That marina job in Seattle changed how I clean my gear

I was doing a hull inspection on a 50 foot yacht at Shilshole Marina back in June. The water was murky and cold, around 48 degrees. After surfacing, I noticed black slime crusted inside my drysuit neck seal. Took me 45 minutes to scrub it off with dish soap. Now I rinse my gear with a garden hose and a little vinegar mix right at the dock before packing up. Has anyone else found a better way to get that harbor grime out without damaging the suit material?

2 comments

2 Comments

olivia5541mo ago

God yeah, that black slime is the worst, I started using a little vinegar rinse too.

williamt441mo ago

Mixing that with warm water works way better than I expected too. I just pour a little down the drain every week or so and it keeps the smell from coming back. Also started wiping the gasket dry after showers, that cut down the slime a ton. The combo of vinegar and drying it out basically solved it for me.