Drysuit zipper blew out at 30 feet off Port Angeles - repair kit or send it back?

I was doing a hull inspection on a fishing boat two weeks ago and my drysuit zipper failed halfway through the dive. Water started seeping in quick, I had to abort and do a controlled emergency ascent. Now I'm stuck with a $400 repair bill from the local shop or I can try one of those field repair kits I've seen online. Has anyone actually used those zipper repair kits successfully or are they a total joke?

3 comments

3 Comments

morgan.rose28d ago

lol field repair kits are a total gamble with drysuits. It's like patching a tire with duct tape - might get you home but you wouldn't trust it at highway speeds. Better to just eat the $400 and know you won't get a surprise bath next dive.

riley_wood8428d ago

Did that happen to your buddy Rob or whatever? I still remember when my friend tried to patch his drysuit on a trip up north, got it looking good and everything, then went for a test swim in the harbor and came out looking like a half-drowned cat.

spencer_owens5828d ago

Wait @morgan.rose, have you ever tried the waterproof vulcanizing patch kits?