Wetsuits
- Wetsuits are probably the most vulnerable and sensitive waterskiing items to care for. Always thoroughly rinse your suit with water after use, especially those exposed to salt water. Salt water is great at corroding your suit.
Never store your wetsuit before it is completely dry. As a rule of thumb, turn it inside-out temporarily after rinsing until it is completely dry. After it is dry, turn it right-side-out to avoid stress on the seams and material.
One option is to lay the wetsuit flat and store it somewhere away from sunlight. Another option is to hang the suit on a wide hanger. These hangers may be purchased through a ski shop, or a sturdy suit hanger will do also. The thicker the hanger, the better. The thin wire hangers will cause creases and stretch the seams, which can result in cracks.
A third option is to find a thick rod or pole that runs horizontally, like ones found in your closet, and lay the suit at its waist around the pole.
- Store your dry suit the same way as described for wetsuits. There is one exception, however. Many dry suits are made with metal or steel-like material. Dry suits with this feature should be stored with the zippers open to avoid the seal becoming set. Those suits with plastic zippers should be stored closed to avoid kinks, which could result in leaks.
- A zipper's life will be prolonged if you lightly lubricate the teeth of the dry zipper. Aquaseal makes a product called Zip Care, which cleans and lubricates plastic, nylon, or metal zippers. It can be found in several waterskiing catalogs such as Bart's Watersports Catalog or Overton's Catalog. A beeswax or parafin will also usually do for lubrication.
Aquaseal also makes Seal Saver which is a dry suit seal conditioner, and Seal Cement, which repairs neoprene and urethane. They too, may be found in the above water sports catalogs.