: . . . I want to start looking for
: a spray skirt but im a little unclear as to the sizing of a spray skirt
: and I don't want to mail order one and it have issues. Also I want to find
: a good skirt for wet conditions since I plan to be ocean bound when the
: weather turns back to nice.

Start with a few measurements. Grab a tailors cloth tape measure and find the circumference of your cockpit coaming. While you are at it, find the length and width of the coamin, too. If length and width are the same, then you have a round opening. More likely you have an egg shaped or keyhole opening so it will be longer than it is wide.

Next measure yourself. Better yet, let someone take them for you. It will help you avoid the urge to pull the tape measure just a bit tighter so the numbers get closer to what you think they ought to be. Take several measurements from the belt line up to the rib cage.

If your boat is in a condition where you can sit inside it, put in the seat, or a few layers of folded towels to make up the height of the seat, and find how high the coaming comes. Again, it helps to have someone else handle the tape. That way you can sit upright while they get the numbers. Measure front back and sides. Measure from your lowest rib. The sprayskirt probably won't fit there exactly, but it is as good a reference point on your body as you can get.

There are some instructions on how to fit yourself into a sprayskirt at http://www.ehow.com/how_9931_fit-attach-spray.html

Now find a kayak store and go try on some sprayskirts. Take along your tape measure. First get the body size right. See how high they fit on your body and how they are sized. Don't expect a "large" in one brand to be anywhere near the same as a "large" from another brand. If you find several brands that fit, and seem to have adequate length to reach down to match the height of your coaming, then all you need to find is one that fits the coaming.

Start by measuring one of the kayaks on the floor and see how big its coaming is. If, by luck, it is the same circumference as yours, or fairly close, then you can use it to try out the various sprayskirts that fit you.

If you don't find what you want at the store, don't despair. There are a few sprayskirt makers who will take your measurements and match them to the designs they sell. Some will custom-make a sprayskirt for you. A search at www.google.com for "custom made sprayskirt kayak" (that is sprayskirt as one word) came up with a few good hits right at the top of the list. Spelling spray skirt as two words gives you many more links.

From that search I got a link to an article on sprayskirts in Canoe and Kayak magazine, which is online at: http://www.canoekayak.com/kayak/sprayskirtreviewdec06/

One of the companies listed is in upstate New York. "Road trip" is the phrase that comes to mind. The link to their site http://www.sealskirts.com is listed in the article, but if you click on it it jsut goes to a promo for the magazine. Copy it, instead for more info from this company. They have a sizing guide online at: http://www.sealskirts.com/sizing/sizing.php which will fit their products to commercial brands as well as Pygmy and CLC homebuilts, and they'll custom make ones for other homebuilts. I suspect that if you check the other companies listed in that article you'll find some similar help.

finally, you can make your own sprayskirt. (If you can stitch or glue wood into a boat you can stitch or glue fabric into a sprayskirt). his gives you the ultimate in fit and choce of fabric. The materials are going to be a fraction of the cost of a commercial sprayskirt, and it will take about an hour to cut and glue, or 1 to 2 hours to stitch if you are not familiar with a sewing machine. At that rate you can make three or four and have your choice for various paddling conditions.

Duane Strosaker has a nice set of illustrated instructions online at:
http://www.rollordrown.com/kayak/skirt.html

Shawn Baker has a description at: http://www.geocities.com/shawnkayak/sprayskirt/

Chris Cunningham has an article in his book "Building the Greenland Kayak : A Manual for Its Contruction and Use"

Or, if you want some personal instruction (and again a road trip) Head up to the North House Folk School (www.northhouse.org)and Mark Hansen will lead a class in making sprayskirts . Here is a blurb from their webpage of boat-building projects (http://www.northhousefolkschool.com/classes/BoatBuilding.htm) for the upcoming year.

- - - - - - -
Sew Your Own Spray Skirt
Mark Hansen
Session Options:
. . . 5/14/2008
The spray skirt is an essential item for any comfortable sea kayaking adventure. It’s designed to fit snugly around the cockpit coaming and the chest of the kayaker to prevent water from entering the cockpit in rough seas, high bracing and when rolling the kayak. In this course you create a version made of durable nylon customized both to your kayak’s cockpit size and your body. Waves ahead!

Course Details:
. . . Length in Days: 1
. . . Hours: 9am-5pm
. . . Tuition: $70
. . . Materials Fee: $20
. . . Level: Beginner
- - - - - - -

North House is located n Grand Marais MN, (About 100 miles NE of Duluth, or about 35 miles south of Canadian border) on the shore of Lake Superior, and at the foot of the Gunflint Trail leading into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Bring your kayak when you go and get the best of big water and calm lakes. Kayaking around Isle Royale is a big thing. By the way, there is a lodge in Lutsen, just south of Cascade River State Park campgrounds in Grand Marais, which has a fantastic cook. Best salmon I've ever had.

Hope this helps.

PGJ