 8:47 AM

Has anyone ever heard of oiling the seals on a dry suit to extend their life? If so, do you have any links where this special oil can be found?
Thank you, Alex

(colorider) · (colorider) **Join Date: Jun 2001** 10-12-2005, 8:51 AM

you can get it at a scuba shop. It is a silicone seal conditioner. Keeps them really nice!!

(jarrod) · (jarrod) **Join Date: May 2003** 10-12-2005, 8:54 AM

The stuff for the oneill is more like a wax

robertt 10-12-2005, 9:20 AM

What you want is seal saver. I kayak and dive with dry suits constantly, and use it all the time. It is absolutely critical to use it every year to condition the seals.

Basically, its just food grade silicone. I ended up buying a ton of it at a outdoor store and save a few bucks.

Also, if you only use your drysuit a few months out of the year, use 303 as much as possible. You can get 5 or more years of life out of gaskets with 303 alone.

Dont use anything other than Seal Saver or 303 though, you will ruin it.

Also, the seal saver (silicone) makes it much easier to get in and out of.

(jzd) · (jzd) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 10-12-2005, 9:43 AM

Hey Robert,What is 303 & where do you get it from ? Thanks

wakeceo 10-12-2005, 9:43 AM

Using a silicone spray on the seals regularly can really extend their life and keep them from tearing and ripping, etc. You can get it here:

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=297

(nj_alex) · (nj_alex) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 10-12-2005, 9:52 AM

Thank you men.

robertt 10-12-2005, 9:52 AM

303 is a UV inhibitor that most people with boats use on their vinyl. I even use it on my gel coat.

Anyway, its kind of like armor-all except it doesn't ruin the vinyl or the natural rubber seals.

Its awesome stuff, I buy it by the gallon.

UV rays are one of the biggest contributors to the rubber breaking down. My dry suit even has thin neoprene covers to keep the rubber out of the sun.

Anyway, you can get it just about anywhere. Its labeled as SPF 40 for your gear.

(jarrod) · (jarrod) **Join Date: May 2003** 10-12-2005, 10:24 AM

lol..on the delta, our drysuits are protected from the UV rays by the winter fog!

(big_ed_x2) · (big_ed_x2) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 10-12-2005, 10:43 AM

Man,I hope my seals are still ok.I have not done a thing to lubricate them.Just hung my drysuit up in my closet.

(jzd) · (jzd) **Join Date: Jul 2005** 10-12-2005, 10:43 AM

Thanks Robert local boat shop carries it.I'll try it this weekend

260searay 10-12-2005, 3:03 PM

I bought my bare last winter and used it this spring. It has been folded up in my room all summer......I should probably use my seal saver.

(mossy44) · (mossy44) **Join Date: Oct 2001** 10-12-2005, 7:38 PM

what if the the seal is already broken? where do you get the glue to fix it?

robertt 10-12-2005, 9:46 PM

If the seal is broken, buy a new one and install it. Its a pain in the butt. There are many places you can send it to that will do it as well. First check with the local dive shops.

As far as glue...only one.....AquaSeal.

You can buy AquaSeal at most decent outdoor specialty shops, and just about every scuba shop. Its great stuff.

robertt 10-12-2005, 9:47 PM

Here...

http://www.nrsweb.com/repair/gasket_replacement.asp

(nj_alex) · (nj_alex) **Join Date: Aug 2002** 10-13-2005, 5:45 AM

While we're at it men, what about the dry suit zipper? Anyone have good maintenance tips for the zipper?

wakeceo 10-13-2005, 9:34 AM

I'd use the same stuff I recommended before:

http://www.bakesonline.com/detail.aspx?ID=297

It says right in the description to use it on zippers so I bet that would be a good start.

(peter_c) · (peter_c) **Join Date: Sep 2001** 10-13-2005, 10:31 AM

For the silicon you are just looking for a food grade silicon which can be purchased everywhere from Home Depot, drug stores, grocery stores, to auto parts stores. There is no difference in the product just the container. Most are in aerosol cans.

The recommended lube for zippers is wax. In OS's instuctions they say not to use paraffin wax, but it has worked just fine for many people.

Seal replacement is covered here: http://www.ossystems.com/repair/repr.htm

Parts: http://www.ossystems.com/repair/seals.html

Care of drysuit: http://www.ossystems.com/repair/congr.htm

Repair price list: http://www.ossystems.com/pricelists/repair.html

They also have all kinds of nice drystuits: http://www.ossystems.com/

wakeceo 10-14-2005, 10:17 AM

So don't use the aquaseal spray on the drysuit zipper....use wax. The aquaseal is the stuff that conditions the rubber and whatnot...great for the rest of the suit and extending the seals life