Even when the waves are flat, water dripping off the ends of the paddle gets blown onto the deck where it runs into the sunken area around the lip of the coaming. I'm a bit mystified as to how so much of it ends up in the seat though, I guessed it was a combination of wicking effect where it gets sucked in between the edge of the skirt and the lip the skirt is supposed to be sealed onto and simple leakage through the fabric of the skirt itself --- it's just a $40, Seals, coated nylon cheapo. Also, there's a seam on the rear of the coaming lip, that although it doesn't leak itself, it's not smooth --- there's perhaps a millimeter drop between one side and the other that of course the skirt can't completely seal onto , maybe that's it. But if you look at the part of the skirt that's supposed to seal onto the lip, it's just a stretchy cord inside plasticized fabric with a coating on it --- it's by no means completely watertight like a drysuit seal would be.
At first I thought if I wrapped a towel around the coaming it would help, and it holds it off for a while, but only til the towel becomes saturated, and I can't be bothered wringing out the towel every 15 minutes. I tried rain gear, but the water runs down my wrists and as soon as it starts getting my shirt wet and the wick effect distributes it all over my upper body. Even a single wave from a wake that puts the slightest slop of water in my lap ends up soaking my shirt also.

My question is: Would a better skirt (the neoprene skirts seem more expensive) help, or does everybody just accept getting wet as an integral part of paddling without a drysuit?

I used to use a nylon sprayskirt, but had the same problems. I switched to a neoprene sprayskirt a couple of years ago and the difference is night and day.

The cost is a bit more but you'll be pleased with the difference.

I agree with NOBUCKS a neoprene spray skirt is the way to go.
I tried a couple of different nylon skirts thinking they might be cooler, it can get hot in the south in summer.

OK, thanks guys, I'm on a real budget here and appreciate being able to confirm that the more expensive neoprene skirt is a worthwhile expenditure.

While neoprene is usually the drier route, what kind of kayak are you paddling? What's the cockpit size. Kokatat and Immersion Research both make very nice fabric sprayskirts that have either an arched or a foam stiffened deck that keeps the deck of the skirt convexed so as to shed water. Also keep in mind that there are half/half combinations of neoprene deck but fabric tunnel skirts that may achieve what you're looking for, which seems to be less drippage.


See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
http://www.the-river-connection.com

I had a similar problem but was wearing my skirt to low for it to drain as I am new to this.

I've used neoprene deck/nylon tunnel skirts for years (Quaser, Seal) and have been very pleased: very dry, virtually immune to being popped off by a big wave. As Marshall says, some makers have a fabric-decked skirt with a stiffening arch to shed water; Seal makes a good one also. But as I've indicated elsewhere, one must early on learn the moves to detach the skirt, especially if it's neoprene, from the coaming--you may have to pull the grab loop away from your body at first to get it started over the coaming.

As someone observed above, the neoprene skirt costs more, but is well worth the difference. Skirts that are wholly or partly made of nylon do not stretch like neoprene. Leaning or rotating can pop the skirt right off some poly boats, turning a move into a dunk. Some skirt makers like SnapDragon will make a custom skirt to fit any cockpit. Knowing your skirt is bomb-proof is reassuring. Popping the skirt off a poly boat is easier than an FG or composite cockpit rim, which is thin. It may be intimidating to remove a neo skirt from a longer cockpit, pulling the loop forward and up. I'm able to grab a handfull of neo on the side of the rim to easily pop it. Also, additional grab loops can be added on the side. New paddlers have drowned after they were unable to release their neo skirt following a capsize (Massachusetts 5-6 years ago). Practice this to your satisfaction before you paddle with a neo skirt. I've been satisfied with both Seal and SnapDragon neo skirts.

No rescue can be considered successful until the skirt is reattached, the excess water pumped out, and the boat is underway again. One thing I like about nylon is that it gives you the option of leaving the skirt on the boat should you have to wet-exit. Many a reenter-and-roll or other self-rescue has failed when the paddler couldn't reattach the skirt because conditions were too cold or rough.

I've never had a nylon skirt "pop off", even when trashed in surf, but that might be because I have a small "Ocean" cockpit on my '84 Nordkapp. Then again, having watched that wild Tsunami Ranger compilation video on YouTube, maybe the surf I encountered wasn't quite as gigantic or rough as I thought it was at the time....