Traditionally, a rubber rand skirt has been a mark of higher quality. While the quality and effectiveness of rubber rand skirts has not changed, the advancements in skirt design have produced extremely dry and tight bungee cord skirts. There isn’t any kind of kayaking from whitewater to flatwater touring that cannot be done safely, successfully, and with style using a bungee cord spray skirt.
–NRS
Click here to read bio
A rubber banded skirt (randed skirt) should not be used on any rim other than those generally found on a rotational molded kayak. Based upon our 25 years as a spray skirt manufacturer, we believe that a rand seal is more reliable and water tight than a bungee skirt. A rand skirt generally is more expensive and so for that reason a bungee skirt might be preferred. Bungee skirts should be used on composite rims but also are quite effective on rotational molded rims, depending upon the definition and depth of the rim. One myth to contradict is that a randed skirt is harder to stretch than a bungee skirt. The fact is that the tenacity specification of either material determines it's resistance to elongation and so it is quite possible that a bungee skirt can be more difficult to stretch than a randed skirt. It all depends upon the manufacturer’s specification for tenacity.
– Joe Galea and Christina Laird, Seals Sprayskirts
Click here to read bio
If the shock cord is the strength that Snap Dragon specifies there are some inherent advantages to choosing a shock-cord perimeter. The shock cord should have enough strength (resistance when pulled) so that it will rebound into a nice taut fit around the rim. Snap Dragon uses six different types of shock cord depending on the demands for the spray skirt.
In colder weather conditions, shock cord will stretch better than rubber rands making it easier to get on.
There are so many different cockpit shapes that being able to cut deck patterns for virtually a custom fit is more viable when sewing shock cord to the edge of the deck rather than gluing extruded rubber for a rubber rand. If and when repairs to the deck edge are needed it is easier to salvage a skirt by sewing new shock cord on.
– Rich Wilson, Snap Dragon
Click here to read bio
What do you think about having pockets either on the tunnel or on the spray deck? Are they useful, impractical or hazardous?
Pockets on the tunnel may be useful for some paddlers; we have them on two models of our touring skirts. The issue with them is that for many people, their PFD covers them and interferes with their usefulness. Pockets on the deck can be quite useful. For example, a see-through map and compass pocket is a great idea. Realize that in the event of a swim these items will be in the skirt, banging around your shins, so don’t store a bunch of carabiners in there! Deck bags and PFD pockets are really your more practical storage areas. Using a pocket that you can only access by opening your PFD is hazardous.
–NRS
Click here to read bio
Pockets on the tunnel are a design feature of the past. A small pocket on the tunnel for such things as car keys or a cell phone might still be relevant, but pockets for items that need to be accessed while on the water should be positioned near the front edge of the rim. Pockets are practical and not hazardous except perhaps in a creek environment where there is a risk of snagging on a tree branch.
– Joe Galea and Christina Laird, Seals Sprayskirts
Click here to read bio
From a safety standpoint a clean deck is the safest deck. In the event of a wet exit and re-entry into the cockpit, not having anything on the deck that could get hung up or caught is the safest. Surprise storms can turn a quiet paddle trip into a nightmarish adventure. Most PFDs and dry tops have pockets. Too much weight contained in the spray skirt pocket may lead to water pooling on the spray skirt’s deck. When foraging on land and rocks, pockets, particularly mesh pockets, get caught on barnacles and become a nuisance.
– Rich Wilson, Snap Dragon
Click here to read bio
