Re: [Paddlewise] Sprayskirt on CLC wood coaming

In a message dated 3/27/01 5:13:27 PM, klagjf_at_worldnet.att.net writes:

<< The edge of the wood coaming was smooth and rounded and would not hold my 
neoprene sprayskirt at all.  It would pop off, from the side, everytime I did 
a leaning brace.  The skirt was the correct size.  >>

    I don't have a wood boat but I do have plastic and glass boats. A couple 
of questions and thoughts. How do you know it was the right size?
    The skirt that fits my Gulfstream will, with effort, a few choice words, 
and sometimes with help from friends, fit onto the Breeze. I made the mistake 
of bringing the Gulfie skirt with the Breeze on Sun. and spent many minutes 
tugging at the skirt as it repeatedly popped off the back as I pulled it on 
in front. I paddled for several hours and it did just fine. Got back to the 
put-in, got talked into rolling in the 45º water and KNEW, without a shred of 
a doubt it would pop off. It did.
    Does it fit? The list of boats it is supposed to fit include this boat. 
If I have to worry about the thing being a bear to put on and keep on, no. To 
even get it on what I have to do is loosen the straps that hold it up and 
make sure the tunnel of the skirt is as far down as I can get it so that not 
a cm is being held up that might go to covering the cockpit.
    It is not cheap but for the pleasure of paddling and so you don't 
irritate those waiting for you, just get a larger skirt. Wax on the gloves or 
paddle is fine but nothing should be holding your skirt on if it is important 
that it say on. One dump of a wave will take the thing right off, even with a 
whole stick of wax.
    A side thought: I was at the pool a few weeks back watching this guy 
teach his friend to roll a boat without a skirt. He did just fine. Rolling a 
full boat is just a slower process, not a hard one. As was obvious, you can 
learn to roll a boat full of water. In fact, the best bracing practice I know 
of is to paddle one full of water.

Joan Spinner
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************