: I got a spray skirt given to me the other day, and since I don't
: have one and want to learn to roll this is a good thing.
: The boat I have is a guillemot with the standard size coming, I
: believe it is 30x17.
: The spray skirt is a brooks neoprene and the size on the tag says
: " for cockpits 35x19.5"
: I have tightened the bungee as much as I can and it is a tight fit
: front and back
: The center of the skirt, like above my lap is droopy, and if I push
: down on it I can pop the sides off the coaming.
: is the center supposed to be tight side to side?
: I don't know anything about how a skirt is supposed to fit or how
: tight it should be along the sides on the coaming, so I would
: like some knowledge instilled on me if you all don't mind.
: I have not been on the water with it on the boat yet.

: I hope this will work for me cause I can't afford to buy one right
: now and would really like to learn how to roll and whatnot, but
: I don't want to be unsafe while trying to learn.

: Thanks
: Dave g

I bought a used spray skirt at a gear swap for ten dollars- its an older snapdragon with a thick cover and a nylon waist gasket that has a cinchable bungee and shoulder strap. It seemed a little loose so I tightened it up and had the waist gasket cinched high to make a tent-like profile for shedding water. It worked great! Until I took a rolling class and found that, with significant twisting the sides would separate from the coaming and let water in. The Greenlandic instructor had me LOOSEN the top. I dispensed with the suspender strap and cinched it lower on my waist. A little water will sit above my lap, but the spray skirt stays tight on the cockpit, now.

The most important thing is that you can get the thing off with one hand while upside-down holding your breath underwater with your eyes closed holding your paddle with your other hand.