C-Forum

Im having problems with my skirt popping off. If I miss my first roll I usually fall out of my boat with out pulling the cord. I know just make the first roll and this wont happen, but has anyone else had this problem?

the problem is that a C!er is positioned a bit further forward in the cockpit compared to where the yakker was. The tunnel in a standard yak skirt is therefore too far back, creating excessive tension which can cause the skirt to blow off. Depends on the cockpit rim design/shape and tunnel offset.
Your best be is to order a custom skirt with a C1 specific tunnel offset.
Monuntain Surf, SkirtworkS and Snapdragon will build custom skirts for you.

http://www.mountainsurf.com/
http://www.skirtworks.com/
http://snapdragondesign.com/

TGG!

What he said; I have a Custom IR deck with forwards tube.

How much will a custom made, reasonably good quality skirt cost from Snapdragon?
Also, a not custom, all neoprene whitewater Snapdragon skirt runs about $100... a not custom, all neoprene Seals skirt for $150, is that enough better to justify the huge markup over Snap Dragon skirts? Is it better at all? I've used both brands though I wasn't paying attention to the quality at the time, and while I wasn't looking closely neither one stood out as better... would a Seals skirt last a LOT longer or is it just priced higher because its a more well known name or something and they can get away with it?

Seals is more expensive because they're well known; I don't actually rate them.

IR was $117 including shipping.

I can't talk about snap dragon presonally, but I just observed that my MS skirts are a lot dryier and last a lot longer than most other skirts that my friends use. I also have never had an MS skirt come off, as opposed to other skirts.
I will be an MS customer for life.

I have onbe skirtwerks skirt, which I would rate on par with the MS skirts.

Bottom line is, you get what you pay for. Fit, materials, workmanship.

TGG!

Just get into an OC and all your problems are gone.

my Snapdragon was dry and fit nice, but it blew off a couple of times. I now use a Mountain Surf and have not had a single problem in three years. Good stuff.

I had snapdragon make a custom skirt for my Fink. Fit is really good. I have not put it to the test in a hole to see if I can get it to blow, but I doubt it will. Cost was $116 including tax (I picked it up at NRS - 8 miles away). I think it was less than 2 weeks between sending in the outline of the cockpit rim and having the skirt.

I'm sure the others are good too.

Marc

Which may point to a boat design difference as much as skirt quality - the Fink, and other "real" C-1s have a good bit smaller cockpit than modern kayaks (esp creekers) which means less surface area for the skirt - less area for water to pile up on.

[From what I understand, that thinking has influenced British sea kayak design (largely based on Greenland boats) - they see smaller cockpits as a safety feature as there is less likelihood of having your deck imploded by a wave. The ones I've tried (i,e, Nordkapp) weren't that hard to get in as the cockpit is angled a bit (up at the front, down at the back) and you slide forward into the boat.]

I've had a snapdragon liplock for a couple years and it is great. i've never had it implode and I've frequently paddled big water using the skirt on my big ez which has a smaller cockpit than the boat I purchase it for originally. It's been great on my remix, also. Very dry and durable!

I am thinking of getting a "real" C1 skirt one day, but for now use an harmony LC-1. those are cheap and all neoprene so they kind of fit good even if they are not middle tunnel they adjust easily. probably not as dry though but hey, a stop to empty the boat also helps stretching your legs!

I've used a Snapdragon C custom skirt on a converted Prion Delerious and never had a problem. Ran the Lower G and rode every hole, skirt never came off.

Mick

I also use a snapdragon and have had no issues.Great customer
service,i had mine inside of a week.I'm sure at this time of year you could have it pretty quick,tell 'em the boat and it's a c-1 and you're good to go.You can even have 'em add a pink grab loop(or whatever your colour is) to accessorize!!!