Over the past 8 years I have used 5 different neoprene sprayskirts on 3 different kayaks. With all the skirts (even when new) on any paddle more than 1 hour in length I come back with my swim trunks or hydroskins (waist to feet) soaking wet. This happens on flat-water paddles about the same as paddling in waves. It happens even when I do no rolling or deep edging. I just assumed this is the way neoprene skirts worked, but recently in talking with some other paddlers I find out that they are much drier. I paddle with a GP and do dump a lot of water on the front of the skirt from just normal paddling. Also the 3 kayaks were all very low decked and there is very little (if any) room between the bottom of the skirt and my clothing at my hips. 1. If doing no rolling or deep edging should I be dry in the neoprene skirt? 2. Could clothing contact with the bottom of the skirt be causing some kind of wicking action? 3. Is there a wrong way to wear a sprayskirt that would cause water to be wicked under the skirt? 4. Should a properly fitted neoprene skirt keep you completely dry when doing edging with the cockpit rim under water? Thanks for any help you can give me. A dripping wet Mark. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Hi Mark. I struggled with this too, until I learned to bring my boat to the shop and test-fit skirts until I got one that was REALLY TIGHT. Even better if you get a WW one with the sticky rand. Sea-kayak neo skirts tend to not be so grippy, I think. But do be sure you're comfortable with the bail-out procedure before you really need it :). > 1. If doing no rolling or deep edging should I be dry in the neoprene > skirt? Totally > 2. Could clothing contact with the bottom of the skirt be causing some > kind of wicking action? Should not > 3. Is there a wrong way to wear a sprayskirt that would cause water to > be wicked under the skirt? Loosely > 4. Should a properly fitted neoprene skirt keep you completely dry > when doing edging with the cockpit rim under water? Yes! PS - I used to have a QCC 600 too. I ended up with a mountain surf skirt. No affiliation, it just worked. -- Jennifer Pivovar jpivovar_at_headwinds.org *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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