Kokatat Rouge Dry Top Repair
By Steve Knapik
Well I finally got around to repairing my Kokatat Rouge Dry Top. I ordered the repair kit from the NRS.com website. The neck gaskets and wrist gaskets along with the Aquaseal and Cotol-240. It came in two separate packages,the total cost of both kits was under $85.00. (A little pricey for latex) but I had little choice.
I first washed the dry top on a gentle cycle in my washing machine (as per Kokatat) to remove any dirt and salt. After removing the top from my washing machine while still wet I sprayed the entire top with a (DWR) McNett ReviveX Spray on Water Repellent then placed the top in my clothes drier on low heat for 60 minutes. It came out looking fairly new and water just rolled off it.
Now to the gasket repair:
I removed the old gaskets as per their packaged instructions and a video I watched on YouTube.
The process is straight forward and fairly simple. The Cotol-240 additive simply speeds up the curing time for the Aquaseal. The new gaskets are universal between NRS and Kokatat tops which made me a happy man. (Just be sure to order the right size)
1. Wash your jacket on a gentle cycle and spray with a DWR, then put it in your drier at low heat for 60 minutes
2. Buy the right size gaskets and make sure you turn your jacket and your gaskets inside out before anything else.
3. Trim the old gasket(s) off leaving about 1/8" of a rim of the old gasket.
4. Get yourself a small bucket cut it down and tape the edge with masking tape to avoid any sharp edges.
4. Insert the bucket through the neck as such. Take 180 grit sand paper and gently scuff the old gasket a full 360 degrees. (The Aquaseal and new gasket will seal better.) Wipe down and clean the old latex rim with acetone. Make sure you wear nitril or rubber gloves when using these chemicals and glue.
6. Mount the new gasket (inside out) with the shinny lip to fit over the old prepped rim and secure with a rubber band. (The picture is shown with the shinny lip of the gasket.) This need to be turned inside out before mounting it.
7. Mix all the contents of the Aquaseal and coltol-240 and use a wooden tongue depressor to thoroughly coat both the old rim and new gasket. Allow the Aquaseal to cure about 20 to 30 minutes and then fold the new gasket over the old rim and secure with a couple of rubber bands. Smooth out and wrinkles with a roller and allow it to dry at least 4 hours using the Aquaseal & coltol mixture. If you are using just Aquaseal then the cure time is 12 hours. Any spilled Aquaseal on the main gasket can be cleaned off with Acetone before it hardens.
8. Remove the rubber bands check for any pockets or gaps and remove the form fittingbucket or bowl.
9. Repeat same process for the wrists using either using a glass or small can as a wrist form.
I tried stretching the neck gasket as recommended by Kokatat. However if that doesn’t work (and it never does) then you will need to cut the neck gasket along the cutting rings along the neck gasket. Use a pair of very sharp scissors and cut along the pre-formed rings along the neck gasket. Cut one ring at a time till you find the size that fits your neck the best.
The wrist gaskets are not supposed to be cut as per Kokatat but stretching them over time does not seem to work either. If you are going to cut the wrist gasket do not take off more than 1/8".
I heard that you can purchase wrist gaskets that can be cut online. (Now I find out)
Stretching the wrists with a bottle and let it sit for a week or two before thinking about cutting them.
Finished Repaired Dry Top