What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? Who makes good ones? _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free _at_yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
My ideal sprayskirt has a neoprene deck, no knot (or sewn in bungee) and a Gore-Tex tunnel with a pocket and suspenders (braces for the Brits) cu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Darian Dunn wrote: > > What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? Depends a lot on whose skirt you're looking into. If you're looking into mine, you might get slapped. ;) As for good qualities in a skirt, the quality of the fit on the cockpit rim is real high on my list, after spending a batch of time yesterday at roll practice re-attaching a student's skirt everytime she put the boat on edge. Materials-wise, there are lots of options: All neoprene--warm in winter, hot in summer, keeps waves out of your lap very well. Neoprene skirt, nylon tunnel--a little cooler and leakier, if you swim, still keeps the waves out. All-nylon--cooler, easier to deal with getting it onto the rim. Keeps out splashes. I think someone is making a breathable skirt, might be good for warm weather. And of course the ever-popular flannel poodle skirt. Steve -- Test Scoring & Reporting Services Sometimes, you never can University of Georgia always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593 least expect the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? > > Who makes good ones? I had a nylon one, but got tired of ending up taking on to much water. Got a full neoprene one now, tunnel and all, and I stay quite dry. Neat side benefit, the neoprene is strong enough that I can set my cast net down on top of it. The nylon one caved in real bad when I did that... It also doesn't come off when I roll. Richard Walker Houston, TX http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I found Snapdragon with the solid rubber gasket (rather than bungie cord) at the bottom the driest and best fit. For paddling in the sunny south, I use neoprene deck (driest) with nylon tube (can leave open for circulation or pull tight for water-tight paddling in rough water) with suspenders. Also have an all nylon spray skirt (cheapest and best I found was SEDA) for hot calm paddling. It is compact and easy to store behind my seat when I don't need it. ---------- From: Darian Dunn[SMTP:dunnd1_at_yahoo.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 6:32 AM To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subject: [Paddlewise] Spray skirt What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? Who makes good ones? _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free _at_yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
---------- From: Steve Cramer[SMTP:cramer_at_coe.uga.edu] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 3:32 PM To: Darian Dunn; Paddlewise Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Spray skirt Darian Dunn wrote: > > What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? I think someone is making a breathable skirt, might be good for warm weather. Steve I purchased the Dagger "tropical" gortex breathable skirt and found it leaked (by the bucket) and was no cooler! Got rid of it quickly and went to Snapdragon which was dry and actually cooler with a nylon tube top that can be either left open for venting or rolled down around your waist for topless paddling. -- Test Scoring & Reporting Services Sometimes, you never can University of Georgia always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593 least expect the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/24/99 3:14:57 PM Pacific Standard Time, rww_at_mailbox.neosoft.com writes: << Got a full neoprene one now, tunnel and all, and I stay quite dry. Neat side benefit, the neoprene is strong enough that I can set my cast net down on top of it. >> How well do you do with neoprene in that texas heat? Was nylon considerably cooler? thanks, robin lovelock mobile Al *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> << Got a full neoprene one now, tunnel and all, and I stay quite > dry. Neat side benefit, the neoprene is strong enough that I can > set my cast net down on top of it. >> > How well do you do with neoprene in that texas heat? Was nylon > considerably cooler? thanks, robin lovelock mobile Al I was expecting the neoprene to be a lot worse than it actually turned out to be. Ask me that same question in July... I have a week long trip planned for summer, and the neoprene skirt will be the only one I bring. Though... given that it makes my roll much more risk-free, I may simply choose to roll periodically to cool down. The nylon is cooler, but that may be mostly due to the fact that it kept me wet all the time. Richard Walker Houston, TX http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
R. Walker wrote: > > > << Got a full neoprene one now, tunnel and all, and I stay quite > > dry. Neat side benefit, the neoprene is strong enough that I can > > set my cast net down on top of it. >> > > How well do you do with neoprene in that texas heat? Was nylon > > considerably cooler? thanks, robin lovelock mobile Al > > I was expecting the neoprene to be a lot worse than it actually > turned out to be. Ask me that same question in July... I have a > week long trip planned for summer, and the neoprene skirt will be > the only one I bring. Though... given that it makes my roll much > more risk-free, I may simply choose to roll periodically to cool > down. > > The nylon is cooler, but that may be mostly due to the fact that it > kept me wet all the time. > > Richard Walker > Houston, TX > http://www.neosoft.com/~rww/kayak_log.html The combo neoprene/nylon skirts like Snapdragons have been mentioned before and are fine. As an aside, Nautiraid makes one for their boats but somehow got the idea wrong and it is quite comical. Instead of having a neoprene deck and nylon body tunnel it is with a neoprene body tunnel and nylon deck!! Reminds me of the time I was dating a girl in Chile after my Junior Year abroad there. I returned for Xmas to visit with her. I had worked a summer job at Brooks Brothers and so I had a number of inexpensively purchased button-down shirts. Her 18 year cousin saw me with the shirts; I could see him eying them carefully. A few days later, we returned to visit with his family and he came out of the next room wearing what looked like an imitation of my style shirt. He had a local seamstress make them up. Well, on closer inspection, I could see that the buttons were sewn on to the collar and not on the shirt itself to go through button holes in the collar. My favored sprayskirt these days is one from Aquaterra/Perception. It is all nylon but the material is coated with something breathable. In addition it has an implosion bar which keeps water from pooling on the deck portion. And it has a neoprene waistband that eliminates the need for annoying suspenders that always seem to slip down or rub my back. ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Was it the deck or tunnel that leaked. I find the typical nylon tunnel causes me to sweat buckets in Florida Summer conditions (And Spring, Winter and Summer). I believe the neoprene deck may even insulate a bit, keeping the heat out of the boat. Gore-Tex would seem to be an ideal tunnel material. cya -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net] On Behalf Of Kenneth Johnson Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 5:54 PM To: 'Steve Cramer'; Darian Dunn; Paddlewise Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Spray skirt ---------- From: Steve Cramer[SMTP:cramer_at_coe.uga.edu] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 1999 3:32 PM To: Darian Dunn; Paddlewise Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Spray skirt Darian Dunn wrote: > > What should I be looking for in a spray skirt? I think someone is making a breathable skirt, might be good for warm weather. Steve I purchased the Dagger "tropical" gortex breathable skirt and found it leaked (by the bucket) and was no cooler! Got rid of it quickly and went to Snapdragon which was dry and actually cooler with a nylon tube top that can be either left open for venting or rolled down around your waist for topless paddling. -- Test Scoring & Reporting Services Sometimes, you never can University of Georgia always tell what you Athens, GA 30602-5593 least expect the most. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I agree with most everyone replying to this post. KUDOS to Snapdragon! They make excellent gear and the special order capability for custom fitting is a huge bonus. Plus, all the neoprene trimmings are recycled into visors, beverage insulators etc and given away as promo's - very cool. I have found them to be top-notch and competitively priced. It will be Snapdragon for me from now on. For WW kayaking, I recommend the neoprene with tube waist and rubber rand - A solid fitting. For Sea kayaking, Jump into a breathable laminate - lightweight and lightly colored to ward off a hot cockpit. - If you paddle in inclement weather, or for longer distances where a storm could sneak up - go neoprene. Phil Huck thekayaker_at_yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free _at_yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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