Spray Skirts, Spray Decks, Sun Decks and Cockpit Covers
What do you call them? A deck or a skirt?
Whatever you call them they are intended to keep out the splashes and waves when kayaking and assist with rolling so that your kayak is not filling up as you recover. They keep the sun off your legs and the warmth in. They are seldom completely waterproof and far from perfect! When learning to kayak or flat water, you don’t necessarily need to wear (or engage) a spraydeck. They do become necessary when paddling moving water and in sea conditions.
Everyone has a different idea of their use and how tight they should be. White water/ moving water paddlers need a bombproof spraydeck that will not implode in challenging conditions. For sea kayaking, depending on the conditions you paddle, it should still be a quite firm fit - and not implode in waves and you need to be able to get the spraydeck on and off without difficulty whether upside down or right way up or inside out!
Getting a good fit on your spraydeck depends on the coaming shape & size
Ideally, for the best fit, your spraydeck should be made specifically for your cockpit. We can organise custom spraydecks and cockpit covers for you. You can make contact to discuss your needs. More details below.
Composite (fibreglass/kevlar/carbon fibre) and ABS (lightweight thermoform) kayaks have a thinner cockpit coaming, holding the deck more securely than a rounded polyethylene coaming (rotomolded plastic). They are less likely to implode when a large volume of water impacts the spraydeck surface. A polyurethane strip under the outer edge will help secure a neoprene spraydeck on a rotomolded rim, making it less likely to slip off - this is only available for custom spray decks.
Coaming shapes that have very long straight edges along the sides will usually result in leakage - there is nothing for the elastic to grip so there is actually a gap where the water can gain entry. There is nothing much you can do about this - if this is your cockpit shape and your custom spraydeck leaks the bungee can be tightened but it will still probably leak. The ideal shape of cockpit coaming is more curved as the bungee can grip all the way around the curved surface.
Very large cockpits (>1m long) on recreational kayaks are not designed for spraydecks. These kayaks are designed for flat water paddling or on estuaries, slow moving rivers or lakes (when the conditions have no wind!). They are not designed to be paddled in waves (don’t do it!) so you do not actually need a spraydeck (get a Sun deck instead). Very large spraydecks are harder to reach to put on and release (how long are your arms?) - don’t be in the habit of releasing you deck with your knees. If you capsize in waves with one of these types of kayaks it will be very difficult to empty and recover - they are not suited to those conditions.
Cockpit covers
Cockpit covers are designed to reduce wind turbulence when driving with your kayak on the roof - reducing fuel consumption. They are also intended to keep out the creepy crawlies and windblown sand when you are in camp.
When driving, we use a length of bungee & olive clip to hold onto the cockpit cover loop - just in case! For kayaks with very large cockpits (>1m) it is better to have some loops built into the cover so that tie-downs can be attached and looped under the kayak, further securing the cover, otherwise the down-pressure while driving can cause it to implode and if undetected, may tear away and disappear.
Materials
Spray decks and cockpit covers are available in different fabrics:
Neoprene: The most commonly seen fabric for spray decks and cockpit covers. They are durable - lasting 3-5 years depending on use. Kevlar rims can increase their longevity. Water usually seeps through even with quite new spraydecks.
Aquatherm: A very light, compact, breathable polyurethane fabric. It is much more waterproof than neoprene but degrades with use and abrasion (assisted rescues!). Lifespan 2-4 years with care. Great for people allergic to neoprene.
Nylon: Use either for the whole spraydeck or just in the waist tube (Combi Deck) for a cooler fit in hot climates or for people allergic to neoprene. Not very waterproof and tend to be a looser fit so only suitable for flat water paddling. Useful in hot climates to keep the sun and rain off. Also available as a half-deck / Sun Deck.
Reed Chillcheater Spraydecks stocked for popular brands, custom builds and some generic sizes.
Electric Water Spray decks and cockpit covers - stocked for Mirage and custom made to order.
Electric Water half deck to keep the sun off when flat water paddling. Great for the Massive Murray Paddle.
Maximise the longevity of your deck with proper care:
Do not leave your deck stored in the car. It gets very hot and can actually melt the heat-activated glue used in neoprene decks, as well as degrade the fabric more rapidly.
Rinse in fresh water after use and dry in the shade
Be aware of your size - a too small waist tube puts the fabric under tension, shortening its lifespan. In an aquatherm deck this may lead to delamination of the fabric.
Have the correct size deck for your kayak and wear it high. When donning your deck, pull it over the narrower of your hips or shoulders so as to not overstretch.
Custom Spray decks and Cockpit Covers
For the best fit we recommend having a custom cover or deck made. It is worth the wait! Generic spray decks and cockpit covers are just about our most returned/exchanged item. Generic covers such as Sea to Summit Flexifit Spray decks and Road Trip cockpit covers, and the Reed Chillcheater series of generics (Keyhole A, B, C, Plastic, Low Volume, Ocean B, Big Touring) are made to suit a range of sizes but you will often find they don’t quite fit your kayak - the Size Guide is a guide only and there is no such thing as a ‘standard’ cockpit. Aside from the length & width dimensions, factors that affect fit include:
coaming shape (and hence circumference) - is it keyhole, oval and some have wide corners at the back
coaming thickness - rotomolded coaming (PE plastic) are thick and the cover has to fit over this thickness
position of the backrest (for spray decks) - usually about 10cm is allowed for the distance between the backrest and the rear edge of the coaming.
When order a custom spraydeck / cover, send your template at around the same time - in your order please add a note in the Comments box that you have sent a template. See our Youtube for how to make a Template.
What to make the template from:
For Electric Water neoprene covers, please use sturdy plastic such as an orange Multix garbage bag.
For Reed Chillcheater aquatherm covers please transpose your plastic tracing onto paper. Plastic sheet cannot be sent as a letter - customs classes it as a parcel even if it is flat in an envelope & we would have to pay over $40 to send! Please trace your template on to paper - if we have to do it for you this will delay the posting of the template to the UK and may delay your order.