Gear Care & Maintenance

Gear Care And Maintenance Page construction/renovations in progress
	Are you really ready to store that gear? Most of us rinse or wash our paddle gear and clothing upon returning from a paddle outing. That gear may not be as clean as we think, and not really ready to store! If you have worked on your strokes or roll over the winter in a nice heated pool, chlorine residue might be lurking in the background. Wetsuit, Drysuit, Spray-wear fabrics and seals are very susceptible to chlorine damage and natural degradation called "out gassing" (more info). While headed for premature aging, your gear could also be under assault by bacteria that announce their multiplied presence with that wonderfully alarming odor! With proper care and protection, your boat and gear will look better and last longer!
Cold Weather Clothing: With the arrival of warm weather we are all anxious to get out and enjoy the sun. For those of us who have paddled over the winter, cold weather wear items will be stored until needed again. A few minutes invested in proper cleaning, preparing and storing your gear will go a long way toward keeping it in top shape, ready to use next season. Keep latex and neoprene soft and subtle, waterproof fabrics clean and breathable, zippers clean and functioning. Wash wet and drysuits with AquaSeal Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo. Clean zippers with Zip Care, following with touch of lubricant such as Zip Tech or Max Wax. Protect latex and neoprene with a spray & wipe of UV Tech or 303. Spray wear and PFD's will benefit greatly from Sno Seal Sport Wash. You will be amazed how the easily body oils and dirt are removed, and how vibrant and bright the colors are again.







	Some helpful cleaning products to consider...
	AquaSeal Wetsuit & Drysuit Shampoo...a cleaner and conditioner, contains a chlorine remover. Good for cleaning wetsuits, drysuits, boots, gloves, lycra articles, waders, etc. Leaves Add 1/2 ounce per gallon of water, wash by hand with a kneading motion and rinse thoroughly. Leaves neoprene articles free of organic residue, chlorine and salt deposits. Chlorine-removing agents and conditioners help prevent premature aging and oxidation. Biodegradable. Available in 8 oz., 1/2 oz. Travel Pack Back to top
	AquaSeal Mirazyme...an odor eliminator for wetsuits, drysuits and sports gear. Penetrates into the pores of fabrics, rubber and hard surfaces to eliminate odor naturally. A blend of 10 microbial elements/enzymes attack and destroy odor causing bacteria. Add 1/2 ounce to as much as 20 gallons of water, dip the item, ensuring saturation inside and out. Dipping and then turning the item inside out and re-dipping works very well. Hang to air dry. Do Not Rinse! Water and carbon dioxide are the by-products, and the residue solution may be poured safely into lakes or rivers. This is a great product to take on multi day trips to keep that gear odor from over powering the scents of the surrounding country-side! Available in 2oz and 8oz.	*Reviewers comments;* I had a pair of sneakers that were so bad I could smell them outside...and I was inside! Soaked them over night in a pail with a capfull of Mirazyme, ...magic...no more foul odor!
	Sno-Seal Sport Wash...totally free of dyes, fragrances, phosphates, oxidizers, color, fluorescent whiteners, enzymes, fillers. Add one ounce per washing machine load. Great for cleaning all polypro underwear, all wicking, breathing and insulating fabrics. A great product to clean and restore the breathing and water proof properties of your paddling jackets and pants. Rinses scent free, leaving no odor to alert wildlife of your presence. Made from biodegradable and renewable straight chain vegetable source surfactants.
	Zip Tech™ Solid Zipper Lubricant High performance lubricant for water tight and air tight zippers. Protects against rust, corrosion, chlorine and salt in all temperatures. Long lasting, contains no paraffin or silicone. Available in 1/2 oz.
	Zip Care™ Liquid Zipper Cleaner & Lubricant Zip Care is the ultimate zipper care for plastic, nylon or metal zippers. Unique push-pull brush top enables the cleaner to be delivered between the teeth and physically removes harmful dirt, sand, and salt deposits that can jam the zipper. Available in 2 oz.
	Max Wax™ Stick Lubricant for Zippers Silicone based stick formula for lubricating plastic and metal zippers on wet suits, dry suits, boat covers, tents and more. Available in 3/4 oz.
	Aquaseal® Urethane Repair Adhesive & Sealant The industry standard for maximum strength repairs to wet suits, dry suits and all watersports products. Flexible urethane formula waterproofs, seals and protects against abrasion. Hundreds of watersports and household uses. For fast cure, use with Cotol-240™ Cure Accelerator. Available in 1 oz Blister Pack, 1 oz. with Cotol-240 Blister Pack
	Seal Cement™ Contact Cement for Neoprene Repairs Contact cement for neoprene repairs. Waterproofs, seals and protects against abrasion. Quickly repairs and cements wet suits, dry suits, boots, gloves, fishing waders, orthopedic supports, inflatable toys, and hundreds of other rubber articles. black and clear Seal Cement is available in 2 fl. oz., 4 fl. oz.

	Hey! Don't forget to protect that boat! Probably the most damaging item that will hit you boat is ultra violet radiation. Discoloration, fading, enbrittlement, cracking, chalking, and/or loss of mechanical properties are all signs of UV damage. Think of it as permanent sunburn to your beloved kayak and gear! Ouch!! A good ultra violet stabilizer will absorb damaging energy into itself, sparing the protected item. Sort of a SPF 40 for your boat. Since the stabilizers are sacrificial, they must be periodically replenished. It is a good idea to give your boat a treatment at least twice a year.	*Reviewers comments;* We use both products at the shop to protect all our boats. Nothing goes outside without being treated with 303 or UV Tech. It really helps to extend the life of rubber hatches, seat cushions, deck rigging, etc.
	UV Tech™ Surface Protectant & Rejuvenator UV Tech is a powerful protectant for use on hundreds of items including dry suit seals, kayaks, binocular housings, boat covers and a variety of outdoor fabrics and materials. Rejuvenates synthetic and natural materials and protects surfaces from sun damage and color fading. Restores gear to its original condition and prolongs gear life. Ideal for latex gaskets, hatch seals, seat cushions, spray skirts & more. Available in 2 oz., 8 oz.,16 oz. UV Tech technical info: http://mcnett.baron-co.com/images/editor/UVQUEST.pdf
	303 Protectant ... P.......Learn more about UV protection at www.303-products.com
	With proper care and protection, your boat and gear will look better and last longer! Back to top