Are drysuits really worth the money? If you saw the amount of work that goes into research, development, construction and testing… on that alone, your answer would be yes!
As a regular part of our club paddles to the Arcata area, I always schedule a visit to the Kokatat Plant. This is an eye-opening and educational look into the stuff we wear. Understanding the difference in face-fabrics, waterproof/breathable membranes, coatings and wicking scrims can just about give you a Phd. in Dryology. When you see first hand what goes into making Drysuits, it will blow the mind.
Kokatat holds the Contract for making Drysuits for the US Coast Guard and Navy Special Forces, so you know that their units have to be made well. The interesting thing is, they are just regular units on the production line (with the exception of more pockets and different colors etc.) and all Drysuits are put through the same QC and testing. Every single Drysuit gets inspected and tested as many times as it takes until it passes without a leak! The process is secret to the manufacturer but the top photo shows part of the torture that every suit goes through. They are completely filled with water, then pressurized. After a while the inspector slaps, pokes and physically looks at every seam for a leak. If he finds any it will be marked, drained, dryed and sent back to the seam sealer division to start the journey again. Nothing gets bagged and shipped until it passes.
I am very grateful for the work that goes into these garments, because like everyone I did a stupid thing a while back. I was paddling a new Surfski in big water, high winds and 40 degree water, (trying to be MACHO) and with no leash. Well as you can imagine, POW a wave swallowed me up and the second I came up I saw my stupid boat flying with the wind. I swam as hard as I could but the boat was still going about 2 miles per hour faster than me. I spent the worst 37 minutes of my life swimming, swallowing and chewing my (Professional-Self) out. I am alive today because I was dressed properly and I was wearing my Kokatat Drysuit. The embarsassment alone will earn you a Masters Degree in rough-water safety.
So the next time you pull out your Drysuit, turn it inside-out and look at the work that goes into your safety and comfort. After all isn’t your life worth more than the cost of our clothing!
Respectfully submitted,
Captain Penguin
P.S. The photo below shows the kind of repair work they have to do!
