The consensus from the manufacturers of sailing specific drysuits is that a latex sock is a better choice for a couple of reasons. Compressing the vascular system at the ankle reduces overall circulation to the feet which are already an area where many people get cold first. The top sailing gear manufacturers like MUSTO, Gill, Henri Lloyd and others who specialize in sailing suits do not even offer an ankle seal any longer except through special order as the concensus from sailors too is that ankle seals are fine in applications where your feet need to go in bindings like wakeboarding but for sailing a sock is better. Gary is right about the GORETEX SOX. They rock. It adds a bunch of $$$ to the suit though and most people can't justify the additional cost.
As to deterioration of latex seals. This is most often caused by the latex coming into contact with suntain oils. Most lotions don't cause a problem but even heavy body oil can cause deterioration of the seal. Expect to replace your neck seal every few years and wrist seals more often if you wear jewelery or forget to take off your watch when pulling the suit on. UV can deteriorate the seals over a long period of time as well. Store in black trash bag when not in use. Merry Christmas and seasons greatings folks. Blowing 28 down here and I am taking the kids to Ruby's on the pier for breakfast and watch the storm come in. Mark Michaelsen --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "hobiegary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Once a piece of gear is thoroughly dried out, it can be stored in a > sealed container to minimize the amount of ozone exposure. > > GARY > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], Buzz Waterstreet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > wrote: > > I agree Gary. That is why I always transport my drysuit in the > BACK of > > my sailbox, as far away from the motor as possible. I also > constantly > > keep an out for other cars trying to tailgate me. Its hell on the > LA > > freeways. > > > > Seals still good > > Buzz > > > > > > hobiegary wrote: > > > > > > I believe it is ozone. There is a lot of extra ozone in places > > > where there is a lot of electrical arcing, such as near > constantly > > > running motors or lightning. > > > > > > GARY > > > > > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "David Farmer" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > wrote: > > > > > >>Gary, > > >> What causes the seals to rot? I've had it happened to me > > > > > > twice, and both > > > > > >>times it was a mystery as to what was the culprit. > > >> > > >>Dave > > >> > > >> > > >>>From: "hobiegary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > >>>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >>>Subject: [beachcats] Palm Dry Suit > > >>>Date: Fri, 24 Dec 2004 17:25:10 -0000 > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>>I wouldn't recommend latex bootie socks on a suit. I prefer the > > >>>ankle seal type because it allows me to continue using what I > have > > >>>always used: Wool socks inside of 7mm noeprene booties. > > >>> > > >>>With a latex sock on a suit, you don't have a seal around the > > >>>ankle. If you tear a sock, you're all wet. I would not want to > > >>>have to go out and buy all new foot gear just to accomodate a > > > > > > latex > > > > > >>>sock. > > >>> > > >>>By the way, I think that Latex socks are a thing of the past > > >>>(soon). The new breathable fabrics (goretex type) are going to > be > > >>>used as drysuit socks. They will be much more resistant to > > > > > > tearing, > > > > > >>>won't suffer the rotting and cracking that latex does, and will > > >>>allow your feet to remain dry. Latex can have your feet soaked > in > > >>>persperation. > > >>> > > >>>Here is a self portrait of Bill and I on one of Bill and GARY's > > >>>Excellent Adventures. (BAGEA) We used a camera timer. We are > > >>>wearing our Palm Stikine Canyon Drysuits and floating in a pool > of > > >>>spring water that I estimated to be in the fourties. It was far > > >>>colder than the ocean that was running between 53 and 58 that > > >>>weekend. > > >>> > > >>>This spring water was very cold and quickly chilled our > bodies. > > > > > > We > > > > > >>>both had on the usual wool socks with booties. Niether of us > > >>>experienced cold feet at the time. > > >>>http://tinyurl.com/4lb7m > > >>> > > >>>Very few products are BAGEA certified. Palm Drysuits are one > of > > > > > > the > > > > > >>>few. > > >>> > > >>>If anyone is interested in purchasing any of the Palm USA or MTI > > >>>adventurewear line of products, they may contact me off-list. > > >>> > > >>>GARY > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>>Group Home > > >>>http://www.TheBeachcats.com > > >>> > > >>> > > >>>Yahoo! Groups Links > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Group Home > > > http://www.TheBeachcats.com > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Group Home http://www.TheBeachcats.com Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beachcats/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
