Water Resistant Deck Bags

Seattle Sports' Sea Kayak Deck Bag
The Seattle Sports bag is a monster at 1200 cubic inches, yet at 15 inches in overall width it will still fit on most decks. This bag held all my normal deck bag stuff, plus a one-liter water bottle, and still had room for my Gore-Tex shell when the morning turned warm. A stiffening sheet maintains the bag's shape (and, as with most of these bags, is removable if you don't want it).
I did not, however, put unprotected cameras inside. The Seattle Sports bag uses a YKK "Hydro-Kiss" weatherproof zipper which will fend off minor splashes and light rain, but is not waterproof. There was about a tablespoon of water inside after both hosing and dunking-although, to be fair, after a paddle in bouncy conditions the inside was quite dry. Still, this product is not intended to be waterproof. The fabric on the bag is a strong, urethane-coated, 400-denier nylon with welded seams, so no water is likely to get in that way.

This bag's attachment system was the simplest and most adaptable. Nylon straps near each corner can be looped around bungies or through deck eyelets, or be substituted with your own hardware.

Given its large size but low profile, and versatile mounting system, the Seattle Sports bag would also be useful as a behind-the-cockpit bag for items such as outerwear, hats, and gloves, which you'd like to keep mostly dry but which won't be harmed by a little water.
Price: $60 | Seattle Sports: (800) 632-6163, (206) 782-0773 www.seattlesportsco.com

Salamander's Sea Kayak Deck Bag
With a zipper similar to that used on the Seattle Sports bag, the Salamander bag was similarly water resistant. PVC-coated nylon keeps the body of the bag waterproof, so only direct splashing or steady rain (or, of course, immersion) results in water inside. As with the Seattle Sports model, the inside of the Salamander bag stayed dry during what I'd call a fair-weather paddle-light breezes and small waves. I could have had a field guide inside with no worries. But when subjected to direct spraying or dunking the zipper leaked a small amount of water almost immediately, mostly through the small gap visible at the end of the zipper track.

For its extra $25, the Salamander bag adds some nice touches compared to the unadorned Seattle Sports model: There's a zippered mesh pouch on the back and an excellent chart case on top, secured with turn buttons. It's a matter of a second or two to remove the case to get a better look at your chart. A (non-removable) polyethylene sheet holds the shape of the deck bag, and the zipper is near the back so the opening flaps down out of your way. Salamander didn't have a figure for volume, but by my own rough measurements it appears to be similar in size to the Voyageur bag-around 900 cubic inches. Overall width is 13 inches, so fit shouldn't be a problem on most boats.

Mounting the Salamander bag is straightforward, using four nylon straps that radiate from a reinforced patch on the bottom; they should adapt to almost any kayak deck arrangement. On my own 22"-wide boat I was able to loop the straps through short lengths of cord tied through my deck eyelets, and the result was very rigid, although waves do get under the bag and flop it around somewhat. This bottom mounting system can't constrict access to the contents like the Watershed mount. There was a lot to like about the Salamander, as long as you keep its design limits in mind when you load it.
Price: $84.50 | Salamander Paddle Gear, (303) 581-0518
or (800) 641-0500 | www.salamanderpaddlegear.com

The idea of semi-waterproof deck bag models initially seemed strange to me, but they do eliminate the dampness common with cheaper deck bags. While I'll probably continue to put my faith in that single layer between the sea and a short circuit, there's no doubt that even the semi-waterproof models add significant protection to any bagged item inside.

Jonathan Hanson is a writer living in Tuscon, Arizona. He is the author of Complete Sea Kayak Touring and Essential Sea Kayaking

Previous page