Will I need a skirt for my kayak?

Question

We are planning on going down the lower Guadalupe river this weekend. The website states that it has class I and II rapids. Will I need to purchase a skirt for my kayak or will I be OK without one?

Answer 1

Look. Face it. Theres just no way to make a kayak s**y. I dont know. Maybe if you got it some silver hoop oar rings too.

Answer 2

Class one? Certainly not.  

Class two, maybe.  It depends on your boat is it very wet?  Does it ride low? Creek boat vs Squirt etc.  You are looking for free board or the distance between waterline when you sit in it and the hole your sittin in, when you are sitting in it.  Some boats are more "recreational" and less apt to take in a lot of water.  Some boats expect you to know how to roll them and they will be very wet, the deck might even be awash most of the time, Im guessing just by the fact that you are asking that you cant roll and they aren't going to put you in a boat that requires one.  If they do they will give you one.  If you are worried or claustrophobic, dont be.  You will NOT get stuck in your boat.  Its a very easy and fun sport in that kind of smooth water.

I seakayak more than river and my boat, in warm water like FL's doesnt need a skirt.   Ill just wet exit, climb back in and pump it out.  Now I live in WA and the water is SERIOUSLY cold.  When I get a new boat Im not going out w/out the skirt.

Rivers vary with the ease of which you can get to shallows and dump then relaunch.  But I, II only is pretty light. You could easily just canoe that and while the canoes might have air bags that fill in space and add floatation, they obviously aren't  gonna be decked.

No worries, Have fun!

Answer 3

If this is the Lower Guadalupe in TX, then yes.  Please check the American Whitewater website. I've included it in the body of this message.  It lists rapids as II-III and you will need a skirt, even for a recreational kayak.  You'll take on some water without it and depending on the water temp, may end up on the chilly side.  I'm a whitewater kayaker. I've taken all kinds of craft on the water and I recommend it.   Wish I could get mine to you as I don't flatwater paddle so much anymore.  Depending on who controls the river (I have lots of Forest Service people patrolling the ones I paddle), you may also require a helmet.  Personally, I won't paddle without one.

Also, to be on the safe side, you do need to know how to exit your boat in case you were to flip over. It's called a wet exit and it's helpful to have done it a couple of times before getting on the river.  A roll is not necessary for you at this time.  Take your boat out on the lake, take a deep breath, flip over and push yourself out of it.  Make sure you're wearing your PFD and have a friend handy to help.

Have a wonderful time out on the river. Be safe. Stick together and help those in need.  

AW has lots of great information, pictures, rapid details, and directions.  I use them very often.

http://www.americanwhitewater.org/conten...

Answer 4

You need a skirt for any class of rapids.

Answer 5

yes i would def. get one

Answer 6

if i was going on any water i'd wear my spray deck but that's just so i can get a bit of play in. if you don't have one but are a confident grade 2/3 paddler then you won't need to buy one. but i recommend you do coz you'll get use out of it

Answer 7

yes you need a skirt i did the guadalupe last summer and it was fun but you need to wear a skirt and pfd  a helmet

Answer 8

well u dont need a shirt but you dont wanna get sun burn