Wetsuit: how long will it last if never rinse w fresh water?

geohaye · Joined: 03 Apr 2000 Posts: 1150

Out of cleverness, lazyness, or something else, we all probably know someone who, after windsurfing, just hangs up their wetsuit to dry. No hosing it off, no taking it in the shower. Do they pay a high price for this?

...Of course you are SUPPOSED to rinse it with fresh water. Clearly you'll get a longer life out of the wetsuit that way. But, let's hear some people's experiences. Considering how busy many of us are, if we could get 2 solid years out of a wetsuit without hosing it off after sailing...that might be worth it (less lifespan, but less hassle = worth it?)

George

Jrobb · Joined: 20 Aug 2005 Posts: 212

I rinse mine maybe once every 10 sessions. I sail saltwater 99.3 % of the time with a smattering in freshwater (delta so not completely fresh) 5 or 6 times per year. I generally get 15 days per month and am now in my third year with an Aleeda suit. The only seams giving way are the armpits have a small thumb size hole.

J

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2439 Location: SF bay area

I stopped rincing wetsuits, sails and everything else about 8 years ago
and never looked back. Everything seems to last just as long, no difference in rubber degradation, corrosion or monofilm. Hours saved in a year is significant too. I also always sail salt water, about 100 sessions a year. I don't know where this saltwater myth got started, probably because the zippers would salt up and freeze shut when they would only use them once a month (and hang them in the sun to dry out). UV exposure from the sun is what really degrades the rubber.

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

I sail about once a week, 9 or 10 months a year and almost never rinse anything but myself. I have noticed sail windows getting a little cloudy, not sure if thats from salt. I don't think it affects the longevity of the wet/drysuits. It's gotta affect the oder, but I don't mind that.

duracell · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 109

I wash sails that I don't use that often plus I wash sails at the end of the season (with soap water).
If very hot and sails are covered with salt I spray a bit of water on them and then use a window cleaner attached to a stick to remove the water. Process takes seconds, uses very little water (have a little pump spray bottle (5 litres capacity, use maybe 1ltr per sail)). The results are very good. Sails are really see through and last longer. I use mine more often, harder and longer than anybody else at the beach but mine last longer too. Salt&Salt do tend to help time nag at things.
I 've noticed that if the salt dries on the sails in the sun (warm hot breeze == seconds) it poses the greatest threat to the sails. Salt gets "baked" onto surface. Wet sails with salt I don't wash off, that doesn't seem to hurt them.

I sail around 8 months a year, 20 days a month (or more)

broadreach5 · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 80

We've had a long thread on this subject already. If you want more opinions try doing a search. I want to add, though, that if you have a weak bladder, it's advisable to wash your suit every time. I wash all my equipment off after every session because it picks up sand and seaweed. Any organic residue will culture bacteria. My booties often develop a rather foul but mild oder because they don't dry well.

scooper · Joined: 28 May 1987 Posts: 537 Location: Massachusettes

Duracell- 20 days a month?! Man, I'm jealous. How do you get so much free time?

boggsman1 · Joined: 24 Jun 2002 Posts: 2977 Location: at a computer

C'mon, in a sport where each sail costs 500bux, boards over 1g, booms 550bux, masts 300bux, extensions 100bux, bases 75bux, harness 125bux, missed work 1000's of bux, divorce from excessive windsurfing 100,000's bux, trips to Maui 1000's, WHO CARES HOW LONG A WETSUIT lasts , its the least of your financial concerns.

mwilly · Joined: 09 Jun 2000 Posts: 102

I have an O'neill 3/2 wetsuit that's 13 years old and still in use (fabric covered neoprene so its pretty durable). This wetsuit got very faded after a week in the sun at Lake Arenal 6 years ago but its still holding up pretty well for how old it is.

I was fanatical about rinsing all my gear with fresh water after every session when I started ~14 years ago. About 10 years ago I got tired of the extra work and haven't rinsed anything since. I always sail in salt water and have not noticed any difference.

peterk123 · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 42

Fifteen years and counting. Rinsing? Now why would anyone do that? It will just get it wet again and never dry!