Unfortunately, the saga continues with the leaking wrist seals of my D1 Hybrid drysuit. Replacing the seals with the new ones that Waterproof sent me (thank you, Waterproof) did not help the problem at all.
On Sunday, I performed the following test: I suited up, zipped up, rolled the wrist cuffs back so that the entire area of the cuffs, seals, etc were easily visible. I walked down to the entry platform and lowered my arms (vertically, elbows first) into the water so that the surface of the water was ABOVE the cuffs but BELOW the upper edge of the seal where it is against the skin.
The picture is attached below:<BR><BR><IMG class=previewthumb id=vbattach_126785 alt="" src="http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=126785&stc=1" attachmentid="126785"><BR><BR>
The white line indicates where the water surface was. This test eliminated the possibility that the leak was due to "tendon channels" formed in the wrist when the hand is moved in various ways. (This, by the way, I would consider to be "normal" leaking).
Result? <SPAN style="COLOR: #ff0000"><STRONG>BOTH SLEEVES LEAKED</STRONG></SPAN>! After about 5 minutes in the water, I got out of the drysuit and both sleeves of my undergarment were wet! And this would also go along with my perception on all my dives - that as soon as I put my arms into the water to put on my fins, I "felt" water going into my sleeves. At first, I just thought it was the coldness of the water that I felt through the silicone seals, but apparently it was, in fact, water leaking in even before I submerged.
I've come up with three possible explanations:
1. I put the new seals in wrong. I don't think that this is the case because I put them in the exact way that I took the first set out, which were factory installed. Actually, I think I did a better job. One problem with this theory is that there is absolutely no instructions whatsoever on how to change the seals, so I do have to "assume" that I did it correctly. There is one third party video online, but it really doesn't show you enough. This is something that you, Waterproof, could improve on. Why market the suit as having quick replacement seals but then not give instructions on how to do that?
2. The leak is between the hard wring that the silicone seal attaches to, and the ring that is glued into the sleeve of the outer shell of the suit. The reason why I find this difficult to believe is that it is SO difficult to remove the ring and to put it back in...because the fit is SO tight...that it's just hard to believe any water can get in there, especially when I did nothing but lower my arms into the water...
3. The leak is between the outer shell of the suit and the ring that is glued into the outer shell sleeve. I tried to look at that but could not see anything and I don't think I could test that anyway. That would be a manufacturing defect.
On my way home, after diving on Sunday, I stopped at the dive center where I purchased it and their first reply was "Well, we're not paying for shipping". Thanks. They finally agreed to call Waterproof the next day and to call me back and let me know the result of that phone call. That was two days ago and I haven't heard from them. So much for customer service...
Incidentally, on Monday, approximately 28 hours after diving, I pulled the sleeves inside out to try and troubleshoot further. The orange, mesh lining in both sleeves were still wet and starting to smell yucky. I left them out to dry. So the amount of water that got had to be quite a bit more than my wet undergarment sleeves.
So...Waterproof...I need some help. Here is my perspective: I bought your drysuit and it leaks. The Lehigh Valley Dive Center sold me your suit and it leaks. I think that someone needs to step forward and take ownership of the problem and work to get it resolved. I tried to convince myself that it was my fault because I was new to drysuits, but now I am convinced that it is not something that I am doing.
If you prefer to call me directly, here's my number: 908-616-4588. My email address is <A href="mailto:mikekopacki@gmail.com">mikekopacki@gmail.com</A>.
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I had to call the dive center back to find out what the status of my issue was with them. The person who answered the phone did not know but took my info. She (Michele) was very nice.
Finally the owner got back to me. Although he was not polite at all, he did say that they will ship it back to Waterproof for me...AT MY EXPENSE! He made it very clear that they would not pay the shipping. He did say that Waterproof would do a leak test, and if they found a defect that they (Waterproof) would pay the shipping. If they do not find any defects, then I will have to pay shipping both ways.
So the question I'm left with is, if water is getting in...how could there not be a defect?
I do not know who the Waterproof rep is here on SB, but I would really like to get some dialog going with you. I'm dropping my suit off today at the dive shop, it's going to be shipped to CA, someone there has to look at it, then it has to be shipped back. I want to be a part of that process....I want to talk to someone at Waterproof when they have the suit in hand so that I can explain exactly what is happening, all the things that I have checked, etc.
Can you reply and help me out?
