[Paddlewise] Leaking Skirts

I posted a message a couple of weeks ago 'bout surfing at Jordan River
(Vancouver Island). One thing I wanted to mention and throw out for
discussion was the issue of spray skirt tightness and leaking. I was
pummeled a few times in my Nordkapp Ocean Cockpit and took on a lot of
water, even with a top-end Snapdragon skirt. The sewed-on bungee never came
loose, but I got a lot more water penetrating than I wanted or liked. I
phoned the manufacturer (was also doing research on an entrapment article
for SK Mag that I seemed to have inherited) and mentioned the leaking. They
indicated that the skirts perform better if the bungee is at maximum
factory-set tightness, but unless the customer specifically requests it (or
the store ordering the skirt(s) ), they normally pick an average tightness
so as not to cause potential problems for entry-level paddlers or those who
might find difficulty wet-exiting with too tight a skirt. I wish I had known
all this before ordering mine, or at least had the staff at the retail
supplier inform me that I had a choice. Snapdragon did offer to make an
after-sales adjustment (return skirt to factory for resewing), which was
sporting of them. Anyway, just wanted paddlers to know that apparently, some
companies do have a way of providing a tighter fit (meaning less water entry
with the better seal under the coaming) if the customer wants (providing the
customer is always right, which we are, right?).

All skirts leak a bit, but one can certainly dial in their preference if
given the option.

Doug Lloyd

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