The following is from a set of emails generated by the following email:

As a beginning kayaker, and likely to spend notable time in the water through the course of the coming winter, protective clothing (Kokatat brand) was purchased that featured arm and neck latex gaskets. In trying these garments on at home, it was found that the garment's arm gaskets were sufficiently snug that hand tingling was experienced after a short time. Additionally, the garment's neck gasket gives the sense that it is reducing blood flow. Not good.

An attempt was made to gently stretch the gaskets by hand. When that proved unsuccessful, drinking glasses were put in the arm gaskets and a glass coffee pot was put in the neck gasket for a few days, using "303" for lubrication. In this case as well, the gaskets weren't stretched by the procedure - at least not enough to be noticeable. It won't do to over-stretch the gaskets and ruin them, and cutting them short doesn't sound like a good solution either - for several reasons.

Additionally, while not overly concerned, I'm sufficiently apprehensive about the potential for passing out while paddling to be a little hesitant to use the garment. Without practical experience, it's not known whether this is a legitimate concern or not. If these gaskets posed a genuine risk, substantial discussion of the subject within the kayaking community would be expected, but hasn't been observed.

The question itself:
Has a proper method been devised to relax these latex gaskets without ruining them?

Duane Strosaker wrote...
I have a dry top with latex neck and wrist gaskets, and they bothered me at first too. It is best to stretch them out for a couple weeks around food or coffee cans. I heard that trimming them down can cause tears if there are any nicks from the scissors. I did trim my neck gasket back a bit and didn't have any problems.

Steve Brown wrote...
What Duane said +

I have read about paddlers loosing conciseness because of dry tops. It also recommended wearing it around the house for a while (supervised) first to be sure that didn't happen. I think it was John Lull's book. It could still be kayak legend, but common sense says that reduced blood flow to the head is a bad thing.

My wife didn't need to trim hers at all. After stretching over glasses and coffee can for a few days it fit fine. Sometimes that's enough.

I had to trim both neck and wrist gaskets. The neck a lot, the wrists a little.

I stretched them gently around a cylinder (plastic) and then cut them with a very sharp razor blade. Done carefully, it leaves no jaggies to tear. Although I managed to leave some jaggies anyway, so far they have not given me any trouble. I think it's best to make a clean cut, but the material is somewhat forgiving.

If stretching doesn't do it, take a very little bit at a time, because a little bit of cutting goes a long ways. The gaskets are designed so that cutting not only reduces the elastic force, but also increases the diameter.

It will still be uncomfortable until you get used to it (actually, you just get used to being a little uncomfortable), but it should not cause tingling or feel like it's reducing blood to your head. You will intuitively know the difference between feeling uncomfortable and being choked.

Make it fit and enjoy it. I don't wear mine much because I spend a lot of time in sharp rocks, but when I do it makes cold water completely not a factor. You can always replace the gaskets if you goof it up.

Wayne Horodowich (University of Sea Kayaking) wrote...

If you haven't heard this news please be careful about sunscreen and the gaskets (neck & wrist seals) on a real dry top. The chemicals in sunscreen are not user friendly to the latex material. Therefore, if you apply the sunscreen before you put on the dry top the seals are rubbing the surfaces with sunscreen. The same is true when you take it off.

One way of keeping those seals healthy is to apply the sunscreen after you have the top on. Then be sure you leave some space from the seal with no sunscreen. Then wipe off the sunscreen before you take the top off. A small hand towel has worked for me.

Don't forget to regularly treat the seals with the protectant recommended by the manufacturer to keep the seal lasting longer.

As for trimming the neck seals, I would first try a little bit of stretching. Once you trim the seal you cannot go back. There is a fitting period that does take place.

If you have to cut the seal do it when on the coffee can. First determine where you think you need to cut it. Then start less than that. It is better to do the process a few times instead of over cutting. I was told to use an exacto knife to cut. Make a pen line around the seal for your cut line. Then just follow the line. Good luck.

I have had my dry top for over ten years. The seals will last if you take care of them. The biggest abuses to the seals are the sunscreen (mentioned earlier) and pulling or pushing the head and hands through the gaskets without opening the holes. Be gentle around the seals.

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