Best Kayak Cockpit Covers (Top 5 Picks) in 2022
Are you ready to find the best kayak cockpit covers? Well, you have come to the right place!
In this buying guide, we have collated everything you need to know about cockpit covers, materials, reviews, and more so that you can discover what sort of cover you are after.
First of all, a cockpit cover is an essential piece of equipment for any sit-in kayakers, but if you are part of the sit on top kayaker persuasion, this buying guide is generally not relevant to you, so don’t feel the need to read on... unless you’re just a big fan of kayak accessory buying guides!
What Is A Kayak Cockpit Cover?
Not to be confused with a spray skirt or spray deck, which is used to protect you from water getting in and swamping your boat, causing it to lose buoyancy and can add the risk of a kayak capsizing easier.
A cockpit cover is designed to be used when the kayak is not in use. It's meant to protect the cockpit when in transit or when in storage.
Why Do You Need A Cockpit Cover?
It may seem like an extra accessory you don't really need to spend money on, investing in a cover. However, there are many benefits of a kayak cockpit cover.
It not only protects the kayak from the elements should you choose to keep your kayak outside, but also protects it from any dirt getting in or any unwanted insects or creatures moving into a dry new home.
The cockpit can also be a great place to keep your kayaking gear if you have a cockpit cover, just keep the kit all inside the kayak cockpit and pop the cover on top like a handy lid.
How To Choose The Right Cover?
Size and Fit
The sizes may vary when considering different brands, and therefore it will be necessary to measure the width and length of your kayak cockpit beforehand. Some brands might claim to fit many different cockpit sizes, kind of like a one size fits all cover, but others are more specific.
If you plan on traveling with your kayak you will want to make sure a snug fit. Some cockpit covers will have better straps that might be more of a tight fit. When trying to find the best cockpit cover, it might become apparent that there are covers specifically designed for traveling which should have more of a snug fit whereas others are solely designed for storage.
Materials
Most cockpit covers need to be waterproof, especially if you wish to keep it outdoors or transported on top of the car. This is why many cockpit covers are made from either nylon or neoprene.
Neoprene is thicker than nylon and more resistant to damage just like a wetsuit but lacks the water resistance that nylon provides. Although neoprene is tight and unlikely to easily come off.
Water Resistance
The best cockpit covers should be waterproof but only needs to be impenetrable the water if you have to keep the kayak outside.
There are loads of cockpit covers out there that are not completely waterproof so it's important to decide what you need and check this out before purchasing.
Clip or Cord
To clip or not to clip? That is the question.
Usually, cockpit covers will come with a set of cords to minimize movement. Some bungee cords go all the way around the hull, which ensures extra stability to the cockpit cover.
A kayak cover intended for traveling might have a clip to attach shock cords to the kayaks. This should ensure the security of the cover to the boat so that it can't accidentally fall off while you're heading out for a paddle on the lake.
Will The Kayak Cover Affect My Gas Mileage?
A question that pops up quite often regarding cockpit covers is if having it secured to the kayak when driving affects the gas mileage.
Well, a kayak on top of your car does affect the gas mileage, decreasing it because of the wind resistance flowing over the kayak surface, which is catching the wind because of the big old hole in the middle.
When the kayak is wearing a cockpit cover the gas mileage isn't affected as negatively because the wind is able to flow over the cockpit smoothly.
Our Top 5 Kayak Cockpit Cover Options
So, you know what kind of cover you're looking for and ready and waiting to purchase the best kayak cockpit cover? Let's do this then.
1. Seals Cockpit Drape
The first pick of the day is the Seals Cockpit Drape! This bad boy can fit cockpits up to 26 inches wide and 44 inches long. It's also available in a larger size for kayaks up to 104 inches which is convenient for tandem kayak cockpit covers.
It uses a wrap format to cover the cockpit which means less effort in trying to get it around the kayak cockpit.
It's made from a mid-weight mixture of nylon and cloth which is durable and sturdy. It comes with bungee cords that are useful in securing the cover to the kayak. However, this kayak cover is not watertight so would be best stored inside to prevent water seepage.
The NRS Super Stretch Neoprene Cockpit Cover is made from, you guessed it, super stretchy neoprene.
The elasticity of neoprene means the cover has the ability to ensure a tight fit on a variety of different cockpits. Its ability to fit different sizes of cockpit can sometimes be difficult fitting on a larger kayak's cockpit for the first time. It will need to be stretched over the rim and suggested it's left overnight to get used to the size. This will make it a lot easier to get it around the rim the next time.
This model has a bungee cord around the rim which is really useful to fit around the length of the cockpit. It's useful for protecting against critters, water and is an excellent choice for transportation.
Yet another Seals product proving durable and sturdy, made from a heavy-duty tear-resistant material, which is a combination of nylon and fabric.
Seals cockpit seal has superior UV protection allowing it to protect the cockpit from the rain, dust, debris, and the sun. On top of that, this cockpit cover has double-stitched seams to keep the water out of the yak!
It features a web whole cord that's perfect to help keep the cover attached when transporting the kayak and make sure it doesn't spontaneously make a break for it!
This Seals cockpit seal model comes in different sizes which means kayaks from all walks of life can fit into it.
Introducing the Harmony Gear cockpit cover. It's got durable 410 denier nylon, it's got stitched seams, it's got sealed seams, it's breathable, it's water-resistant and it's coming to a store near you.
The Harmony model does not recommend being transported on top of a car as it hasn't got any reinforcements to help secure it from flying away with the wind.
Nevertheless, it does have an adjustable shock cord to create a nice snug fit around the rim and seeing as it won't be used in transit it could be utilized to help maximize the storage by using the cockpit to store your kit.
Prefer kayaking with a buddy? No problem, save yourself some research, this cockpit cover also comes in a tandem kayak size.
BEST by name but is it BEST by nature?
This cockpit cover is sure to get you a good fit with a wide range of sizes and even if your kayak for any reason doesn't suit the size of your kayak cover they encourage you to contact them through their website as they claim a 100% guarantee of customer satisfaction.
To help ease the fit over the cockpit cover it has an adjustable drawstring bungee cord enclosed in a double-stitched leather rim and also comes with additional bungee straps and a deck clip to ensure a secure journey if you plan to transport attached to a vehicle.
The cockpit cover fabric is durable, made from 300D polyester which is UV and abrasion-resistant.
Using this cockpit cover will easily prevent any cobwebs and big black spiders from getting in and provide the much needed extra protection from the elements while in storage.
Conclusion
Get ready to cover up because we have our top pick for best kayak cockpit covers which is, Seals Cockpit Drape.
Seals is an excellent kayak accessories brand and excels in manufacturing cockpit covers using durable materials with strong reinforcements.
This cover is able to provide a secure fit in storage and also while traveling, which makes it a versatile cover all in one easy package.
It's affordable at a low to average price range for a similar product plus comes in a tandem size too, which makes this high-quality cover fit for all types of kayaks and kayakers. It's more than likely you'll find this cover suits you.