Re: [Paddlewise] Leaking Skirts

Jennifer said:


>>> Hi all, A few folks have written to the effect that most skirt  leaking
is from the top down.  I have the same issue as Doug - my snapdragon leaks
too much around the  cockpit coaming.  I didn't believe it at first so
experimented a little.  If I hold an edge past the coaming w/out getting
the top in the water, it comes  in at the side pretty significantly,
especially if  there's any waves to push a little. <<<

My new White's drysuit has a very effective over-tunnel that securely
prevents water from entering down the top of the tube. Richard mentioned
"the gap between the skirt and the small of one's back." These, and other
sources of leaking were not areas particular to my situation -- it was
strickley (as you note) water finding its way under the skirt via the
coaming juncture.

>>>I finally dragged my boat to a local shop and dragged out all their neo
skirts till I found a Mountain Surf one that fits a lot tighter.  The deck
portion of it looks looser than the Snapdragon, but the bungee does its
stuff and I stay pretty dry.<<<

My previous Phoenix neo skirt from the UK was vastley superior to anything
made in North America. It had the latex edge coating on the inside. I don't
do much assisted rescue work (solo padder mostly), so I didn't order the
latex strenghtening on the outside edge as most paddlers would normally,
thereby allowing the option of adding the latex to the inside and achieving
a superior coaming-to-skirt seal (Phoenix really tries to disuade this
option, as panic wet-exits are made extremely difficult due to the
"stickeness" factor). The Phoenix skirt had a double-tunnel with neo vest
and suspenders, which wouldn't have worked with my new drysuit -- hence
ordering the new Snapdragon.

Duane suggested a top-skirt of nylon. I carry one as a spare, so will give
that a try, but I still see the issue as one where a superior seal around
the coaming (preferably with one skirt) as being advantageous to the
rough-water paddler (not just surf -- think Perfect Storm).

> >>I know Snapdragon will customize a skirt but maybe what they should do
instead is be a little more forthcoming with their fit philosophy (that is,
not wait till you've spent the $$ on a neo skirt expecting  to stay dry).<<<

I believe they told me the retightening was free. Snapdraggon is a great
company, as are ORS where I purchased the product. However, I like more
options, rather than less when ordering gear specifically from another
country. Returns/refits are a huge inconvenience.

I should say that for average paddlers, the tension of Snapdragon touring
products is where it should be. I imagine, they and other companies, receive
a fair bit of dealer/retailer pressure to make products safer for the
end-user, not more dangerous -- or at least constructing product with less
potential for problems like entrapment. For me, a leaking skirt, however, is
a danger. I'm so frustrated by all this, I'm ditching my foot pump for an
electrical pump. Perhaps a Rule 500 run on LiIon or NiMH rechargables. Could
get expensive to make a top-end, state-of-the-art system, but infinitely
cheaper than a CG rescue. My Nordkapp feels even heavier already! Thank Jen,
et al, for sharing experiences.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Whatever can be said at all can be said clearly and whatever cannot be said
clearly should not be said at all."
Ludwig Wittgenstein
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