O.K. on with the never ending quest for the best piece of gear.
To go with my new boat I want to get a great skirt. I was recommended the "seal extreme tour", but my paddle shop has had it on back order for 4 months. They told me the other day that they were getting in a huge shipment of skirts from "Gul" and was told that they make dandy skirts, but I can find no info on them, even on their own site.
Looking for a bomb-proof skirt. Good for surf and rolling. Mostly for quality and comfort on a trip. All neoprene or neoprene deck and breathable upper? Suspenders?
Whatever is your opinion or experience please!

I very rarely wear a skirt, but I did buy a Seal for my new yak.

Magooch, you very rarely wear a sprayskirt. You must be paddling under exceptional circumstances to not need a sprayskirt. We're talking sea kayaking--wind, waves--right? Please elaborate!

Well, first I don't paddle in the ocean. Most of my paddling is on the Columbia River. Yes, the Columbia can get very rough at times, but I don't have to get half submerged to enjoy kayaking. Second, I don't think there are any rules that say a sea kayak can only be paddled in salt water, or very large lakes that might qualify as a sea.

I have to admit that I did put my skirt on yesterday when it looked like it was going to rain. The wind came up and the water did get a little rough, but I still would have been fine without the skirt.

If you are surprised that I rarely use a skirt, it will probably shock you that I have never rolled any of my kayaks and I don't intend to--at least not on purpose. My moto is that if I want to go swimming, I'll go swimming. When I go paddling, my intention is to keep the boat upright and stay dry. In all the hundreds of hours and miles I have paddled, I have only been dumped about three times and one of those was in a canoe; one was in white water and one was in my rec. kayak while surfing on a tug boat wave. A skirt, or the ability to roll would have done no good in any of those cases.

I am 65 years old and have learned to be prudent with my paddling and while I know that things do happen sometimes when you least expect it, I have great faith in my kayaks to keep me right side up.

Of all the kayakers I know, there is only one who has learned to roll his kayak. I admire his ability and his desire to go where he will surely need that skill, but it's not for me.

I agree with with Magooch and very raely waer a skirt. I have paddled on the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, But mostly on large lakes around the south East. In the winter I will wear one to help keep me warm.

DGF, neither you nor Magooch have indicated why you choose not to wear sprayskirts. Too hot? Too cold? Fear of entrapment? If nothing else, they work great to keep the greenheads and mosquitos and paddle drip out, and provide extra warmth on cold, windy days on the water. And they sure do work to keep unwanted water out when punching into serious chop, or breaking out thru surf, or when a big beam sea dumps all over you--all things that happen on water of any degree of salinity. I know I'd have to seriously curtail my paddling if I had no sprayskirt.

So, as much as I love you guys... does anyone have an opinion about a good/great spray skirt. I only ask this because I want to get one in the next couple of days. I am also interested why one chooses to be skirtless, but the ice is still floating in the lake here in town, though I hope it will break open on the w/e and with my new Caribou, I will probably go out and blast between the bergs. I have had it in a pool twice and you can get maybe three strokes out of it before the wall. I get cold even in the summer, so I need one. I will probably go under, or almost, though I can roll. I have to see what this puppy will do. I am yet a young 50, so I look forward to doing some bigger stuff, surf and off shore. Ask your friends if they have an opinion as well.
Please carry on gentlemen! I am happy to be here with you.

Strange Magic there have only been a few times that I have had to do a surf launch and then I did wear one until I got past the breakers, then it came off. most of the time it is to hot and uncomfortable to use. I do use a half skirt to keep the water out of my boat when I use a GP. I usually get out 2-3 times a week year around and only use a full skirt when the there is a chance of bad weather or I am in a WW boat, most of the local places I paddle a skirt is not necessary.

To answer the origanl question I like the skirt made by Seals to me they seem to have the best fit and are very well made.

I've had now two Quaser skirts in succession--neoprene deck, nylon tunnel, with suspenders--wore the first one out, then got another--the one I use now. Very good seal to the cockpit coaming. Very happy with it, and I'll get another when this one wears out. By the way, I love the Dupont tag that comes with the sprayskirt, warning that one should avoid direct sunlight and salt water!!

Some more thoughts about sprayskirt use: provides a useful surface for one's chart; keeps out pouring rain. Hard to get my mind around the idea of kayaking without a sprayskirt.

SM try paddling when the air temp and humidity are in the mid 90's and the water temp is in the mid 80's, Rolling does help to cool you often but it does not last long. In the spring when the air temp is in the 70-80's and the water is still in the low 50's your boat still gets full of water from condensation, wearing a skirt makes it worse. Being on large lakes is different the being on the ocean and we can get away with out a skirt most of the time.

I do like the nylon skirts made by Bomber gear and quite often use a half skirt made by Seattle sports, It has 3 pockets that are handy.

I really didn't mean to turn this into a discussion about the merits of wearing a spray skirt, I merely meant to qualify my lack of expertise on which skirt is a good one.

As I said, I did have the occasion to don the new Seals that I bought for my new kayak. I was very pleased with the fit and grip on the coaming. The new skirt has suspenders, which none of my other skirts have; I liked how the suspenders held the skirt up in place.

I was a little disappointed with the stay until I discovered that it had gotten turned over in its pocket.

Hey, Magooch. I've been on this forum since just before Christmas and in my books you can do no wrong. The post number has renamed you "member", but you are a real world good paddler. No apologies necessary!

Steve

I did not mean to make it a debate. To me the wearing of a spry skirt is determined by weather and water conditions. The majority of my paddling is on big lakes around the south and a skirt is seldom necessary.

How about wearing a PFD?

Well, this isn't going to win me any credits, but I always wear a PFD when I'm in my sea kayaks, but seldom in my rec. yaks. I always have one along and right close by.

Not to rationalize my casual adherence to convention, but I am a very good swimmer and when I'm in my rec. kayaks I don't get too far from shore.

Check this: http://www.seakayakermag.com/2008/Feb08/cold-shock.htm

For whatever it may be worth:
I use to imagine that wearing a spray skirt was optional. Once, on a warm, calm, no-spray skirt day a wake from a passing boat curled over my deck and left two quarts of water in my cockpit. Two more boat wakes like that could have sunk me. I now wear a spray skirt even in a duck pond. Mostly it just keeps my seat dry and I don't worry about conditions changing before I can get home.

Habits make life so much easier. No need for long philosophical introspections: "Should I, shouldn't I?" Go kayaking? Wear sprayskirt and PFD. Water cold? Wear wetsuit or drysuit. Bring chart. Have compass. Have decklines. etc. etc.

It is gratifying to see that novices entering an activity new to them quickly and almost automatically pick up the behaviors, equipment, etc. that they see experienced people using in the activity. Everyone in our local paddling group shows up for a trip (just happened again yesterday, 3 different groups) in wetsuits or drysuits, sprayskirts, PFDs, whatever, and it's no biggie, because that's what everybody is (correctly, in my opinion) habituated to bring or wear. And that's the way they'll paddle, solo.

I do agree that a PFD is mandatory and will not get in my boat until I have put one on, even when fishing on my SOT.

So I got a couple of skirts for a comically low price last w/e. I was wondering who I should to contact on this forum to find out what is appropriate as far as mentioning a store by name. I don't want to be accused of advertising and I have no personal or financial connection with the place, but they are selling new, top of the line, full neoprene skirts by "Gul" for $10.00 Canadian and they have lots. Neoprene/nylon upper with suspenders for $40.00 and lots of Gul clothes at half price. It is freaky actually. What is the rule on this sort of sharing?
Steve

Steve, send mikekayak a Message. He's an Administrator, and you can find him on the User List.

Thanks Magic, I'll do that.

SS

I sent a personal message to "mikekayak" concerning the ethics of me posting this info, but since it is to help out other like minded individuals (ie: kayakers in Southern Ontario who want a deal!), he said I could post this. I started this thread to ask for advice on spray skirts. Since then I got the greatest deal at the Paddleshack in Oakville, Ontario (Toronto). Seriously... $10.00 for top of the line Gul neoprene skirts. Nice touring skirts (neoprene deck/nylon upper with suspenders for $40.00). They got a huge order from Gul of overstock and are unloading this gear at crazy prices. I have no connection with this store, but wanted to pass along the info to paddlers in this area. I didn't know if it would seem like soliciting business. I am just a happy customer and I am going back for the $40.00 dry pants. Anybody around this area, check it out. Maybe they ship, too. Just sharin' SS

This thread is like a kayaker without a paddle. It has seen some serious drift.

scoutersteve, you did great, it sounds like. I'm a little envious. I just shelled out a lot more cash for two skirts, the Seals Extreme Tour you mentioned in your first post and the low-end nylon skirt that Seals makes. My logic was: one for colder weather and learning to roll, the other for summer-time floats where I want to be cooler.

I've been out with the Extreme Tour and found it to be a good fitting, dry skirt. I have not yet rolled with it.

Being an ocean paddler I always have a skirt BUT my son and I went for a 2 day paddle on a lake and I thought I would leave the skirt at home. First thing I did was lay the kayak over on edge to turn it around and promptly flooded it!! and then all of day 2 it rained like crazy!! Next time I will take the skirt. Having used a few I now LOVE my REED Chilcheater deck. Very light and very comfortable. Best one I have had so far. http://www.seakayakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=209
If you go to the above thread you can see the guy in the surf has one as does the last guy. That shows how thin and light they are.

got a Snap Dragon skirt today and it is neo and nice.