[Paddlewise] Folbot Spraydeck Fix?

My Folbot Greenland II has the stock coated-nylon spraydeck, velcro-ed
to the edges of the cockpit (washboards, I guess), and a 23-inch-
diameter circular hole for each paddler.  The "coaming" for each hole is
some sort of plastic tubing, which forms the catch for the
elastic-tightened bottom of a foot-tall coated-nylon tutu which bungies
to the occupant's upper torso.

The spraydeck is kinda marginal, in my judgement.  It works fine when it
is dry.  But, when it gets wet, the nylon stretches and sags, funneling
paddlesplash and wavesplash into my lap.  Also, the hole the paddler
fits into is strictly circular and demands excessive contorting to slide
into, unless you release the entire spraydeck -- not a good thing to try
on beaches with any surge at all.

Anyway, I've decided to redo it, and I need some collected wisdom from
the throng.  I've thought of two options:

1. Recut and rehem the existing nylon deck to form "standard" ovoid
cockpit openings, fitting a plastic tube inside the hem to mate with the
Snapdragon neo-deck/nylon-tube sprayskirts from my hardshell singles--
figuring the tension across the neoprene decks will keep taut the
remnants of the stock nylon spraydeck.

2. Fabricating a completely new spraydeck of neoprene (yeah, I know it
will cost me!) with openings per 1. above -- to make the same use of my
neo/nylon sprayskirts from the hardshells.  I have not worked this out,
but I think I can velcro this new, neoprene deck to the washboards,
analogous to the way the stock deck is attached

In any case, I am determined to keep the deck taut, AND enlarge the
openings paddlers fit into.

Comments?  Suggestions?  Anybody already done this?

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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