Vintage wetsuits?

[Ron]

I have been looking into the older beaver tail, slick neoprene wetsuits. I imagine that many of these suits are already going to be crushed from use over the years. Are these suits (say a 3mm for example) going to be comparable in warmth to a modern suit like I have been diving or no? Also, is their buoyancy comparable to a newer suit? It takes about 5 lbs of lead for my pinnacle 3mm suit, so I'm trying to establish a frame of reference. I really want to dive skin when I can and keep it super old school, but I am definitely not going to be able to dive the springs in Florida without a wetsuit. What are everyone's thoughts?

Thanks

S

[simonbeans]

There seems to be an abundance of vintage wetsuits on eBay, most are usually in decent shape to use. However, sizing seems to be a problem. If you are a smaller person, wear a medium or medium-large, or smaller then the suits are somewhat available. My experience has shown that for the most part, the eBay suits are in good shape. Reason is probably because they were not used much. I dive regularly a 3/16" USD suit from late 60s. It fits well and is warm. As for amount of weight, I require less than the new high stretch suits which are softer and thus more bouyant on the surface but compress quite a bit at depth. The suits from the 60s-70s were of a more dense material and didn't seem to have as much of a compresson factor as the more modern ones.

[1969ivan1]

You can also get a decent slick skin suit from www.DIVESKIN.net. You can email Spiros there. tell him that Rob sent you and he will fix you up with a nice CUSTOM suit for a very fair price.

[Ron]

Thanks guys. That's pretty slick that you can get a custom suit! Did you get the free diving styled one that had the exposed neoprene and beaver tail?

[1969ivan1]

He calls it SEALSKIN. You must be VERY specific with him about what you want. The suit we want is not what he usually makes, but will work with you.

[JES]

You can also get a decent slick skin suit from www.DIVESKIN.net. You can email Spiros there. tell him that Rob sent you and he will fix you up with a nice CUSTOM suit for a very fair price.

I went with Spiros as well and he will custom make you a Vintage style wetsuit but good luck getting a beaver-tail that's correct (read it won't happen).

I went black with nylon on two sides because the suits don't seem to like the shipping from Geece all that much (i.e., permanent creases). Additionally, I have a couple of sizing issues with my custom wetsuit.

That being said, all-in-all I like my Spiros suit.

[capn_tucker]

You can also get an old-school style suit from Harveys. It does have nylon on both sides, but it is cut 100% old school. It has a jacket with front zipper, beavertail, and farmer john pants. They will install leg and arm zippers also upon request.
The name of the suit is the Orca, and they even advertise it as "old-school cut". I have one of those suits in addition to my vintage smoothskin suit. I now wear the Orca on the local dive boat and save the other one for vintage meets..

[1969ivan1]

Man! I feel the hate! What can I say?

[kgehring]

Rob might be cornfused... the suit has a beaver tail.

[Bryan]

Karl is just being nice.....Rob knows exactly what he's doing.....

[JES]

Karl is just being nice.....Rob knows exactly what he's doing.....