I just got my third neoprene waders. After about four years' use for each, leaks began, apparently below ankle level. Not torrential, just insidious seepage. Try as I might, I can't find the leaks in either pair. (I even tried half-filling the first pair with water, but there was no sign of water escaping.) I even have paranoid thoughts of pinhole leaks in the soles, under the felts.
Does anyone have any helpful hints on finding leaks in neoprenes?
Are there any reasonably priced commercial wader repairers?
I must have missed this question when it first came up.
My method for finding leaks in neoprene waders is different than most. I put a low pressure air hose (eg blower side of a vacuum cleaner)into the waders and tie it off at the chest opening. Turn on the vacuum and blow up the waders like a ballon. Spray the waders with soapy water and look for bubbles. Anywhere you get bubbles you have a leak. Mark the spots, and fix after drying the waders.
Remember use a low pressure air hose (1-3 psi)if you use this method.
John, Ryan: Thanks to both of you.
Here's a temporary fix for soggy boot-feet such as mine: put a plastic grocery produce bag, or better yet, two, over each foot, over your socks; hold in place with rubber bands.
Yes,and after a while your foot turns black and falls off because the rubber bands were too tight and your blood stopped flowing.
I've only had two pairs of them waders and have never had any of them leak. I guess that I'm just lucky. The only holes that I put in them is from falling down. I'm a klutz.
I find Aqua Seal works quite well on any leaks that you will/could find.
I've found that when you can't find a leak in the boot section the easiest solution is a pair of gore-tex socks. Often the leak is so small that only the foot gets moist enough to be uncomfortably damp, and the gore-tex socks solve the problem.
I've tried the wader-inflation thing with a vaccum output and it works great. I filled the tub partway with soapy water then got the leaks with aquaseal.
Advice FWIW:
1) Only buy neoprene waders that are double-seam sealed inside and out. If you save the money to get one-sided seam seal waders you will have leaks, period.
2) If it's cold enough for neoprene, consider OS Systems waders with fleece pants under. Won't leak at the seams. If you puncture it you can slap a square of duck tape on the inside and fish for the week. $150 / with good warranty
Another option to check for wader leaks is to take them into a darkened closet along with a flashlight and a piece of chalk. Insert the flashlight into the wader leg and run the flashlight back and forth over the boot and leg. If you have a pin hole, the light will seep through and you'll see it immediately. Take the chalk, draw a circle around the hole and then you can immediately patch the leak as you don't have to wait until the water dries before you can patch it.
I got a private message for one member stating that I was sarcastic in my responce to this thread.... I forgot the wink. I explained to him that my remark was just an attempt at humor and aimed at the entire thread ..not to any one post... I don't wear waders usually... so my question was coming as though from one who did not know what waders are... something like that. I think a number of members would have understood that and I do not like sarcasm in a serious sense anyway. I assured him I would curb my sarcasm and I am sorry to anybody else my remark may have offended.
North... juat so you know I have been sober for 12 years. and the more I think about my remark, which I explained , I will continue to not take everything so seriously... so basically I resent the rediculious e-mail I got from MarkF. You can not go though life with a chip on your shoulder. People who know about the wader thing... everyone here were puzzeled that I even got somthing in the first place..But srcew it.. I meant it as a joke to those who would know... nuf said.
I know you didn't... no big deal... I just thought my remark was harmless... anyway..I am glad you asked... no fish today at Nauset... went to another area and picked up some micros later in the day... But Juro called with report that soundered like a Hot summer day. I think after speaking with Juro I will be out tomorrow morning. I have one son with me.... I look forward to fishing withe you someday. Thanks.... See the nauset pictures... I had a hard time not veering my camera behind me where the two piece bathing suits were plentiful and we all got a lot of pointing figures and giggling as we walked down the beach like a team of Navy seals.
Good luck out there tomorrow!!!...I am just waiting for June 1st so I can start chasing after steelies again.
Ahhh yes, the Bikini Hatch, one of the few emergences where the fisherman is fishing for the 'bug' and not the fish! Your Bikini Hatches out there must be much more attractive then some of the specimens we see in our hillybilly rivers. Some of the female duns have more hair then me. :eyecrazy:
Excellent suggestion Mark! I have a pinhole leak somewhere on the left leg of my goretex waders I need to find, I'll give it a try.
Mark F said:
Another option to check for wader leaks is to take them into a darkened closet along with a flashlight and a piece of chalk. Insert the flashlight into the wader leg and run the flashlight back and forth over the boot and leg. If you have a pin hole, the light will seep through and you'll see it immediately. Take the chalk, draw a circle around the hole and then you can immediately patch the leak as you don't have to wait until the water dries before you can patch it.
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