GoJohnnyGo wrote:
Any suggestions on fixing a wetsuit tear?
I've tried a special wetsuit glue and that came apart fairly quickly, then I ordered these patches which I ironed on and those fell off before I even got out of the water...
The tear is horizontal on the back said of my left calf and is about 6 inches long.
Last year I repaired an L shaped tear in a similar place (lower rear of right calf) by using wetsuit glue first, then putting an iron on patch on each side. I'm not sure if you're saying you used both at the same time. It took several goes at the glue before I was happy enough to iron on the patches. I put one path on the inside and one on the outside, and was very careful to make sure they were flush with the suit and that every part of them got hot enough to get sticky. I used it once last year and I've used it for one practice swim and one race this year and the iron on patches have started to come up at the edges, but the glue is still pretty strong. I trimmed back the edges and they're still covering the tear, so it seems okay for the moment.
I think it's because the patches don't flex the same way as the suit that every time I take it on and off, the patch works itself off. I don't know this solution is permanent, but mine has worked okay. Also, there's a LOT of glue on there, so it's a little lumpy, but I'll take some lumpy glue over having to buy a new wetsuit. :-)
John