I would imagine that this has been answered, but I couldn’t find it.
I have a gore-tex dry suit (Immersion Research - Double D…I think) with delamination in the butt area. The white gore-tex membrane layer has ripped, but the outer layers are intact. The area is at least 3" x 2" I imagine several ways to repair this - iron on? sew it and then seal it? sew a patch over it and tape the seams? …wondering what the best option might be.
There are also areas in the knees, toes, and armpits that have some delamination and or pinholes that I was thinking of dousing with aquaseal and/or seam tape. I am new to the dry suit game, so I am not sure what to do.
I know that buying a new one with a warranty is the best option, but I am a newbie and just looking to make it through this winter/spring on easier water here in Western NC. I have a sewing machine and have repaired wetsuits, sewn nylon tarps, etc…if that makes a difference.
I also have a 4/3 surfing wetsuit that I can wear if that would be better than messing with this drysuit. Cheers!
If the suit IS actually Gore-Tex, it has a lifetime warranty. Depending on the nature of the damage, IR or Gore should cover it. If the fabric is just worn out, that’s different that typical delamination, but they may still cover it.
Well kokatat must be lying http://www.outdoorplay.com/sweet-protection-intergalactic-dry-suit as sweet protection makes gortex drysuits. Maybe they meant usa made there the only one. lifetime warranty doesn’t really mean much. The manufacturer can say its life is over and not give you anything, That usually only happens after the suit is pretty old like 10 years but I know of Kokatat saying the life of the garment was over and they got nothing. They replaced it with a Sweet Protection Intergalactic GORE-TEX Drysuit
No problem with kokatat on mine 7 years old tape on inside coming lose in a few spots they sent me a new suit. People need to read the warranty it is easy to understand and gortex also has their warranty if manufacturer balks on a gortex garment.
I’ve had two Gore-Tex jackets that were over 12 years old and a dry suit that was ~10 years old replaced under warranty, so Gore’s warranty definitely means something. It’s important to note that while Kokatat could deny a warranty claim, Gore is the final arbiter since the warranty against delamination is on the fabric, not the garment. In the case of my dry suit, the manufacturer no longer made Gore-Tex suits, so Gore replaced it with a Kokatat suit. More than that, they replaced it with a more expensive model and refused to take any money for the difference in price.
So, don’t try to tell me that Gore’s warranty “doesn’t mean much”.
DC,
Do you have details about this Kokatat rejection? I carry Kokatat at The River Connection and I’m familiar with their policies so this scenario is of interest.
@dc9mm said:
Well kokatat must be lying http://www.outdoorplay.com/sweet-protection-intergalactic-dry-suit as sweet protection makes gortex drysuits. Maybe they meant usa made there the only one. lifetime warranty doesn’t really mean much. The manufacturer can say its life is over and not give you anything, That usually only happens after the suit is pretty old like 10 years but I know of Kokatat saying the life of the garment was over and they got nothing. They replaced it with a Sweet Protection Intergalactic GORE-TEX Drysuit
Got my suit 7 years ago so in may have been then or they meant made in USA.
My friends suit which is the exact same suit as mine ( I have no idea what the name of his/mine is but its gortex. Yellow and blue color., it was slowly leaking last summer but we couldn’t figure out where. he sent in and they responded with they felt the life of the suit was over and offered him a 20 percent discount on a new suit. They didn’t say where it was leaking just that its life is over. He had them send it back to him at a 20 dollar cost. He bought a Sweet Protection Intergalactic GORE-TEX Drysuit to replace it. I have the exact same kokatat suit BUT I bought mine used so I know I have no warranty but he bought his new BUT didn’t have an receipt as it was around 14 or more years old. He didn’t try and check with gortext as he wasn’t even sure where it was leaking as Kokatat didn’t say. He wasn’t mad as it was old but as I said lifetime isn’t lifetime. Since the company at any time can say the suits lifetime is over Lifetime warranty doesn’t mean much. Not saying Kokatat isn’t a good company that makes great products, just don’t by into the lifetime warranty hype. . So other manufacturers do offer gortex, thats why I posted mainly.
Just notice bnystrom response. I have no idea about the Gore company I was talking about kokatat not gore. Since he didn’t know were the suit was leaking not sure how gore would have helped.
Gore would have examined the suit and if the fabric had delaminated, they would have replaced it.
One thing to keep in mind is that if the fabric is cut, torn or simply worn through, that’s not covered under warranty, since it’s not a defect in the material, it’s wear and tear.
@bnystrom said:
Gore would have examined the suit and if the fabric had delaminated, they would have replaced it.
One thing to keep in mind is that if the fabric is cut, torn or simply worn through, that’s not covered under warranty, since it’s not a defect in the material, it’s wear and tear.
We both looked over the suit before he sent it in. Couldn’t see any cuts and certainly not worn through any were. I thought there must be some pin wholes in it some were . He didn’t bother trying to like pressurize the suit to look as he thought kokatat would handle it. He was happy the suit lasted that long but doubtful Gore would have done anything but you never know. Just saying lifetime does NOT mean YOUR lifetime. its the suits lifetime. How long that is is arbitrary amount of time. Read this http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f15/the-kokatat-lifetime-warranty-59483.html
All Kokatat products are fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship for the reasonable life of the item. Products found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Kokatat’s option. Repairs due to normal wear and tear, accident, abuse, etc., will be made for a reasonable charge. Latex gaskets are not covered by the Kokatat warranty. There is a 2 year limited warranty on all TROPOS suits. Kokatat specifically disavows any other representative warranty or liability relative to the condition or use of the product.All Kokatat products are fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship for the reasonable life of the item. Products found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Kokatat’s option. Repairs due to normal wear and tear, accident, abuse, etc., will be made for a reasonable charge. Latex gaskets are not covered by the Kokatat warranty. There is a 2 year limited warranty on all TROPOS suits. Kokatat specifically disavows any other representative warranty or liability relative to the condition or use of the product.
I am not a lawyer but the warranty seems simple enough to understand. I had no problem with my 7 year old suit when tape lifted from seam. I paddle a decent amount. I cleaned the suit with Nikwax for 25 minutes in the sink then rinsed it further outside with the hose. The guy in the other forum said he thought it was clean. I mean if you have a shirt you wore or pants yo be repaired and you wore them once would you clean them before dropping them at the tailor? I certainly would.
I was hoping for a free repair and I got a new suit cost me 70 bucks to ship USPS with 1200 insurance. I took care of the suit and probably walked from house to kayak deck box on plastic decking twice in all these years. Gaskets lasted 7 years. Flooded gaskets all the time when done. 304monthly. To much 303 ruins the gaskets.
I was impressed by the product and the service they provided. It’s gortex not steel so it could wear out. I don’t do much in the suit except paddle. I don’t land and explore or chop wood in the suit. One of the simplest warranties I have read.
So I think we agree. its the suits life not the customers life. But hey he got some were around 15 years which is pretty good. I just see people say its a lifetime warranty a lot online and get the impression people think they will never have to buy a new suit. Maybe my impression is wrong.
Rookie I never said anything about 303 on the zipper, you quoted me so I assume that was directed at me.
@PaddleDog52 said:
All Kokatat products are fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship for the reasonable life of the item. Products found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Kokatat’s option. Repairs due to normal wear and tear, accident, abuse, etc., will be made for a reasonable charge. Latex gaskets are not covered by the Kokatat warranty. There is a 2 year limited warranty on all TROPOS suits. Kokatat specifically disavows any other representative warranty or liability relative to the condition or use of the product.All Kokatat products are fully guaranteed to the original owner against defects in materials and workmanship for the reasonable life of the item. Products found to be defective will be repaired or replaced at Kokatat’s option. Repairs due to normal wear and tear, accident, abuse, etc., will be made for a reasonable charge. Latex gaskets are not covered by the Kokatat warranty. There is a 2 year limited warranty on all TROPOS suits. Kokatat specifically disavows any other representative warranty or liability relative to the condition or use of the product.
I am not a lawyer but the warranty seems simple enough to understand. I had no problem with my 7 year old suit when tape lifted from seam. I paddle a decent amount. I cleaned the suit with Nikwax for 25 minutes in the sink then rinsed it further outside with the hose. The guy in the other forum said he thought it was clean. I mean if you have a shirt you wore or pants yo be repaired and you wore them once would you clean them before dropping them at the tailor? I certainly would.
I was hoping for a free repair and I got a new suit cost me 70 bucks to ship USPS with 1200 insurance. I took care of the suit and probably walked from house to kayak deck box on plastic decking twice in all these years. Gaskets lasted 7 years. Flooded gaskets all the time when done. 304monthly. To much 303 ruins the gaskets.
I was impressed by the product and the service they provided. It’s gortex not steel so it could wear out. I don’t do much in the suit except paddle. I don’t land and explore or chop wood in the suit. One of the simplest warranties I have read.