Immersion Research Klingon Empire Sprayskirt

I stay continually amazed by the advances in materials, R & D, and attention to detail that have become standard in the world of high-end outdoor pursuit gear.

After I got in my Shiva, it became clear that I would need to invest in a new skirt as well.  My favorite IR Suparman skirt just did not fit on the boat's XL cockpit, so I had to resort to using an old BomberGear EZ -Fit that I still had.  This worked well enough, but the stitching was fraying and a couple of holes were getting worse each time I stretched it on the boat.  Then, I was happy I had gone ahead and ordered a new one, because my slide under the MJ rock on the Embudo ripped yet another hole clear through at the rim.

So anyway, after some research I decided on the new IR Klingon Empire.  Originally I had wanted to find a skirt with an implosion bar, but learned that many manufacturers are getting away from this feature. And here's what sold me on the Klingon: (apart from me being an old Treky) the wrapped bungee rand is coated right in the middle with an extra-sticky rubber to really lock onto the cockpit rim.

The Shiva (all three sizes) have a keyhole that measures 93 inches in circumference.  Skirtfit.com is a fantastic resource where you can find almost any boat's cockpit dimensions.  Use that info to dial in your next skirt size.  For IR, that equates to an XL keyhole.

First thing, I tried and succeeded in getting this skirt on the boat dry... a huge improvement and a real time saver in some situations.  I noticed also that it was actually a looser fit than I had expected.  I guess I was used to having to give myself a hernia getting my old skirts on.  On the other hand, I'm more confident I could release it with one hand if I was in a tricky spot.  When it's on though, it is rock solid.  I tried to push it in and pull it from all directions and I never could get the rim to budge.  I am completely confidant in this skirt's ability to stay on the boat.

IR makes both a Klingon, and the new Klingon Empire.  They both include the same principal of the sticky rubber on the rand, but the Empire includes a Kevlar abrasion resistant zone in the front.  The tunnel is very comfortable as well.  The neoprene there somehow seams stretchier than what was used in older skirts.  It makes for a good fit up in my drytop, but it doesn't feel tight.

So far, my new skirt has made it down Brown's Canyon, Pine Creek through Number 5.5, and the Bailey stretch of the N. F. of the South Platte.  I might walk MJ's next time I'm there just for concern of what that rock does to skirts...