Barbara Ryan

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions David, Ed, Jim, Mike and Prudence. I agree with you- I will use two hands and try to keep my paddle somewhere, maybe under my arm. OMG Joe!!!! I am having to tell myself to BREATHE as I held my breath during your entire story!! That IS a FRIGHTENING and POWERFUL account! I am soooo glad that Plan C worked and I really appreciate you sharing your reflections: thought process and conclusions. I totally agree with your that "Bottom line" is to practice, practice, practice the "tried and true" technique! I went out and sat in my boat in the yard and practiced that many times after reading your post. I am now finding that if I lean as far forward as possible- fold myself in half, then I CAN pull the loop forward and up freeing my skirt. I just have to lean WAY farther forward than in my Avocet and even the Tempest. All good! I do need to practice in the pool now too. Until now I didn't really think about the differences in wet exits from the various skirts and coamings in my little fleet. I am really glad that Jim noticed that I was having such a hard time getting my skirt of my Cetus, and then Prudence told me that my snap dragon deck was too small and now I am learning the importance of practicing in EACH of my boats and skirts, even with the proper size deck skirt. What a cautionary tale and an important thread and lesson to have in our Forum archives. I am grateful and looking forward to our next paddle. Barb

I will practice for sure! But as Ed said, this issue may have more to do with my reach. I am about 4'11' and it is challenging for sure to reach beyond the front edge of my coaming on my Cetus LV (which I otherwise and loving!). I plan to clean her tomorrow and will get in a practice and see what I can make happen about getting out. Thanks Ed and David! This is an important subject.

I learned yesterday upon returning to our Little Mystic launch after Prudence's terrific "New Year's Day 2024 Paddle" with 17 or our awesome friends, that even with the LARGER deck of the Seals 1.4 that I was wearing since learning that my Snap Dragon Med. deck is too small, that I STILL can't get enough forward reach to get my skirt off at all with one hand, grabbing the loop, and only got it off with 2 hands after two tries. I am thinking about gluing some sort of rubber strip under the cockpit lip, maybe 12" in length, so that the skirt isn't fitting as deep in that area. What do you think?

I learned alot from this post (having come upon it as I am researching the archives looking for handheld and deck compass suggestions. Need both! ) I have to say that I am tickled with the diversity of your responses of ways of getting stuff to work! 😆. What a great team!

I am signed up too and looking forward to seeing everyone. Thanks Prudence!

This is great info.: how to do it myself and how to get it done for me. Thanks so much Janet and Joe! Btw: I found and bought this skirt online last night (right size, new but needing repair) and was super excited and then received an email that there had been a mistake and it was already sold. sigh. Now we know how to fix them tho. I love this group!

Thanks Mike. And thanks for the links too David. I would like to use Outdoorplay to get the 15% break ("". Thanks Mike H.). I am not seeing on topkayaker or Outdoorplay how to order the 6" tunnel and their messaging is off so I will keep trying to contact them. I am also not sure what size tunnel I should get having only used the velcro tunnel cause my son's smalls are way, way to tight. I've no waist so sitting w clothes on and especially my drysuit I'm probably gonna need a Large tunnel. If anyone is coming to Prudence's New Year paddle who has a Seals skirt- medium or Large, may I please just try it on for fit?

I have a horseshoe shaped tear in the nylon part of a Snap Dragon tunnel (velcro style) sprayskirt. Reading past posts from 2009 Aquaseal was recommended for repairing a tear in a sprayskirt. Gearaid recommends Aquaseal FD for permanent repairs. Gearaid also recommends tenacious tape. I am tempted to use the Aquaseal first and when set and dry use the TT and then put a cute sea themed patch over that. Maybe of a mola mola. Your experience and suggestions greatly appreciated.

I'm interested too! Fingers crossed for good weather.

Really appreciate you sharing your experiences and suggestions Joe, David, Sue and Jim! Thanks for the link Jim. I'm on it!

It has become clear that my beloved Snap Dragon glacier trek skirt (with the awesome, comfy velcro tunnel) with a Medium deck is too small for me to get off of my Cetus LV in a timely manner. I have tried the "pull forward and up" technique and it still takes several tries to get it off and it's wicked hard to get on. What are your favorite skirts for your Cetuses? I'm not gonna paddle her again til I get a safe skirt. sigh.😟 Thanks Friends! Barb

Unfortunately already booked but I sure would come if I could. This is now one of my favorite freshwater paddles! Similar to gorgeous Squam but closer. Have fun!

Jim, can you please remind us of where exactly we would be parking and the arrival and launch times?

Jim, can you please remind us of where exactly we would be parking and the arrival and launch times?

Will try to arrange schedule to join you!

WOWZA BILL!!!!! ?

Looks good from here!

This was another “Best day/best paddle ever” thanks to your planning David and each of you being so terrific to explore and be with. Already looking forward to next time. ? Barb

Looking forward to seeing you too Peter!

Thanks John. I'll be there!

Welp- hate to bail on the paddle but every time I look at the forecast it deteriorates. It went from "Showers" to "RAIN RAIN RAIN" from 8 am - 8 pm. Susan R and I are carpooling from the southern lands so we will forego the paddle but SEE YOU AT THE PARTY at 4:00! ? ?

Thanks Nancy, Prudence and Deborah.

I'm interested! Checking to see if there is a place to stay Tuesday night in the area. Any suggestions?

Yipee! I also l thank you for organizing this, when you can, Joe. I will look forward to joining you.

Sounds like a great exploration! Unfortunately I'm booked already for Sat. but hope you go and have a terrific time!