[Paddlewise] Spray skirt recommendations needed

One quick addition to this thread which I haven't been following 'til
now, but may help Steve Jarvis out, depending on how serious he is about
having an "ultimate" spray skirt:

I had a Palm neo deck, nylon tunnel skirt modified at the top of the
tunnel by a paddling apparel maker.

A 4" wide neoprene band was added to the tunnel top.
The neoprene is split at both sides (towards the front so as not to
impair paddling motion and chafe) with nylon pleats/gussets (?) added.
The front neoprene strip is velcroed as are the (4" neoprene) tabs
wrapping around from the sides.
The elastic band at the top of the nylon tunnel has been removed.

With the velcro tabs open, the skirt has ample breathing room around my
upper torso (though the PFD must be off as this is about nipple level or
higher), hanging loose by the suspenders.  The 4" neo top band can be
folded down, but crushes up under the PFD which would allow water to
pool at the base of the tunnel.

With the tabs closed tight, the only water to enter the cockpit is what
squeaks in between the pecs on layback start position rolls.  On balance
bracing, sculling, etc., I might get a few drops slipping through,
depending as much on how relaxed I am as anything.

It is the most comfortable skirt I've used to date (and also the most
expensive!) and use it for touring only.  I still use the Feathercraft
skirt for rescue work, pool sessions, etc.

Mark wrote:
> 
> At 14:12 03/16/2000 -0600, Steven Jarvis wrote:
> >As ralph and Ole misunderstood my question, I must have asked it wrong. The
> >seal I am concerned about  is the tunnel around me not the skirt around the
> >coaming. Though, that seal is also important, of course, as I don't want my
> >skirt to blow every time I roll. The concern I had was that deep sculling or
> >rolling in one of the nylon-tunnel skirts would mean a lot of water getting
> >into the boat between my clothing and the skirt.
> >I looked at Snap Dragon's website today, and they seem to have several
> >combination models, at least one of which has a neoprene deck, nylon tunnel,
> >and an adjustable neoprene band at the top of the tunnel to create a snug
> >fit, but doesn't encase your midsection in neoprene (the "girdle effect," as
> >it were).
> >
> >The 2000 NOC Catalog  has a Kokatat GoreTex touring skirt that has a similar
> >top, though its deck is nylon, not neoprene. That looks interesting, though
> >a bit pricey (at just under $160). Kokatat doesn't have them on their
> >website, so I'm assuming they're new for 2000. Anyone seen or tried one of
> >these?
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************