Coaming Size

Submitted bybug_hunter onThu, 03/05/2020 - 15:08
Forums
Kayak Building

Afternoon All,

I'm in the middle of my first wood strip kayak build.  About to put he fiberglass on the hull.  

I came across someone selling a couple spray skirts, and thought it might be a good idea to size the coaming to fit a standard size skirt.  Anyone have an idea of the dimensions of the Seals brand Inlander 1.7 and the Inlander 7.0 skirt?  I tried to contact Seals, and they are non-responsive.  Hard to believe a company can stay in business with that type of customer service.

Thanks a lot,

Greg

Brian Nystrom

Thu, 03/05/2020 - 19:23

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Altering a boat design in order to utilize a specific accessory just because someone is selling it cheap (I assume) seems like a classic case of "putting the cart before the horse". What's more important to you, a boat that functions as it was designed or getting a spray skirt at a discount?

Skirts are available in a wide range of sizes, so if you're going to resize your coaming it should be to fit your body.

Spray skirts last for years, so even if you pay full price, it's only going to amount to a difference of a few bucks per year. OTOH, used spray skirts may be damaged, leaky and/or have bungee that's deteriorated.

FWIW, nylon skirts like the two you mentioned are notorious for leaking even when they're new and the 7.0 looks like something designed for a rec boat.

JohnAbercrombie

Thu, 03/05/2020 - 19:40

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I have sized the coamings on my boat to match a common boat - the NDK Romany.

It's a shape I like and I can get my feet in and out of the boat.

 

Getting a skirt to fit a Romany is easy as they are so common. BTW, the Seals Shocker 1.7 neoprene skirt fits the Romany.

 

For Seals skirt dimensions, try:

https://www.sealsskirts.com/sizing/sizing.php