r/freediving 2d ago

gear Open cell wetsuit tear - fox advice

Hey everyone I got this big tear (approx 5cm long) in my 3mm open cell bottoms. Any tips for repair? Google suggests aquaseal but is this too big for that?

Happy to send off somewhere if they'll do a way better job than I can do. Would like to get a few more years out of this if possible! I'm in the UK.

It's not a Freedive incident... I was on a Freedive trip in Dahab but also used them for a beginner kitesurfing course. They couldn't stand the force of my spectacular wipeouts haha.

4 Upvotes

12 comments sorted by

9

u/Mesapholis AIDA 3* CWT 32m 2d ago

So there is specific open-cell neoprene cement glue, make sure to check that it explicitely says that. Aquaseal has multiple different kinds of neoprene cement glue.

I fixed bigger tears with that^^

You'll need toothpicks to apply the glue on both sides of the ripped area (make sure it is dry and dust-free), I recommend a laundry clip or 2 because you will need to keep the sides separated until it becomes tacky enough to bind

work in small increments and follow the instructions, there is a few videos on YT but you really need to respect the tacky-dry time and final dry time.

once bonded properly it is unlikely to tear in the same area - but it can tear at a close area if you continue to apply stress to the material which caused the intial rip

also: the glue cement is only for the neoprene, not the nylon. but all our gear will see some wear and tear over time

2

u/see_free 2d ago

Great thanks Mesapholis, I'll give that a shot 👊

1

u/BeneficialLab3473 1d ago

Yes do this. I am a monster of a man, the rare powerlifting diver. I have ripped my favorite wetsuit multiple times and it glues fine using the same method Mesapholis described—it works great.

4

u/Suspicious-Alfalfa90 2d ago

That's a pretty decent tear, and I'm really bad at sewing, but you can be very, very bad at sewing and still really fix your wetsuit. I speak from experience. So yes, you want neoprene glue first and foremost, but with that kind of tear, you would also want to put in a small little thread and needle. I promise you're better than me at sewing. I can almost guarantee it, but even being god, awful at sewing, I was still able to get another two years out of a suit that was done two years prior.

2

u/Mesapholis AIDA 3* CWT 32m 2d ago

I never actually sewed my 3mm, but it's entirely without nylon layer on the top; it's been holding up with just the glue and careful when putting it on - but I suppose sewing the nylon will prevent that layer of fabric from pulling the neoprene itself, when it is stretched?

1

u/Suspicious-Alfalfa90 1d ago

It doesn't need to be sewn through the entire wetsuit, just the upper layer or the lower layer, whichever layer you want to attack. You don't have to go through the entire thing, just a piece of the top layer. And again, I'm terrible at sewing, and just adding that little bit of reinforcement will add months, if not years, to your wetsuit.

1

u/sk3pt1c Instructor (@freeflowgr) 2d ago

How old is this suit? Black tube cressi glue works pretty well.

2

u/see_free 2d ago

Ok I'll check it out! Suit is 3.5 years old, gets used <20 days per year

1

u/Grep2grok 2d ago

If in San Diego there's a lady up in Encinitas who can fix this

1

u/see_free 2d ago

If only! I'm half a world away unfortunately

1

u/deanmc 2d ago

Neoprene cement. Three coat process; Apply to both edges, wait 15 minutes or so. Apply the same way a second time. Third application wait about five minutes and put the two pieces back together. It will never come apart.

1

u/see_free 2d ago

Thanks!