Here’s a picture
http://www.snapdragondesign.com/images/products/recGlacierAllNylonYel.jpg
Snapdragon was pretty good about it…
The last time I ordered a skirt from them, I requested they include the strap and they included for no charge. I think that’s their standard practice and all you have to do is order the skirt from your dealer with the strap. No big deal.
Regarding whether it’s a knee strap or not, the Snapdragon strap is too loose and even if it’s tightened, I doubt it would work well since the Snapdragon sea kayak skirts are pretty flexible. In my whitewater skirt, it has an implosion bar as well as a strap so I’m pretty sure I could knee it out if I had to. I did have an old Riot skirt that actually had a functional knee strap and no grab loop. It was a very tight skirt and hte strap was tensioned in a way that lifting your knee would pop the skirt off.
Like mine…
– Last Updated: May-09-07 11:01 AM EST –
Great for holding a water bottle or chart case.
Really didn't know what it was for when I first got it..
IR skirts
IR skirts are fantastic. IMHO
Thanks
(prior post edited after more info)
I agree that the loops are too small to be useful for an adult with larger hands and thick gloves, though they are a useful size for the young person whose in that Seals skirt I saw. One person there thought they were supposed to be available to hook just a finger thru in a pinch, like maybe a thumb? They’d be on the borderline for me. One reason we were thinking that way is that the loops went fairly far back on this skirt, like to by his hips. But maybe I am remembering that wrong.
Works on mine
– Last Updated: May-10-07 7:58 AM EST –
Granted we are talking plastic boats, a used Piedra and Innazone 220 (on which the skirt is a good bit tighter). So the skirts may release more easily than on a glass boat. But I checked it out on both of the WW boats, that strap works fine to release. That's after I sent it back to Snapdragon for them to put in a heavier bungie too.
And I forgot - the styrap can be tightened, at least on mine. I have to change it a bit between the two WW boats.
Done !!
– Last Updated: May-09-07 7:43 PM EST –
Called Rutabaga. They're good. They have one in stock with the "knee" strap. It's on the way. Sweet!!
Thanks for all the info, including that it's an available option, though not widely advertized.
Paul S.
Appreciate the comment, Suz
I’ve done that now and then, just to try it. Works well on the trek skirts as it’s a rough textured surface that’s easy to palm. I wasn’t sure how it would work with gloves, as Celia alluded. My Glacier gloves are pretty tactile though with good grip and might work fine. I think I’ll try it 10 or 20 times to build confidence.
I still ordered the strap, as mentioned below. I need a new skirt now as I’m sick of water leaking through the tunnel, am only losing more weight, and have a big trip in a couple weeks. I’m still on a loaner DS without an overskirt, until my GMER comes in, or that would solve the problem, too.
If I don’t like the strap, I can always cut it off.
Paul S.
your experience and mine differs
I picked up the phone, called the number, got the main man, and talked to him about the details of my special order. You’re right though about having to go through a retailer. That’s only fair and standard practice.
likewise
it’s not widely advertized, but you can get snapdragon skirts WITHOUT the back-up safety strap too. That’s how I special ordered mine. Don’t like 'em. The way I look at it, it’s just one more thing to get caught on something on the way up the stern deck. We all have our preferences. It’s nice Snapdragon is willing to accomodate.
Now you tell me
bout the stern deck thing!
Actually, I tuck my spray deck up under my PFD before attempting a cowboy self rescue, or I end up sitting on it. Might possiby get caught when mounting from the side on a T rescue, too.
Good point, thanks.
Paul
huh?
one MORE thing to get tangled up…you’re adding this as a feature?
keep the grab loop free seems simple enough. if you do bone head it and slip it underneath, it would seem simple enough to pinch it off if you have to do so. worked on every boat i’ve ever tried it on.
Different schools…
– Last Updated: May-09-07 8:19 PM EST –
Whitewater folks usually hate anything that could snag or tangle. Touring folks usually like loops and clips and pockets for stuff. Folks who often paddle in cold water and/or wear gloves like having bigger things to grab. And so it goes...
Yup, verying points of view.
– Last Updated: May-09-07 8:19 PM EST –
I won't really know if I like the strap until I try it. Easier to order with it and cut it off later than order without it and try to add later.
I am a little paranoid about getting the spray deck off, which is what drove the initial interest.
As an after thought, some items might be better attached on the spray deck than the boat deck. Would not interfere with the paddle there. Also, when tucking, the item would maybe just push into my lap. I know, need to be minimalist about deck stuff. But maybe mini GPS, map holder, camera in water tight case. Dunno. We'll see.
edit: Wait, that last paragraph suggests more snag problems during a rescue. Map holder and little Foretrex GPS should be ok. Maybe not a camera case.
Paul S.
I must hang with the wrong crowd…
I’ve never seen anybody use these…
I do have friends who devise internal seat belts, with knee suicide blocks and extra rubber tire rands to keep the skirt on no matter what…
synonyms for “stuff
on deck”
flotsam
jetsam
debris
You answered your own question
– Last Updated: May-09-07 11:34 PM EST –
Skirts like the Glacier Trek and Sea Trek are not "tight fitting". If they are, you have the wrong size deck.
I can get mine (Glacier - before they added the strap) off one handed (and on if I had to), with or without the grab loop. The strap is nice - for other things mentioned - but not needed on these as they need not be as agressive fitting as some WW skirts with reinforced rands.
Good points about gloves changing things.
Better points about the snag potential.
Just don't exit/reenter except launching/landing and it's all good! ;)
I wish I’d known that
I have two older SD skirts, both without the strap. When I bought a new one, it came with the strap, which I did not order.
I don’t like it. It hasn’t actually caused any problem yet; I just don’t need it and straps that don’t fill a real need make me leery.
Best thing about that strap is it is reflective. Could be a safety aid for that reason.
I was thinking it might be useful for attaching a map case to. I guess I’m trying to create a “real need” for the strap. But right now it’s an answer that didn’t have a question.
Yup… I Am One Of 'Em…
– Last Updated: May-10-07 7:23 AM EST –
Suicide knee blocks locked in with pvc tubing across the cockpit for reinforcement, seat belt installed to prevent accidental exits, and hard as hell to get on/off Mountainsurf skirt.
Then I discovered waveskis... Thanks goodness... No stinkin' skirt needed or implosions to worry about... :)
sing
PS. I have had two spray skirts with the straps across. Just happened to come with the boats I bought. My opinion... Unnecessary, but it sells to those with doubts in their minds.
Skirt w/pocket
Wildwasser has this and I think I just saw someone else off it too. I wouldn’t advise the strap on Snapdragon’s skirt for ongoing storage of things, it’s just not suited. But Wildwasser etc does have a skirt with a small pocket on the deck, zippered I thing, that wouldn’t leave any edges available to grab on things.
As to cowboy re-entries, I have yet to master that one. Just about anything else is faster and better for me. But I would agree that in general you’d want to tuck the skirt under the PFD fist. Even without the strap the grab loop itself could get caught on the end of the elfen boats I paddle, and once you are sitting on the skirt at all things are likely to move along a bit less smoothly. I am not sure that the strap adds a lot of issue all by itself.