[ajransom]

Hi all,

I've started getting that wonderful feeling of freezing cold water in my right boot after wading for just a few mins. I've tried to hold the waders under water and look for air bubbles at the site of the leak, but no luck. I've visually inspected my warders but cant see anything obvious either.

Any other suggestions for finding small leaks in waders?

Don't really want to fork out for a new pair, especially after convincing wife that I need a new hardy reel for Christmas.

Thanks!

 

[donkeyhunter007]

Alcohol

Turn waders inside out. Use a spray bottle and spray a diluted alcohol sollution
Holes will turn black.patch them up
Anyone know why this happens????

 

[Speyducer]

1. get hold of a Sharpies pen
2. get hold of a bright hand-torchlight
3. take the dry waders into a vary dark room
4. turn on the torchlight inside the waders
5. where there is spots of light shining through, mark with Sharpie
6. repair areas marked with Sharpie


Mike

 

[ajransom]

What's the best product to fix the leak?

1. get hold of a Sharpies pen
2. get hold of a bright hand-torchlight
3. take the dry waders into a vary dark room
4. turn on the torchlight inside the waders
5. where there is spots of light shining through, mark with Sharpie
6. repair areas marked with Sharpie


Mike

What's the best product to fix the leak?

 

[middlecalf]

Aquaseal. I fill my waders with water (if the leak is low) and find the hole, mark it, and then after letting them dry out put the aquaseal on the outside (pressure side of the leak).

Oh, and cuz you won't use the whole tube of aquaseal for one fix, put the tube in a zip lock and put it in the freezer. You'll have it for the next fix (and next, and...). Just thaw it out each time.

 

[Back Eddy]

Try This

Ist step is to clean and dry your waders thoroughly on the inside and out. Then turn your waders inside out and flatten them on a table or counter.

Then spray the alcohol liberally on the inside of the waders. Not enough to make puddles but make sure its good and soaked. The pinholes will be saturated with alcohol and will turn dark, making them very visible.

Then get a towel and wipe off any excess alcohol. The surface being damp after this is fine. Then get your tube of aquaseal and put a little dab over each pinhole using the implement pictured in the last photo. Work the aquaseal into the fabric using the implement in little circles just like waxing your car. Make sure you work it in good. Let the waders cure overnight

 

[Speyducer]

What's the best product to fix the leak?

Depends on what part is leaking & what type of waders you have...

If you have the usual breathable waders, they may well have come with some patch material of the same type, & perhaps even some soft-setting glue.

If you don't have patch material, then use Aquaseal (thinned with Cotol for 1st 2 layers), & cover with a Duct tape patch

Sometimes, if it's a pinhole or two, just a few layers of the thinned Aquaseal will do.

If the hole is in the junction between the breathable material and the neoprene foot, this usually needs a 'professional' to do the job.

If the hole is in the neoprene, again a professional would do the best job


Mike

 

[Rick J]

the alcohol works but so does filling waders with water - one leg at a time and not all the way up - you will find all the leaks pretty quickly!!! Have a felt tip pen to mark

 

[oldschoolfly]

finding wader leaks

Hi there. I know the flashlight method works. Never used the alchohol and haven't filled waders with water.
I had an outfitter fix my leaky Simms breathables by filling them with air from a vacuum cleaner exhaust. Once they were inflated (he scrunched them closed at the waist) he sprayed soapy water on them from a spritz bottle and the leak created highly visible bubbles. He circled the hole with chalk, applied Aquaseal and it was fixed.
I suppose an air compressor would also work provided you didn't put too much air in the waders.
Good luck with your fixin'.

Regards, GK.

 

[wrx_canoe]

The foolproof method for me is filling reversed waders slowly with water and looking for water coming out. Circle with a sharpie and then aquaseal. I didn't have much faith in the alcohol spray method but just the other day I knew I had a pinhole leak around the left knee of my G4s...and sprayed alcohol on it lightly...nothing...a few more squirts...magically a very dark spot appeared where the pinhole leak was. As per Simms' repair video I applied the aquaseal on it while still damp with alcohol. Going to be testing them this weekend. The video said "less is more" with the aquaseal. I think naturally one wishes to spread it on thick. I think you just want to smudge it into the goretex membrane.

Good luck.

 

[Strawberry]

Check neoprene

Check the toe portion of the stocking foot looking for thinner than normal (compressed or compromised), wall thickness. If you put many miles on your waders and toenails are not manicured nice and short, this could be the source of the leak.
I have repaired numerous stocking feet with Goop or Aquaseal similar products, where this was the problem. If leaking neo is the culprit, just make sure to put the sealant on the outside of the stocking foot...

Good luck.

(I've often wondered why wader companies don't apply a thin rubber coating/bumper, to the toe and heel portions of their booties, where excessive wear occurs.)

 

[wrx_canoe]

If they are Simms stockingfoots they replace them for a very reasonable ($40) fee for both feet and will fix any other problems. They did this on my 8 year old beat-up G3s and I was very happy. Althought the "gore-tex" waders are really just a holding mechanism for Aquaseal I still get good use out of them.

Check the toe portion of the stocking foot looking for thinner than normal (compressed or compromised), wall thickness. If you put many miles on your waders and toenails are not manicured nice and short, this could be the source of the leak.
I have repaired numerous stocking feet with Goop or Aquaseal similar products, where this was the problem. If leaking neo is the culprit, just make sure to put the sealant on the outside of the stocking foot...

Good luck.

(I've often wondered why wader companies don't apply a thin rubber coating/bumper, to the toe and heel portions of their booties, where excessive wear occurs.)

 

[NVswitch]

The method to find the leaks with alcohol works great with Simms waders and they even have a you tube video on their site to reference to. Unfortunately it doesn't work with all waders. I have a pair of Orvis Sonic waders where the alcohol doesn't show off the leaks. Have to use the other techniques mentioned. Aquaseal works the best to patch.
Mike

 

[ibboone]

I had a leak in my breathable waders. I filled them with air and sprayed the outside the seems with a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water. The leak will blow bubbles.



Dan

 

[WesS]

The alcohol method is absolute brilliant. It works and I don't have to fill the waders with water or air. Spray on, holes turn black. circle with a sharpie or mark with a pencil. Aquaseal on the inside and the job is done.

Before I started I didn't think it could be so easy. I lived with the slow leak for several trips thinking, "maybe it is sweat" and "this is going to be hard to find since it is such a slow leak." Nope, done in minutes.

 

[middlecalf]

So can I use my cheaper 12-year old scotch or do I need to use the pricey 18-year old for the "alcohol" test to work properly? Is there a proper toast required for this (e.g. "May your glass always be full but no' your waders")?

 

[Svenster]

Simms wader repair info/videos.

http://www.simmsfishing.com/support/repairs.html

 

[ajransom]

Neoprene leak

Thank you all for your helpful advice!

Found the leak and its in the neoprene stocking foot, in the seam at the back (over the Achilles), maybe two inches down from the connection to the "breathable" material.

Does a fix with Aqua Seal still work on this?

 

[G Ritchie]

Yes, it works very well.

 

[jjc155]

Turn waders inside out. Use a spray bottle and spray a diluted alcohol sollution
Holes will turn black.patch them up
Anyone know why this happens????

no idea why it happens but thats the method I used too.

J-