guys,

I ve got a "full body" wetsuit I want to turn into a shorty. have any of you done this?
I figure I ll need a shorty more than a full body one down here after migrating from overseas.

I am thinking of just cutting off the parts I dont want/need and let mother in law take her sowing machine out and do the rest.

Will this wreck it or should it work?

Cheers,
Eric

Many a sailor's wetty has had this done. Just make sure you get the old duck to re-overlock the seams, or at worse, just run a few stitched back and forth to reinforce the seam.

A wetsuit lasts me about one season. The salt, sun and general wear and tear make them stiff over time. Get a new spring suit, not expensive and much more comfortable than an old cut down job.

How about heating the seams and melting them together? Could that work. Would have to be a good job otherwise it could get crispy, but that would be pretty strong i'd have thought.

KIT33R said...

A wetsuit lasts me about one season. The salt, sun and general wear and tear make them stiff over time.

You really can't be looking after the wetsuits to get only 1 season.

if you cut it, your issue would be fraying of the lycra layer and the seams splitting due to the fact that it will no onger be a 'finished' seam. to stop the fraying buy a bike innertube repair kit and run the glue provided thinly along the edges. this is vulcanising glue so it will chemically melt the rubber just slightly and while its soft, press the lycra into it before it sets again. (i've done this on tears heaps.)

where ever there is a seam that gets cut in half, stitch the last cm or so with some polyester upholstery thread (spotlight will have this) then put a bit more of the rubber glue on.

I did this once with a elastomax wettie that had seen 2.5 seasons of damn good use and the shoulders had fallen apart. I cut the top like a singlet and found that every body drag resulted in the armpit part turning into a huge water bucket.
motto, leave some sleeve in place!

KIT33R said...

A wetsuit lasts me about one season. The salt, sun and general wear and tear make them stiff over time. Get a new spring suit, not expensive and much more comfortable than an old cut down job.

one seasons? your not looking after it well, my last onei bought when i was about 17, at 24 i bought a new one, and it was only a peak one that lasted that long, and didnt look like crap when i got rid of it either

for summer i have boardies and a long sleeve 1/2mm neo top tight fit with zip down the bottom.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I dont mind how I look when I am out there. Im not a fashion icon anyways .-)

Eric

Excuse me, come kite south of the border where the water and wind aren't 30 degrees.