What is a Spraydeck and a Sprayskirt on a Packraft?

If you’re new to packrafting, you’ve probably come across the term spraydeck and sprayskirt wondered what it means.

A spraydeck is a waterproof covering that’s permanently attached to the packraft. It spans across the cockpit with an opening for the paddler to sit in, creating a barrier that prevents most water from splashing inside. Around the entry hole is a plastic ring known as a coaming or combing ring. The coaming ring adds a little rigid lip for the sprayskirt to attach to. Spraydecks are especially common on whitewater packrafts.

sprayskirt. A sprayskirt is the wearable component. It’s like a waterproof apron with a snug tunnel that seals around your waist that you wear under your lifejacket. The sprayskirt connects to the coaming ring on the spraydeck of the packraft, forming a tight, water-resistant connection between paddler and boat.

This design prevents splashes, rain, or waves from filling your boat with water, keeping you drier, warmer, and more comfortable.

There are a few key benefits of a spraydeck:

• Keeps You Dry: Perfect for whitewater or rough weather where splashes are constant.

• Improves Efficiency: Less water in your boat means better performance and control. Spraydecks are also faster than self-bailing packrafts with less drag.

• Adds Warmth: By sealing off the cockpit, a spraydeck helps retain body heat on cold adventures.

For those venturing into whitewater or paddling in unpredictable weather, a spraydeck is a game-change, turning a simple packraft into an all-season, all-condition adventure craft.

With the sprayskirt attached you will stay very dry, but a small amount of water can still get in through the connection points.

We have 3 packrafts with spraydecks:

Our Rogue R-Deck has a removable spraydeck where you can zip it on for class 1-2 rapids or zip the deck off to make it an open boat to save some weight when hiking up to lakes.

Our Nirvana Spraydeck has a fixed spraydeck which keeps more water out compared to the Rogue R-decks spraydeck

Lastly our Recon Spraydeck which also has a fixed spraydeck like the Nirvana.

We have 2 spray skirts:

Our Alpine Ultralight Sprayskirt is great for lakes and class 1-2 whitewater. It is lighter and stretchy making it easy to get on and off.

Our Delta Whitewater Sprayskirt is thicker and tougher with a grippy rand that connects to the coaming ring better ensuring a better seal to keep more water out. The Delta sprayskirt is best for class 2-4 whitewater rapids.