Ripped Skirt.....Worth Fixing?

[JBL1026]

I recently ripped my skirt near the front of the cockpit on the lip. I have read about fixing them different ways. Does anybody have any suggestions on the best way or would i just be better off buying a new skirt. Do these fixes last long or is this something that going to contiue to get larger.

If that is the case what would be the best skirt on the market.

[Eric Esche]

Bring it to the NW Chapter meeting tonight, and I will take a look at it and tell you what I would do. Then you can get several other opinions and do what ever you like. I'll see if I can dig up a can of neoprene cement and some scrap neoprene and maybe we can do a repair there. If you have any fresh neoprene cement, bring it as I think all of mine is old. I'll go load the clamps now, and needle and floss.

Eric

[WoolyJR1]

I know the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach when you rip a skirt. I peeled mine off my boat about two years ago when we pulled under a carport with my boat on top of the truck with my skirt on it and my wet gear inside the boat. It put two large rips in my skirt, about 8 inches on each side. I sewed my skirt up with a needle and thread and then covered it in Aquaseal, lots of it. It takes a strong needle and a thimble and maybe even a pair of pliers. When I finished this skirt does pretty well, it only leaks just a little bit in the front. I have about two hours of my time repairing my skirt. It works really well for a skirt to use as a backup, or one to use in the pool, boatball, or for a loaner. I used it all summer long at the lake this summer without any trouble other than just a little water leaking in.

If you want to check in to new ones, check out Skirtworks.com They have some really cool products. These are some of the folks from Mountain Surf. I bought one of their skirts and am totally satisfied with this skirt.

Good luck,
J. R.

[JBL1026]

Sorry i couldn't make it to the meeting. I need to get more informed on what i need to do to join ACC. This is my first season kayaking and have found this sight very helpful. Thanks for the advice, I feel that I have the adequate information to make fix the rip. I did have a question about the clamps. With out these will the fix be as durable?

Thanks for the advice again,

Josh

[Eric Esche]

I did bring all my repair things to the meeting last night. Sorry you could not come, but no harm, no foul. I needed to track down all those things anyway, and now I have them gathered so I can do a repair more easily. I actually found an OLD skirt that I think is salvageble among my stacks, so I may tackle it some evening when I am bored or out of honey-dos, so I may soon have a spare Hollowform skirt. I'm a bad pack rat, but I believe in having spares and rarely throw anything out.

I use the clamps because I have found they sometimes make a difference, and my fingers are not as nimble as they used to be, and I have them. You do not NEED to have clamps, but they keep a constant pressure on a glue point, that can help while you are doing repairs.

Offer still open if you want to come up here some night and let me take a look at it. I do not care if you are a member or not, but we always welcome new members, and most folks say they did not realize how much fun it is to meet other paddlers.

You missed a nice gathering last night even if it did rain. We had about 6 new folks we had not seen before, and hope to start seeing on the river.

Eric

Send me a PM if you need phone numbers or directions.