Nobody warns you about the hatch gasket when you buy a used Kirby Morgan

Bought a used KM 37 about 8 months back off a retiree down in Morgan City for $1,800, and the seller swore the helmet was turn-key ready. First wet run on a dock inspection in Pascagoula, the gasket let go at 22 feet and I got a face full of muddy water before I could even reach the free-flow knob. Anybody got a go-to trick for checking gaskets on a used hat before you put your head in it?

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sagelane1mo ago

That "turn-key ready" line is exactly what gets guys in trouble, and I used to figure a used hat was fine if it held air on the surface. Then I watched a guy nearly drown because a gasket looked perfect dry and fell apart the second it got wet and pressurized. Now I always pull the gasket, stretch it, look for cracks, and dunk the whole helmet in a tub before I ever trust it.

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