Scott Rulander kayaking on the Sandy River. Photo: Matt Menely

With rain on the horizon, the onset of whitewater season is here and the replacement of many gaskets on dry tops and suits at Mountain Soles is soon to follow. Here are a few tips to help make your latex gaskets last a little longer.Latex gaskets are subject to premature deterioration if not cared for properly. Wash your gaskets inside and out with a mild soap (non-detergent) and water solution to remove all contamination like body oils, pollution, and lotions. It helps to do this on a regular basis if you are using your suit frequently, and especially if you have oily skin. After you have cleaned your gaskets, apply a protectant such as Seal Saver, both on the inside and outside of the gasket. If you are using silicone, make sure that is a food grade silicone that does not contain petroleum distillates or fluorocarbon propellants. You can extend the life of your natural latex rubber gaskets by minimizing contact with unwanted chemicals (sunscreen, perfume or after-shave), ozone, and ultraviolet light (sunlight).

For long term storage, store your dry suit, top, or bibs rolled up in a large plastic bag (zip-lock type). To minimize the air flow around the gaskets, try and push all the excess air out of the bag and then zip it closed. Roll or fold the suit up so that the gaskets are all folded into the suit and not exposed to air or sunlight. It is best to store this package at room temperature avoiding hot or cold temperature swings throughout the year. Always store you suit with the waterproof zippers un-zipped and consider lubricating your zipper teeth with Zip Tech or Zip Care.

Need your gaskets replaced? Please plan ahead. We can get rather backed up during the rainy season. Happy Boating!

This entry was posted on Monday, October 29th, 2007 at 4:05 pm and is filed under Gear Maintenance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.