Question about drysuit alterations and repairs

[nradkins]

Hello all! I recently just bought a used DUI CF200 drysuit for $210(tax and shipping included in the price) which is an insanely good deal!!! I am extremely happy with the price I paid for it, since I know that new DUI suits are >$3,000. However, I tried to put it on multiple times, and the suit just does not fit me, and this is without any real undergarments on. I think it might fit me better if I lost some weight which I am planning on doing, but there are some parts of the suit which seem to be too big, or too small for my general build. Here is a short list of some alterations I would need to have done if I wanted to actually dive this suit:

1)Shorten the leg length

2)Widen the hips a little bit

3)Make the chest circumference a bit bigger

does anyone have any idea to the feasibility and/or price of these alterations, or is it a fool's errand to try to do this? For reference, the DUI suit is a stock medium, and I am 5'6" and 180ish, and also pretty broad in the shoulders. My thoughts is that although it will be expensive I am sure, if it is cheaper by a mile to do the alterations vs. buy a new custom suit, I would like to do that to save a bit of money. I will be contacting multiple shops tomorrow to inquire, but I wanted to ask the scuba community in case anyone had any preliminary thoughts. Thanks!

 

[ThatDogDontHunt]

Hello all! I recently just bought a used DUI CF200 drysuit for $210(tax and shipping included in the price) which is an insanely good deal!!! I am extremely happy with the price I paid for it, since I know that new DUI suits are >$3,000. However, I tried to put it on multiple times, and the suit just does not fit me, and this is without any real undergarments on. I think it might fit me better if I lost some weight which I am planning on doing, but there are some parts of the suit which seem to be too big, or too small for my general build. Here is a short list of some alterations I would need to have done if I wanted to actually dive this suit:

1)Shorten the leg length

2)Widen the hips a little bit

3)Make the chest circumference a bit bigger

does anyone have any idea to the feasibility and/or price of these alterations, or is it a fool's errand to try to do this? For reference, the DUI suit is a stock medium, and I am 5'6" and 180ish, and also pretty broad in the shoulders. My thoughts is that although it will be expensive I am sure, if it is cheaper by a mile to do the alterations vs. buy a new custom suit, I would like to do that to save a bit of money. I will be contacting multiple shops tomorrow to inquire, but I wanted to ask the scuba community in case anyone had any preliminary thoughts. Thanks!

A good tailor will tell you it is easy to take things in a little, difficult to take things in a lot and impossible to let things out.

Your need to expand portions of the suit is likely a no go?

 

[nradkins]

A good tailor will tell you it is easy to take things in a little, difficult to take things in a lot and impossible to let things out.

Your need to expand portions of the suit is likely a no go?

That's what I was thinking yeah. However there is a chance I may not need to alter the chest or shoulders which might be my only saving grace if I end up keeping the suit. I am leaning towards selling it but I'll get a couple of quotes from some places before I make a final decision.

 

[Jcp2]

Hello all! I recently just bought a used DUI CF200 drysuit for $210(tax and shipping included in the price) which is an insanely good deal!!! I am extremely happy with the price I paid for it, since I know that new DUI suits are >$3,000. However, I tried to put it on multiple times, and the suit just does not fit me, and this is without any real undergarments on. I think it might fit me better if I lost some weight which I am planning on doing, but there are some parts of the suit which seem to be too big, or too small for my general build. Here is a short list of some alterations I would need to have done if I wanted to actually dive this suit:

1)Shorten the leg length

2)Widen the hips a little bit

3)Make the chest circumference a bit bigger

does anyone have any idea to the feasibility and/or price of these alterations, or is it a fool's errand to try to do this? For reference, the DUI suit is a stock medium, and I am 5'6" and 180ish, and also pretty broad in the shoulders. My thoughts is that although it will be expensive I am sure, if it is cheaper by a mile to do the alterations vs. buy a new custom suit, I would like to do that to save a bit of money. I will be contacting multiple shops tomorrow to inquire, but I wanted to ask the scuba community in case anyone had any preliminary thoughts. Thanks!

Before you do any of that I would have a leak test done. A leaky zipper may make the cost of repair and alterations the same or more than buying a suit that fits better.

 

[lexvil]

It will cost less to buy a seaskin suit

 

[gmerick]

Sell the suit, and apply the receipts as a downpayment on a new one.
Looking at the DUI size chart, it appears you are trying to convert a Size M suit to shortened Size XLS.
The issue you'll have is the CF200 fits much more like a wetsuit than a TriLaminate dry suit. The CF200 utilizes the inherent stretch of neoprene to achieve a very close fit to your body. The only significant fold in my CF200 is a uniform ring at my waistline to shorten the overall suit and attach the crotch strap. Underwater I experience almost no suit squeeze as the suit remains almost universally flat except for that one fold. Long before suit compression becomes uncomfortable I lose thermal protection due to loss of loft in my undergarment.
Even if you can find a tailor able to work with compressed neoprene, I don't think you will be at all happy with the results of modifying your "bargain.

 

[PR_SMITH]

I had a CF 200 for years(15). I bought it used and had great service from it. Last year, it developed leaks in the arms due to the material becoming porous. I retired it, having had my money's worth; I repair drysuits as a side-hustle.

The alterations you propose would cost more than a brand new, tailor-made Seaskin drysuit.

 

[nradkins]

Sell the suit, and apply the receipts as a downpayment on a new one.
Looking at the DUI size chart, it appears you are trying to convert a Size M suit to shortened Size XLS.
The issue you'll have is the CF200 fits much more like a wetsuit than a TriLaminate dry suit. The CF200 utilizes the inherent stretch of neoprene to achieve a very close fit to your body. The only significant fold in my CF200 is a uniform ring at my waistline to shorten the overall suit and attach the crotch strap. Underwater I experience almost no suit squeeze as the suit remains almost universally flat except for that one fold. Long before suit compression becomes uncomfortable I lose thermal protection due to loss of loft in my undergarment.
Even if you can find a tailor able to work with compressed neoprene, I don't think you will be at all happy with the results of modifying your "bargain.

This was very helpful, thank you! I am new to drysuits so this is all good info to have. I think I will end up selling the suit and buying a new one as everyone who has responded to me on here and on reddit is all saying the exact same thing.

 

[nradkins]

I had a CF 200 for years(15). I bought it used and had great service from it. Last year, it developed leaks in the arms due to the material becoming porous. I retired it, having had my money's worth; I repair drysuits as a side-hustle.

The alterations you propose would cost more than a brand new, tailor-made Seaskin drysuit.

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. I think I am going to end up selling the drysuit and saving for another one. I will definitely look into seaskin! You are like the 5th person who has recommended seaskin drysuits lol so they must be good and a good price.

 

[PR_SMITH]

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. I think I am going to end up selling the drysuit and saving for another one. I will definitely look into seaskin! You are like the 5th person who has recommended seaskin drysuits lol so they must be good and a good price.

I had a Seaskin suit in for repair today( user bent the zipper sharply, killed the zip). They appear to be well made; I'd buy one.