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There has been a lot of talk on the Reno local yahoo groups about neck gaskets gone bad.  I hope this helps. 

 

Author:  Stephen Wright 

Description:   How to replace a neck gasket in your Drytop 

 

NRS makes a fantastic kit for replacing neck gaskets which makes everything very easy.   

Here are my household replacements, which you’ll need to replace your neck gasket if you don’t 

buy the NRS kit: 

 

Stuff Needed: 

- Sharp scissors 

- New neck gasket of the same size as your old one  

- Small amount of Aquaseal or Seam Grip  

- Rubbing Alcohol and cloth or paper towel  

- a small piece of cardboard or popsicle stick to spread aquaseal 

- either double-sided scotch tape (or painter’s 2 sided tape), or some duct tape  

- a heavy object to hold it all together overnight 

- 2 dinner plates that are slightly larger in diameter than your neck gasket’s outer rim  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 1:  

 Cut your old gasket off your drytop using sharp scissors. 

 Leave about a 1/2″ rim of the old gasket that connects to the drytop material. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2:  

 Turn your drytop inside-out and place one of the two plates between the gasket and 

outer cuff material.   

 I often try to raise the plate up on a paint can or something so that the rest of the drytop 

hangs lower.   

 Now use the rolls of duct tape or 2 sided tape to tape the underside of the gasket rim 

FLAT to the plate.   

 This will hold it in place and secure it in a flat position. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3:  

 Prepare the old rim and the new gasket by sanding and then cleaning with rubbing 

alcohol.   

 Sand the old gasket rim and then rub the rim and drytop material all around the gasket.   

 Do the same thing with your new gasket’s shiny side. Sand about an inch up from the 

bottom and then wipe it clean with rubbing alcohol. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4:  

 Squeeze a very thin bead of Aquaseal or Seam Grip all around the rim of the old gasket.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use a small piece of cardboard or popsicle stick to spread it all the way around in a very 

thin layer.   

 You want it to cover the rim, and spread about 1/2′ down onto the drytop material. Make 

sure that it’s a thin coat. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*****Aquaseal/Seam Grip warning!******* 

 This stuff is extremely difficult to get off of you once it’s on your 

hands. Soap and water will not take Aquaseal/Seam Grip off of your hands! 

Once you feel it’s stickiness on your hands, just rub your hands in dirt or 

grit. It will stick to you, but allow you to “roll”/rub it off my hands once it 

dries a bit.  

 

 

Step 5:  

 Carefully place the new gasket shiny-side-down onto the glued area. 

 Make sure that it’s fairly well centered and press it into place all around. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take the 2nd dinner plate and place it on top of the new gasket, which should press 

down on the gasket and hold the edges in place.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put something relatively heavy (10 Lbs or more) on to the plates to press them together 

overnight and let it dry for AT LEAST 8 HOURS BEFORE MOVING. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take it all apart and enjoy your new neck gasket.   

Total work time: 20 minutes! Total dry time: 8 hours. 

 

 

One more thing. . . I apologize for the pictures.  These were taken before Stephen and I met.   I know, he looks ridiculous.  

 

 

Disclaimer: The information is provided as-is. The author(s) accepts no liability for the 

accuracy, availability, suitability, reliability and usability. The following 

information is copyright by Stephen Wright.  This information is not to be used for profit.  

Today was Charles Albright’s annual beginner day.  For all of you who don’t know Charles. . . he is the reigning king of kayaking goodness in Reno.  He has been kayaking for about 150 years and loves every form of kayaking from flat water, slalom, to the scary stuff.  And, I am turning 30 tomorrow, so I know what 150 years looks like.  

 

Anywho. . . Charles offers a free beginner class every year for anyone brave enough to take it.  At first I wasn’t gonna go (FLAT WATER. . . .AHHHHH!!!!), but my friend Kara has been wanting to learn how to kayak for a while, and this was a great place for her to go.  I can barely teach my dogs to sit, so I wasn’t going to be any help for her.  

 

Fun was to be had by all.  Kara made it down the river with only a couple bumps and bruises.  And, I met a ton of new people.  Just when I think I have met all the paddlers in Reno ten more jump out of the woodwork.  I LOVE IT!!!!  More friends and good times.  

 

THANK YOU to all who was there.  And a special thanks to Charles for taking his time deal with the mayham.

Why can’t we have a wave in Reno??

 

The last event of the World Cup brought us to Thun, Switzerland.   Unfortunately I had gotten sick in Augsburg, so I wasn’t able to enjoy this amazing place as much as I should, however I did get a chance to surf.   Just as before, Stephen and I got into town a day early with Ruth’s boat so the first thing we did was surf.  Living in Reno hasn’t given me the opportunity to experience waves, but now I am addicted.  I couldn’t get off this thing until I realized I was in the eddy with 25 other people.  Yep, it was an eddy circus.  It even included a tight rope walker (slack line) and a hobbit.  

 

Outside of the wave and the circus, Thun was beautiful.  I was able to get up to Grindenwald for some day hikes.  (The only thing missing were the dogs.)  There were glaciers and mountains and cows.   Maybe my favorite place so far.  

 

 

Switzerland was a little pricey, however because I had a case of death we were able to find some amazing places to stay.  We were able to ride our bikes everywhere. And we got some good food.   And we were able to catch up on some Dexter.  

 

 

The second event in the World Cup has come and gone.  I am about a week late for everything so in my time I am right on time. 

 

 

Augsburg and Prague were very different.  The course in Augsburg was made in the 70’s for the slalom Olympics, and they have it set up as a country club.  Lush green grass all over the place, restaurant, boathouse, a bunch of slalom boaters, and one BIG hole.

 

We got to the town at about eleven at night and spent two hours driving around looking for the place.  Luckily we found a sign with a picture of a kayak.   BINGO. . . we must be in the right place.  I don’t even remember setting the tent up.  I do remember waking up to the sun and moving the tent four times until we found a place we wanted to stay. 

 

Ruth Gordon was nice enough to let me borrow her boat for a couple days before she got there, so the first thing in the morning Stephen and I went kayaking.  The hole was fast, and there were a ton of face surfs, but Stephen, Jason Craig, and Jonathon Shales were able to loop their brains out.  Super fun to watch, plus the course was a lot of fun to run. 

 

 

Hmmm. . . I think trying to write this over a week out has fried my brains.  The only other things I remember were being yelled at while driving to the grocery store.  It was all in German, so I am not quite sure what I did wrong, but it gave us a good giggle.  Then there was the rain, and more slugs.  I think I found a dead one in the car that joined us on the trip from Prague.  Oh. . .  and I ate Weiner Art.  True German cuisine. 

 

Again. . .  you can find the official results someplace else.  I am still just touching on the living and kayaking scene.