spanish fly skirt

paleoC1r · Post by **paleoC1r** » Thu Feb 12, 2004 11:11 pm

Has anyone put a skirt on the Spanish Fly? I love the boat for creek'n but higher volume runs are too wet. I talked to Mtn Surf and they say about $350 for that big a skirt. Is it too much to ask for a comfy C1 for big guys?

Judd · Post by **Judd** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:02 am

for a big guys c1, check out the finkenmeister... http://www.cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php?t=2170

I've never tried a skirt on a boat that big, but I'd be afraid of all that surface area making it easier for the skirt to cave on you. Getting full of water might not be an issue, but 2 or 3 feet of neoprene on front and back will get in your way rolling, and paddling. Not to mention if you have to swim with it.

I'd look to the finkenmeister or some of the big creek boats. the H3 and M3 both come in roughly the size of an aircraft carrier.

the great gonzo · Post by **the great gonzo** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 12:26 am

I can only second Judd's statement about the Finkenmeister, I have one since last fall and I love it!
I would also agree with Judd's concern about such a large spray skirt caving in.
If you want to keep using the Spanish Fly for creeking, you should consider using an electric bilge pump. I have one in my Pyranha Prelude and it is great when running continuous rapids, and will cost you only a fraction of what the spcecial skirt would set you back.

martin

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 4:59 am

I have an aftershock. At over 200# it also is very wet. I made a epoxie/glass deck that bolted on with an opening that could take a standard kayak skirt.

Kind of weird but was very nice and dry. you always had an easy paddling light boat. Super stable C1! For biger creeky rivers punching small holes that are on line to punch the main hole or boofs, I found the aftershock would be slowed downtoo much and hard to excellerate on line in the hairy stuff. The boat was too wide and short. I am now c1 a kayak creeker.
I think the spanish fly holds a line and is much faster than the dagger and should be much better.
The finky sounds great if you can find one (and pay for it). A skirt on the fly sounds cool. Keep air bags and bulkhead up tight under it to help it NOT cave in. I only wonder if the outer lip (gunwales?) is pronounced enough to hold the skirt. Around here Brooks is way cheaper than Mountain Surf.
ONLY DEAD FISH GO WITH THE FLOW
tim
CUthere

Jan_dettmer · Post by **Jan_dettmer** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 5:30 am

Yea, make a bloody C1 out of that beautiful OC

Don't think the deck would cave in because of what Tim said (airbags under it). But it could be hard for the skirt to stay on on the sides.
That is a general problem with super long cockpits. It makes physical sense, too. On a long cockpit, the pressure of the skirt on the gunnels of the SF could be not high enough (the optimal shape of a cockpit is---yes, round, like in C1

)

I know Tims AS. The deck looks wiered but it works. That might be a better way to do it. Maybe at the same weight and price?

O yea, make sure to put a super long grab loop on the skirt

Good luck, Jan

Craig Smerda · Post by **Craig Smerda** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 5:52 am

....talk about a potentially UGLY swim in the wrong situation...

Leave it open or buy a C1. There was someone working on a adapter cover that had a K1/C1 ring for a sprayskirt at one point... concensus= too much to produce for minimal return on the 'moola.

I've ran these boats down some ugly stuff, and they are very dry... adjust your paddling style.. they ain't no Ocoee or hole buster... but when you use them "right" they will reward you like any other boat. If you need a dryness gaurantee... get a C1

Enjoy!

James · Post by **James** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 3:58 pm

I had considered this for my old skeeter, would be really useful for the kind of continuous rivers you are likely running.

I had thought about cutting up a suitable kayak with large cockpit rim, taking enough of the boat from the cockpit outwards to cover the whole open area, then using a regular sprayskirt. Sounds like the poster using a homemade version has done roughly the same thing.

I'd say if you really like the way the boat handles, go for a major modification. But I DEFINITELY would not want to swim with several feet of neoprene skirt around my legs.

I miss some of the characteristics of my skeeter when I paddle my wavesport Y conversion. My saddle was much higher in the skeeter, and the boat was longer, both of which felt good in some situations.

paleoC1r · Post by **paleoC1r** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:00 pm

Great suggestions... Where do you get a light weight electric bilge? Also the fiberglass cover is an interesting idea. Does that need a nylon or kevlar layup for stiffness? Would you put a gasket between the glass and the plastic?

It is great to hear from other OC1/C1 freaks. As for the neoprene skirt, I was thinking about velcro around the waist for wet exit there. The skirt would stay on the boat. Side skirt implosion was the concern that kept me from following that line.

As for changing my paddling style... holes have a gravitation pull over me and nothing quite like a whitewater facial from a breaking haystacks... somebody stop me!

the great gonzo · Post by **the great gonzo** » Fri Feb 13, 2004 10:28 pm

.
As for the pump, that's the one I use:

http://www.attwoodmarine.com/Products/p ... ccessories

Cost about can$45, so should be about 30 in the US. You should be able to get it at any marine supply store. I use a 12 V (make sure it is 12 V only!) power tool battery as power supply, it lasts me usually for a full weekend. You will also need a waterproof battery case and a switch, and if you want to go all out, you can even usa a float switch as I did

.
I got everything at Canadian Tire.You should definitely be able to build a simple (no float switch) system for under US$100.

martin

Tim · Post by **Tim** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 8:10 am

As for a gasket, I laid some foam weather strip around before mounting the deck and finished it off with a band of duct tape.
As for swims, just like any C1.
CUthere

Tim

chuck naill · Post by **chuck naill** » Sat Feb 14, 2004 1:23 pm

Mr Paleo,
I think what Craig is saying is to adjust how you paddle for the type of boat you have. Boofing became popular with kayakers after I started paddling. As an open boater we tried to avoid the stuff they were plowing in to.

I used the SF on the Ocoee last year when it was running really high, around 2600-2900 cfs. Needless to say I filling up often, but I still felt that the boat was stable even in that state.

However, I did plan for a full boat after a rapid so I could get to the side and dump out.

I would suggest having two boats available. I love the SF, but use a c boat in the Winter or on more continuous rivers.

However, I was wondering if a sea kayak spray skirt would at least provide some water shedding. I would think that they are pretty large.

Regards,
Chuck/Tennessee

PaleoC1r · Post by **PaleoC1r** » Mon Feb 16, 2004 7:42 pm

I agree Chuck... Why limit your self to one boat! (like golf clubs). I just love the SF and can't seem to jump back in my old Phoenix C1, Mad River ME, Mad River Fantasy or Dagger Legend. The SF is very stable with water but just too sssllllooowww on pushy runs. Thanks for all the comments. I going to chop up an old kayak and try the bolt-on method. The Sanishfly is mutating!

mel · Post by **mel** » Tue Feb 17, 2004 4:55 pm

myself, i use over-size air bags which are higher than the side of the boat (makes for easier rolls and sheding water) and have the area around my hips filled with minicell foam (acting like chocks) to keep my hips in contact with the boat. the minicell idea made me thinking of decking the boat with a foam deck but then it wouldn't be a open boat anymore? more foam and air bags = less water.
always thought the idea of golf clubs good, would not play a course with one club, different boat for different river or play
mel

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