Equipment storage tips

Subject:  Equipment Storage


From: bcorson@linarite.telesciences.com (Bob K Corson (Robert))
Newsgroups: rec.sport.waterski
Subject: Winter Equipment Storaage
Date: 30 Nov 93 21:15:31 GMT


Another article from the Water Skier courtesy of
the American Water Ski Association.


"Saves Many Years of Wear and Tear" by Ken Mangano
taken from the Water Skier, Sept./Oct. '91, p.54

Just as your towboat and motor need to be properly stored for the winter, so
too must your ski gear. While today's equipment is designed to be long-
lasting and requires very little maintenance, a little effort and care in use
and
storage will keep your ski gear in good condition for many seasons.
Here are some tips for preparing your ski gear for storage. While more
important for long-term storage, these general guidelines are applicable to
everyday care of your gear and will add to its useful life.
O'Brien International's Kevin McCarthy, product development manager,
cites sun as the primary cause of equipment deterioration and premature
failure. Always dry and store your ski gear out of the sun. ``Ideally, the
only time equipment should be in the sun is while you're actually using it,''
McCarthy says. He also notes that salt is very damaging. Ski gear used in
salt water must be rinsed thoroughly to remove all salt after every use and
especially before storage.
All of your ski gear should be stored clean (use a mild soap and water
solution to clean any dirt), dry (moisture will destroy materials, seams and
glues) and out of sunlight. McCarthy notes that even indirect sunlight, like
through a window during the day, can fade graphics and colors.

Wetsuits

Of all ski gear, wetsuits are the most sensitive to care and storage
procedures. Wetsuits should be stored clean and completely dry. Ideally,
the suit should be stuffed with newspaper and the zipper closed. Then lay
the suit flat and store it under a bed or in another area completely out of sun
light.
Wetsuits can also be hung and stored on broad hangers. Most ski or dive
shops will have extra-large hangers for this purpose. A good quality large
suit hanger will also work. Do not use wire or narrow hangers, as these will
cause excessive stress on the material and seams and may cause permanent
damage. Hang weysuits in the back of a closet where they will be out of the
way and also out of sunlight.
A compromise is draping suits over suspended lengths of one-and-one-half-
to three-inch diameter PVC pipe at the waist.
You should also cover suits to protect them from scrapes and dust. Garment
bags or plastic garbage bags make good protective covers.
Do not store suits inside-out. They may be turned inside-out temporarily to
insure that they are completely dry, but always store right-side-out to avoid
excessive stress on the material and seams.

Neoprene accessories

Other neoprene equipment like hoods, booties and neoprene vests should be
also stored clean, dry, and out of sunlight with the weight of the garment
dispersed as evenly as possible.

Drysuits

Drysuits should be stored in the same manner as wetsuits with one
important distinction, depending on the suit. YKK, a leading manufacturer
of drysuit zippers, recommends that drysuits with a Delrin, a type of plastic,
zippers be stored closed to avoid a potential leak-causing kink, while nickel,
or metal, zippers be stored open to prevent the rubber compression seal
>from  taking a ``set'' during storage.

Skis, kneeboards, skiboards

Since these items are relatively durable, the only requirement is that you
store them out of sunlight and in a place where they will not pick up
scratches and dings. McCarthy recommends storage under a bed or
horizontally overhead with minimum support at two points. He notes that
while it's tempting to store skis ``on display,'' a ski leaning against a wall
could occasionally get bumped, knocked over and damaged.
Skis and boards should be stored either in a fitted case or covered with
plastic bags or cloth. If your slalom bag causes your high-wrap bindings to
be bent down, leave the bag open to allow the bindings to stand up and
cover the open areas with a plastic bag or towel.

Ropes and vests

Ropes and vests should be stored with the same basic guidelines; clean, dry
and out of sunlight. Sunlight will quickly fade the bright colors of
polypropolene ski lines.
With just a little effort and proper care, your ski gear should last for several
seasons and survive many long winter lay-ups.