Fix your gear, save some cash.

Fix your gear,
save some cash.
Learn how to repair and maintain all
dive, paddle and watersports gear.
Brochure No. 302
UNDERWATER 20/20
How to prep a new mask:
How to keep your mask fog free:
Clean new masks with Sea Buff TM Dive Mask Precleaner.
This removes the silicone leeched from the mask skirt and other
factory residues on the lens. Regular cleaning with Sea Buff
eliminates dirt, algae, mold and other contaminants that interfere
with anti-fog performance.
Discover more with fog free vision.
M EssentialsTM formulas are safe on all glass and plastic lenses.
STEP 1: Apply a small amount of
Sea Buff to inside and outside of
lens. Rub aggressively, rinse
and repeat.
Fog Free
Fogged Up
Masks treated with Sea GoldTM, Sea DropsTM & Sea QuickTM stay fog free!
STEP 2: Buff with a soft, dry
cloth until clean, then rinse
thoroughly.
STEP 3: After cleaning
with Sea Buff apply
Sea GoldTM ,
Sea DropsTM or
Sea QuickTM
to inside of dry
lenses.
STEP 4: Rub in anti-fog with
finger tips.
Which anti-fog is best for you?
Sea GoldTM Anti-Fog Gel
Highly concentrated clear gel for
crystal clear vision dive after dive.
Ideal for multi-dive days and cold
water diving.
Sea DropsTM Anti-Fog Liquid
Our original liquid anti-fog is a 2-in-1
formula that cleans and provides
anti-fog protection. Ideal for all dive
and snorkel endeavors.
Sea QuickTM Anti-Fog Spray
A universal anti-fog that’s easy
to use. Ideal for swim goggles
and snorkel masks. Also great for
camera housings.
Note: Sea Gold and Sea Drops
are not recommended for swim goggles.
STEP 5: Rinse in a swimming
pool, freshwater or saltwater.
How do anti-fogs work?
Mask fogging results from warm humid air inside the mask meeting
a lens surface cooled by water. Warmer air is capable of holding
more water vapor (water in gas form) than cooler air. When air
is cooled, a portion of its water vapor condenses into tiny liquid
droplets, or “fog”.
#geartip
• To minimize mold and algae build-up, rinse
your mask with fresh water after each dive and
allow it to dry completely before storing.
• Store your mask in a hard case to protect it
from dirt and scratches and also while traveling.
• Avoid leaving your mask in the sun or resting
on your head prior to a dive - the heat will
cause a spike in the mask’s temperature which
contributes to fogging.
2
Slate
Cleaning
Use Sea Buff as
a slate cleaner!
Rinse your slate
with fresh water
after every dive
and use Sea Buff
for periodic heavyduty cleaning.
Dive & Watersports Gear Guide • www.m-essentials.com
M EssentialsTM anti-fogs prevent
fogging by creating a thin, invisible
film on the lens which creates a
“sheeting effect” - eliminating the
formation of condensation droplets.
Cold Water
Warm Air
Condensation
Without
M Essentials
Anti-Fogs
With
M Essentials
Anti-Fogs
Find more #geartip on
Lens
3
BETTER THAN FIXED.
How to repair your wetsuit:
#geartip
Urethane-based adhesives are best for achieving maximum
strength and durability. When your goal is a permanent bond,
choose Aquaseal® Repair Adhesive & Sealant - it’s the
industry standard for high strength, permanent repairs to all
kinds of dive gear including wetsuits, drysuits, gloves,
boots, gear bags and more. Aquaseal cures to full
strength overnight or in 2 hours with
Cotol-240TM
Cure Accelerator
& Precleaner.
Create an ultra-tough flexible knee patch with Aquaseal®
to protect suits from
abrasion. Simply mask off
the patch area with clear
tape, then apply a thin
coat of Aquaseal inside
the masked area with a
disposable plastic knife.
Trusted for
over 30 years!
Important: Remove the tape
mask after 45 minutes. Dry
level overnight.
SEAL LEAKY GASKET SEAMS
Turn suit inside out and clean damaged
area. Latex should first be roughened with
sandpaper, then cleaned. Apply Aquaseal,
overlapping seam edges by at least 1/4’’.
Use brush to saturate fabric surfaces. Dry
level overnight.
SEAM SEAL DIVING GLOVES
Lengthen the life of your diving gloves
by reinforcing the glove seams. Apply
Aquaseal in a 1/16’’ high bead, then
spread with a brush - overlapping seam
edges by at least 1/4’’. Use brush to
saturate fabric surfaces. Dry overnight.
FIX HOLES AND TEARS
PINHOLE
n 1”
Mi
AQUASEAL
For pinholes: Add a small dollop of
Aquaseal over the pinhole and spread 1’’
around pinhole. Allow to cure overnight.
For larger holes and tears: Create a
backing with removable tape to keep
neoprene in place. Fill hole and 1/4’’ beyond
with Aquaseal, allow to self-level. Cure
overnight and remove tape after fully cured.
#geartip
Clean Aquaseal tube threads to
make sure the cap screws off
easily next time; make it even
easier with a small application of
Vaseline® or ZipTechTM lubricant.
#geartip
Aquaseal is moisture cured,
allowing it to be applied to wet
neoprene without affecting the
bond or performance. In a pinch,
add a little Cotol-240TM to make
it cure faster!
4
Fast Waterside Repairs
For quick, grab-and-hold repairs
in the field, opt for Seal CementTM
Neoprene Cement. Contact cements
are formulated specifically for rapid
tack and bonding. Seal Cement cures
to full strength in only 15 to 30 minutes
and creates a strong, elastic bond.
SEAL
CEMENT
SEAL
CEMENT
NEOPRENE
Step 1: Apply Seal Cement on both
edges of the repair area. Allow to dry for
5 minutes.
Step 2: Apply second coat to both
edges and let it dry for 10 more minutes.
Step 3: Press and hold edges together
until dry (approximately 5 minutes).
#geartip
2
1
3
Iron-On Repair
4
5
1) Outside Rim
2) Top Stretch Point
3) Taped Seam
4) Inside Rim
5) Outside Edge Damage from Paddle
Kayak cockpits are notorious
for cutting into spray skirts
and causing exterior cracking. Apply spot applications
of Aquaseal to permanently
repair and protect both the
interior and exterior.
Dive & Watersports Gear Guide • www.m-essentials.com
Iron MendTM Iron-On Fabric
Repair Patch provides strong,
flexible, professional looking
repairs for neoprene. Use
Iron Mend to reinforce and repair
high stress areas on your suit,
including knees, elbows, under
arms and around zippers.
Heat Shielding
Paper
Iron Mend
Find more #geartip on
5
SMALL EFFORT. BIG REWARDS.
How to protect seals and gaskets:
How to avoid a stuck zipper:
Exposure to sunlight, saltwater and chlorine causes
gaskets to degrade over time due to the loss of
plasticizers, which are additives that increase flexibility
and durability. Protection with UV TechTM is essential
for maximizing scuba gear life.
Regular cleaning and lubrication helps zippers last the lifetime of the
suit. Without proper care (left), zippers degrade and need costly
replacement. Keep your wetsuit, drysuit and gear bag zippers free of
harmful dirt, sand and salt deposits with Zip CareTM (right).
Untreated
STEP 1: Unzip item and use
Zip Care brush top to remove grit
and dust.
Treated
STEP 2: Brush Zip Care
generously onto zipper teeth to
clean and lightly lubricate.
Wipe off excess.
Untreated
Treated
How to replace seals and gaskets:
STEP 1: If the existing gasket is in good
condition, the new gasket can be glued to
the existing gasket “ring”. If the old gasket
is cracking or peeling from the suit, it is
best to remove the “ring”. For complete
removal, cut the old gasket off with a razor.
Note: Cut only the latex, not the suit fabric.
STEP 2: Insert a clean cylinder form (coffee
can, yogurt container, etc.), covered with
wax paper or glossy tape, into the neck
opening of the dry suit. The form should fit
tightly. Position the suit so that 1-2 inches
of the form is exposed.
STEP 3: Stretch the new gasket over the
form so that it completely overlaps the
old gasket. Place a rubber band over the
gasket about half-way down the form.
Fold the new gasket up over the rubber
band to expose the base of the old gasket
underneath.
STEP 4: Buff both latex surfaces with
sandpaper and wipe with Cotol-240TM
or rubbing alcohol.
STEP 5: Spread a thin layer of Aquaseal® on to the old gasket
using a disposable knife or craft stick. Carefully fold the new
gasket on top of the old. Gently apply pressure around the
gasket to remove any air bubbles.
STEP 4: Monitor the repair closely. Within the first hour, check
occasionally to make sure the gasket has not slipped and that no
wrinkles or air bubbles have formed. Allow repair to cure for 24 hours
before removing the form.
STEP 3: Carefully open and
close zipper to thoroughly
distribute Zip Care .
Zip TechTM is preferred for multidive lubrication. Use Zip Tech to
lubricate and protect watertight
and airtight zippers on drysuits
from corrosion and harmful salt,
chlorine and other pollutants.
To use: Open zipper and apply
Zip Tech sparingly only to the
outer teeth of the zipper.
If you prefer a paraffin wax and
silicone based lubricant,
Max WaxTM is great for general
zipper lubrication. Note: Some
suit manufacturers prefer you use
silicone free formulas such as
Zip Tech and Zip Care.
Packing Dive Gear
• Pack fins flat on the bottom side
of your bag.
• Always pack your mask, regulator, dive computer and other sensitive equipment in their protective cases.
• For travel, fold your wetsuit as
follows to minimize bulk and stress on the suit:
1) Lay suit flat
#geartip
2) Fold legs up (avoid folding across the zipper).
Broken zipper tooth on a dive
3) Fold arms across the chest gear bag? Stitch the damaged
forming an “X”.
section closed to prevent further
4) Place folded suit flat in your bag.
1
2
3
4
separation until you can repair
properly or replace.
#geartip
If replacing wrist and ankle seals often, consider using
Seal CementTM instead of Aquaseal®. It’ll allow you to fully remove
old seals instead of cutting them off; you’ll avoid building up layers
of cut off rubber seals over time, and will still have a strong bond.
6
Dive & Watersports Gear Guide • www.m-essentials.com
Find more #geartip on
7
DIVE. RINSE. REPEAT.
How to easily slip in and out of your gear:
How to rinse your wetsuit like a pro:
To minimize suction and ease
entry into your fins, spray the
inside of your fins with
Silicone Spray.
Regular cleaning with Wetsuit &
Drysuit Shampoo prevents chlorine
and salt damage and keeps suits
looking and feeling like new.
To slide right into your wetsuit
and booties, spray the inside with
Silicone Spray prior to suiting up.
BEFORE CLEANING: Fill two
clean large tubs - one for washing
and one for deodorizing.
To ease drysuit entry, put a
shower cap over your hair to
prevent the latex neck seal from
sticking to your head.
STEP 1: Fill one large tub with
enough warm or cold water to
submerge your suit. Add two
capfuls of Wetsuit & Drysuit
Shampoo per gallon of water.
How to retain color and suppleness
of plastic and rubber gear:
STEP 2: Wash item by hand
with kneading motion, then rinse
thoroughly with fresh water.
Maintain your fins’ suppleness
and flexibility with regular
UV TechTM treatments. A brittle
or cracked fin will inhibit kick
efficiency. UV Tech is also a great
way to keep colors from fading on
your P.F.D.s.
STEP 3: To remove odors, fill
another large tub with warm or
cold water and two capfuls of
MiraZymeTM Odor Eliminator.
Submerge the suit fully to
saturate all areas, then hang to
dry. Do NOT rinse. MiraZyme
does its work consuming the
odors as it dries; once it’s dry, the
suit will be odor free.
To prevent warping, avoid standing your fins on the tip of
the blades for an extended period of time and store away
from direct heat, light and chemical fumes.
#geartip
Store your suit and all dive gear
in a cool, dry closet away from
direct heat and sunlight, to prevent
premature aging. If you must store
dive gear in the garage, use air and
light tight containers to protect
from exhaust fumes, temperature
extremes and moisture.
Leave your suit’s zipper open
during storage to eliminate strain
on sealing elements.
The M EssentialsTM
Flex FashionTM Wetsuit Hanger
(left) bends to conform to the shape
of your suit. Standard wire hangers
(right) stretch and crack your suit.
True or Flase?
Boat materials last forever, they don’t need any treatment.
False. Materials like Hypalon®, PVC, fiberglass, roto-molded plastic
and other materials are damaged,
Damag ng
bleached and ultimately break
Why use UV Tech?
UV Rays
Without UV Tech
• Preserves Colors
down from sun exposure and
• UV Damage
• Reduces UV Damage
Plasticizer
TM
use. UV Tech Protectant
M gration
• Loss of Plasticizers
• Restores Plasticizers
and Rejuvenator protects and
Rubber or
Plast c Solids
rejuvenates surfaces, reducing
cracking, helping to block sun
damage and restoring your
Cross section of
Cross section of
boat’s original good looks.
damaged raft or kayak hu l
raft or kayak hull treated with UV Tech
8
Dive & Watersports Gear Guide • www.m-essentials.com
#geartip
Going on an epic dive or surf vacation? Pack a large garbage bag
and a small amount of cleaner to care for your wetsuit away from
home. Salt water does a number to your suit when ignored!
Find more #geartip on
9
How to clean your B.C.D.
#geartip
B.C. LifeTM removed 4 tablespoons
of salt from one B.C. (right) - some
of the crystals were 1’’ wide! Salt
crystals will abrade your B.C. bladder, hoses, O-rings and valves, irreversibly damaging this vital piece
of gear. Clean your B.C. regularly
with B.C. Life to preserve and
condition the shell, interior lining,
hose and valves and to eliminate
damaging salt crystals.
In addition to regular cleaning (opposite page), a few simple checks
after each dive will help keep your B.C. in top condition:
STEP 1: Pour 4 capfuls (1 oz.) of
B.C. Life into the mouthpiece,
pressing the oral inflate button
with your thumb.
STEP 2: Partially fill B.C. with
fresh water and shake to mix
with B.C. Life. Turn B.C. upside
down and sideways to thoroughly
clean all chambers.
Look for small tears and punctures, loose
stitching and stressed fasteners. Repair
with Aquaseal® to prevent further damage.
Check for leaks by
pressurizing the B.C. using
the oral or power inflator, then
submerging the B.C. in a tub
of water. Slowly rotate the
B.C. in all directions, keeping
an eye out for air bubbles.
Mark the location of the leak,
allow the B.C. to dry, then
repair with Aquaseal®.
Test the oral and power inflation buttons to ensure
they move freely. If they stick, salt or sand could be
the problem. Wash, and if problem persists, take the
B.C. to your local dive shop for inspection.
Use a toothbrush to remove sand from Velcro ®
and other nooks and crannies.
Store your B.C. in a cool, dry spot away from
direct heat, sunlight, car exhaust and harsh
chemicals. Partially inflate it with dry air to
prevent mold and mildew growth. This will also
keep the bladder from sticking together.
#geartip
• A diver’s gear (wetsuit, fins, B.C., tank, weights and
regulator) can weigh anywhere from 40 to 70 pounds.
The bulk of this weight is in the middle of your body
- while over half of your buoyancy is below the waist.
Reduce leg and fin buoyancy by wearing
Durward Ankl WeightsTM.
STEP 3: Drain the liquid from the
B.C. through the mouthpiece and
through the bottom dump valve.
STEP 4: Add 4 capfuls (1 oz.) of
B.C. Life to 1 gallon water, mix
with hand, then soak B.C. for 10
minutes to clean exterior. Rinse
interior and exterior thoroughly.
10
STEP 5: Hang B.C. partially
inflated in a cool, dry place to
air dry.
Dive & Watersports Gear Guide • www.m-essentials.com
• Proper weight distribution is
the key to diving comfort. Divers
encounter back pain and awkward
maneuvering when the majority of
added weight is located at the midsection. Wearing Ankl Weights
will counteract fin buoyancy and
reduce back pain by distributing
the weight more evenly.
• To test buoyancy: wearing full gear,
with no air in your suit or B.C., take
a full breath and hold it as you float
vertically and motionlessly. You’ll
float at eye level. You are neutrally
buoyant if you slowly sink as you
exhale. Add weight as needed
to compensate for the buoyancy
change as your tank is emptied.
Find more #geartip on
Wearing only a weight belt can
strain the back and force the
body to
curve
For proper body alignment, reduce
the amount of weight on the belt and
add Durward Ankl WeightsTM.
11
WHO WE ARE
For over 30 years, McNett has been a leader in the design,
development and creation of gear repair and maintenance,
and efficient personal care products for all types of outdoor
pursuits. The McNett family of brands includes:
Outgo® | Personal care products to use in the field
Aquamira® | For clean, safe drinking water—anywhere, anytime
Gear Aid™ | Over 100 gear repair and maintenance products
to use at home or in the field
M Essentials™ | Dive and watersports gear repair and
maintenance products for use at home or in the field
Learn new gear tips and ‘how to’ do the most common gear
repairs. Fix a leak in your dry bag, deodorize a funky wetsuit
and more. Our 30+ videos feature live demos and are
packed with useful tips. www.youtube.com/messentials
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Bellingham WA 98229-5845 USA
Tel. 360.671.2227 Fax: 360.671.4521
salesorders@mcnett.com
www.mcnett.com
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