Super Fix for Leaky Waders

[zonker]

I bought another pair of breathable waders a couple of months ago. The first two I bought barely lasted the duration of the company warrantee. I went with Dan Bailey this time. One can hope, can't he?

I don't want to start a session about what brand is the best here. I just want to share how I brought new (and unexpected) life to the two older pairs.

I tend to wear them out in two spots. They usually start leaking either around the joint between the breathable fabric and the stocking foot or in the shins. Presumably the shins start leaking because that is the most likely spot to be punctured by the ubiquitous berry briars that cover Western Oregon. I've used quite a few tubes of Aquaseal with mixed results, usually giving up when there are too many holes in the dike.

I was reading an old edition of STS the other day and came across a comment by General Zog about using Plastidip. That's the rubbery liquid stuff they use to coat the handles of tools.





To the hardware store I went. With nothing to lose I pulled the two pairs of leakers out of the closet, turned them inside out, and went to work outdoors (the stuff will probably kill you if you use it indoors.) It spread nicely using one of those little foam paint brushes.




After the prescribed four hour drying time I checked them and they were very flexible and it appeared to be a good seal. I put them on and found that I had lost nothing in the comfort area. They are probably a little less "breathable" below the knees, but hey, they can't breath underwater anyway, can they?  I took them across the street to my river lab and plunged my booted feet into the frigid waters and... Wow! No leaks. Not a one!

Mind you, these used to be so bad that I had given up. Now they are useable again.  I'm stoked!

If you want to try it, the Plastidip cost me $10.99. I used quite a bit less than half of it on two pairs of waders and a few other little experiments around the house including rubber coating some pencil weights. I used the black, which would look really bad on the outside of any waders, but I patched them on the inside so no one can see it.

No more Aquaseal for me! Hopefully, now I'll get some more time out of my original investments. Don't know why I'd never heard of this kind of fix before.

zonker

[Fish]

I just tried it tonight, will test this weekend, Thanks Dave

[dardevle]

I did this today on the neoprene footies on my waders.  It worked great and I'm sure I will be dry again.  I picked up the spray can type of this and really liked how easy it was to apply.  Thanks Zonk!

[Jiggy]

Thanks for the tip zonker. Got the spray on kind last week and put it on my neoprene waders and stayed dry the next day!!! Saved me a few bucks cause i had some pretty good gashes that are now sealed.
Jiggy

[Bantam200]

I'm going to give this a try today, my waders have a small leak at the seam where the booties attach. This seems to be a common place for them to leak. I find that my legs a very damp in this area after fishing.

[Andrew]

So is the consensus that this stuff works well for neoprene too?

I've got a lot of leakage around the seems in the feet of my waders from wear and tear on the factory tape and sealant. Is Plasti-Dip durable enough to use on bootfoot seams? It would be nice to get one more season out of the neoprenes at least.

Thanks,

Andrew

[zonker]

Andrew,

I used it on the seams of a couple of my neo boot feet and it has held up all season for me. Still no leaks. Be sure you work it into all the cracks, nooks, and crannies. That might be the only drawback with the spray on stuff (working it into all the places). If you take a foam brush after spraying, saturate it with plasti dip,  and work over the edges and seams it should work.

Aquaseal also works. Its just that it is much harder to spread over a large area.

Plasti dip is like liquid duct tape. A thousand uses.

zonker

[Andrew]

Forty minute wait, and I've got my answer. Gotta love this forum. 

I wrestled with Aquaseal, Hodgman Wader Repair Kit, and Gorilla Glue. The first two worked ok until the glue cracked, and the third didn't work well at all. The prospect of a flexible and durable sealant is intriguing. I'll post results.

Thanks,

Andrew

[FireFish]

I read this thread a while ago and thought I would give it a try. I too picked up the spray type. I turned them inside out and removed the seam tape on my neoprene boot bottoms on my breathable waders. I used the spray and put on several layers where the seam tape was. I did this I  think in July and to this date still no leaks. The stuff works great. I also was out in the DB a few weeks ago and the rain was coming down all day. Generally always finding myself in the oarsmen seat, on that day I realized my arse was getting wet from the rain running down my rain coat and onto my seat. After I got home and took a good look at my waders, I realized that all that rowing time and time again had worn my waders thin, to the point of leaking. So, I got out the tape and the Plasti-Dip in a spray can and went to work. I taped off an area so that when it was done it looked like a reinforced area that was suppose to be there, and the tape and some rags kept off the areas I didn't want covered. Several layers and then I removed the tape. I have a Big black rubber coated patch on my back-side, but it doesn't leak, it doesn't look bad, and I should get a whole lot more time out of my waders.

FireFish..       

[Brian]

Great tip from our good friend zonker, glad lots of you are getting results with this one. I'm thinking it's about my time too as i have a few leaks developing. I'll try to get this done soon and report back!

[Terrapin]

I am glad I found this tip.  I have been unhappy with the aqauseal patches up to now.  Had some breathable Hodgmans leaking at the neoprene/breathable junction and fixed them with the plasti-dip.  Your'e not kidding about the toxicity of that stuff though...      Made me very lightheaded and I was in a well ventilated area!  Thanks for the tip!

Terrapin

[bugnuts]

Some might say that you have found yet another use for the stuff. 

[Terrapin]

Yeah right...  wonder what I am gonna forget now after this loss of neurons? 

Terrapin

[mdfalcon]

Yeah right...  wonder what I am gonna forget now after this loss of neurons? 

Terrapin

 ;DDon't ever worry about what you forgot...  There will always be someone waiting to remind you....

[SciGuy]

mdf, you must be married too