I wore a small hole in the under arm of my suit (upper hole in the picture). I sent it off to a wetsuit repair place that put a rubber patch on it. The patch rubbed an even bigger hole in the suit, so I took the patch off and am back to square one. Where the red is visible the neoprene has worn down to sheer jersey.
Read a few things on wetsuit repair, although nothing speaks to this situation specifically. I’m thinking about “painting” the exposed red areas with black seal cement, then covering with a tear aid patch (this stuff) on the inside and outside. Does this make sense? Does anybody know which will be more flexible: Profile Design Westuit Seal Cement, Mcnett Seal Cement, or Mcnett Aqauseal?
I would get the Profile cement, put on several layers of that and you will be good to go. I have been impressed by that product. Thants what I would do-- most wetsuit repair shops will botch this by using less flexible neoprene. Xterra did this to one of mine on a warranty claim-- a very substandard repair.
That sucker is a goner. Under the arm is where it needs to have the most flexibility. Glue and patches will make it stiff and further send it to it’s grave. We use E6000 on our rental fleet, but that is repair cuts, not to fix missing rubber. I would swim it off into the sunset, then maybe cut it at the waist and use the pants for training.
As stated, a patch won’t work. You have two options IMO…First simply put thin layers of sealant on the outside being careful not to build it up too much or you will lose all flexibility in that region and put a patch on the backside. The backside patch use McNeff sealant and ducktape. Spread the sealant on the backside, place the tape down and cover the tape again with sealant. Other option is to make it a John, cutting off the arms and arm pit area but it may not last.
Have you done this before and found it worked well (enough)? My suit is a 2002 Orca, plenty floaty and warm and all that but has some giant tears forming around the shoulders. Does cutting the sleeves off allow more water in, with more drag, than a suit designed to be a John?
Thanks for the tips on how to attempt a patch in an area that needs to be flexible.
Other option is to make it a John, cutting off the arms and arm pit area but it may not last.
Have you done this before and found it worked well (enough)? My suit is a 2002 Orca, plenty floaty and warm and all that but has some giant tears forming around the shoulders. Does cutting the sleeves off allow more water in, with more drag, than a suit designed to be a John?
Thanks for the tips on how to attempt a patch in an area that needs to be flexible.
Other option is to make it a John, cutting off the arms and arm pit area but it may not last.
I honestly do not know. I’m sure it’s not as good as an actual John but if you are to the point of throwing a suit away it really doesn’t hurt to give it a try.
I would probably just coat the area with cement to minimize the water entry and possibly slow the deterioration. I had good luck filling in a gouge with Shoe Goo but it would not work in an area like the underarm.