wetsuite repair

Have it professional repaired. Some companies will repair free of charge, at least, they used to....

 

Spring of 2014 a small shark nipped my knee and tore a hole in my 2 mm suite. I used that stuff on the rip and it worked very well. It's super easy to use and comes with instructions. I hope it works for you.

I had another wetsuite that developed a hole at a seams after only one winter . I had bought it from a surf shop. They sent it back to Body Glove who gave me a new suite. That's an advantage of buying local as opposed to on line, I guess. The shop owners pressure the manufacturers to make good on their product for their better customers I guess.

 

My experience with this kind of failure is neoprene cement wont really fix it. The reason the suit had stitching there and not just a glued seam is that its a stress point - without restitching, the neoprene cement wont hold for long. If you've got some sewing skills I would just fix it myself, if not I would send it to Hyperflex to get fixed right, and do it in the middle of the winter when you wont be wearing the 4/3 anyway. You don't wear a 4/3 all winter in north jersey do you?

 

Aqua seal works well. All four of my suites are repaired with it. I blow out all my suites elbows then just put Aqua seal on them. I need a more durable suite than xcel.

 

like mitch said, stitch it first...then put masking tape over the inside of the repair and put aquaseal over the outside and let it soak in (don't recommend putting repair cement on the inside...it might dry abrasive). Let cure and remove tape.

btw, the people who make aquaseal (clear cement) make a black version, too...you'd think it would be better and hide the repair, but it's actually not as good as the clear stuff. The clear stuff looks like crap on a suite, but it holds better.

 

send it back

o cep

 

For the stitching I use dental floss. When your done burn the excess floss at the ends with a lighter. It seals nicely with the neoprene. Just be careful not to burn your suit.

 

Did some floss around the neck of my 5/4 oneill with some cement - holding great

 

I flossed and cemented a crappy 3/2 years back and the repair is still holding. The suit disintegrated everywhere else but over the repair.

 

Rip curl or oneill sell the flexible glue. Dont use aquaseal. If you go to your local surf shop you should be able to find it. It is about 25$. A little steep but well worth it. Super flexible and comfortable when its all done. I repaired the hood on my 5/4/3 it was ripped across thethroat about a 6" tear. No sewing involved and its dry asit was when brand new.

 

Nylon thread from the craft store.

 

If you have an old suit take some of the tape from a seam off and use rubber cement. It's worked well for me. Spread the tear open apply rubber cement to both sides let dry and touch together. Then do the same to the tape and apply. That should hold. You could use fishing line to stitch too.

You could call hyperflex and tell them the stitches ripped bynthe knee pad. They might fix it for you out of warranty. They have great customer service.

 

I have had success with a farming needle, dental floss and neoprene cement. For professional repair, Terrapin wetsuite repair inv Texas is great.