Rant about that one inspector who thought my drysuit zipper was a fake

Last month on a dock job in Port Fourchon, this inspector with 20 years of red hat time kept lecturing me about my drysuit zipper maintenance. He laughed and said I was wasting money on lube and wax. A week later his zipper blew out at 40 feet and he had to abort a $4,000 repair job. I still think proper zipper care beats any old-timer gut feeling. Anyone else deal with inspectors who act like your gear prep is overkill?

3 comments

3 Comments

keith1163d ago

Bet you money that old timer has fixed more blown zippers in bad conditions than you've lubed up on dry land. Guys who learned diving before fancy waxes hit the market know that a good brass zipper with proper teeth alignment is what really matters, not a tube of overpriced goo. Your $4,000 repair job probably failed because of bad alignment or a worn out seal, not because he skipped the lube. Most of these modern zipper care routines are just gear companies selling you something you don't actually need. Leave the old timers alone and focus on making sure your zipper track is clean and your pulls are solid, that's what actually keeps the water out.

shah.shane2d ago

Proper lubrication is absolutely essential for extending zipper life in saltwater environments.

the_mia2d ago

Keith, how many blown zippers have you personally fixed in actual saltwater conditions?