Down and Dirty: 9 Items You Need for Your Dry Suit Repair Kit

Whitewater dry wear is the largest apparel investment any boater can make. For those who want to extend the life and use of their dry suit (or dry top), it's best to keep a dry suit repair kit on hand.

Our paddling experts at CKS Online have written a simple and inexpensive list of 9 items needed to build a dry suit repair kit.

1. Gasket Replacement

We recommend building your repair kit with a minimum of two wrist gasket replacements and two neck gasket replacements. 

Doubling up on gaskets allows for two things:

1. The opportunity to try again if you mess up your first replacement attempt.
2. Gaskets can blow quicker than you think. Be safe & have extras on hand.

Wrist Gasket Replacement	Neck Gasket Replacement

Gaskets are typically sized small and large:

• Dry gear size small or smaller typically use small gaskets
• Dry gear size medium and up typically use large gaskets

If you are unsure, your gaskets should have its size and manufactured date printed on the inside.

NRS and Kokatat each offer their own replacement gaskets, but you are able to mix brands if you'd like.

NRS Gaskets	Gaskets

2. Aquaseal

Aquaseal absolutely gets it done. This glue is a must-have in any boater's dry bag and is a must-must have in any dry suit repair kit.

This stuff can repair the world... I am never on the water without it

–Bruce V., who bought Aquaseal

Aquaseal

3. Pair of Scissors

You can't attach a new gasket if you don't remove the old gasket! Using a pair of sharp scissors is best and safest for easy removal.

Other alternatives include:

• Box cutter
• X-Acto knife
• Razor blade

5. Shape Retainers

Because latex is formless, you will need a solid object to form and fill the gasket you are replacing. 

We've found that 32 oz. standard Nalgenes or similar water bottles work best for wrist gasket replacements.

Unfortunately, finding a good neck gasket mold is not as simple. We recommend adding the Kokatat Neck Gasket Tool Kit to your larger dry suit repair kit.

Kokatat Neck Gasket Tool Kit

Neck Gasket Tool Kit Features:

• (1) Melamine coated round repair board
• (2) 1/2 circle clamp rings
• (6) Spring Clamps
• (1) Roll two-sided tape
• (1) Neck gasket shape retainer form
• (1) Instruction Sheet

4. Sandpaper

130 or 180 grit sandpaper is best for buffing your latex gasket replacement before using glue. 

Often forgotten, this important item can make the difference between a replacement that lasts numerous river trips and a replacement that can barely last a week. 

5. Rubber Bands

Rubber bands need to be added to your repair kit. These will help keep the newly glued gasket tight as it all cures together. 

A great alternative to rubber bands are 1' or 2' NRS Cam Strap.

6. Pair of Disposable, Latex Gloves

Protect yourself from the tacky and stickiness of this entire process. Trust us – use gloves. 

7. Small Square of Cardboard or Tarp

If you're on the river, you'll need to rest your gasket replacement on a solid sand-free surface to cure for 24 hours. 

If you are on a trip with a group of drinkers, a spare empty beer box may work, but having extra dry cardboard or a tarp on hand can add another layer of protection from wind and elements while your glue cures. 

8. Tear-Aid

While gaskets tend to be the primary focus of dry suit repair, sometimes the suit's face fabric can be damaged, or the suit itself can be ripped or torn all the way through.

Tear-Aid flexes with the fabric really well. It's super quick and effective to fix a dry suit. Plus Tear-Aid can still be removed when you're ready and want to do a more permanent repair. 

At CKS we prefer to use Tear-Aid instead of Aquaseal for field repairs. 

Tear Aid A

9. 303 Aerospace Protectant

Apply 303 Aerospace Protectant frequently to ensure the longevity of your gaskets. 303 contains UV protecting compounds that will extend the life of any gasket you apply it to. For these reasons, it definitely needs to be added to your drysuit repair kit. 

303 Aerospace Protectant

What about a cure accelerator?

Using a cure accelerator? Rad! You've cut your cure time down significantly.

If you're able to carry this in your kit (note: some Aquaseal products do come with cure accelerators), make sure to pack a small disposable cup and a popsicle stick for mixing the cure accelerator with Aquaseal. 

Aquaseal with Cure Accelerator

How to Bring Your Repair Kit on the River

If you're planning your next cold-water or multi-day river trip and bringing your dry gear, like a dry suit or dry top, you should also plan to bring a dry suit repair kit.

All items listed above can fit into an ammo can or small dry bag for easy access. 

Ammo Can	Drybag

When you return from the river, remember to place your Aquaseal back into the freezer and to re-store your latex replacement gaskets in an area where they are less likely to dry out (i.e. away from stoves, heaters and sunlight).

Don't want to build your own kit?

Both NRS and Kokatat make their own separate wrist and neck gasket repair kits.  Each comes with the gasket replacement, Aquaseal, and sandpaper. There are two distinct differences between the brands:

• Kokatat comes with 303, NRS does not
• NRS comes with cure accelerator and an applicator tool, Kokatat does not

Basic Gasket Repair Kit	Field Repair Kit

The Field Repair Kit from Kokatat is a basic whitewater dry suit fabric repair kit.

The Kokatat Field Repair kit includes:

• Instructions
• 2 alcohol wipes
• Aquaseal adhesive
• Zipper wax
• 4 assorted size fabric patches
• 2 Tear-Aid patches

Do you include anything else in your dry suit repair kit? Tell us in the comments below!