Immersion Research Royale Review | Author: Janosch Plathner, S2S Pro-Team | Image: Dane Jackson at the OETZ TROPHY 2022
Janosch was kind enough to test the Immersion Research Royale spray deck for us and write a detailed review. He paddled this spray deck as his only whitewater spray deck for four years – year-round, under varying conditions, and on different boat brands. In the following blog post, he tells us what he discovered.
The Royale spray deck is one of two "Big Rand" spray decks from Immersion Research. "Big Rand" means it has a solid rubber profile edge instead of an elastic bungee cord. This makes it significantly more implosion-resistant than bungee cord spray decks. The Royale differs from the "Lucky Charm" only in that it features an aramid fiber (Kevlar) reinforced material on the outer surface where it rests against the cockpit rim. This is intended to make it slightly more abrasion-resistant and give it a longer lifespan.
The spray deck has a simple design with few extras. There's no smooth neoprene or clips to attach it to the life jacket. It only has a pull loop at the front. It can't be opened while kneeling, so it's not really suitable for beginners.
The Royale spray deck has been the best spray deck for challenging whitewater for many years. Many top whitewater athletes use it. This is because it has proven that it will never accidentally open under any circumstances.
Test report after 4 years of use
Like all Big Rand spray decks, this one isn't as watertight as bungee spray decks. However, since implosion resistance is more important to me personally, and I'd rather have a small puddle in the boat after a few hours than an open spray deck in inconvenient situations, I paddle the Royale spray deck.
So far, this is the spray deck that stays on the boat best that I've ever paddled with. The only downside, in my opinion, is that when it's dry or cold (<5°C), it's very difficult to get onto the hatch. Especially if the sleeve isn't very thick ;-), it can sometimes be hard to close it alone. Opening it also requires a firm pull. With the
It's impossible to open a spray skirt while kneeling. This is especially true for boats with relatively long cockpits, such as Spade or Pyranha kayaks. Closing is significantly easier with more rounded cockpits, like those found on Waka kayaks . On older kayaks and boats with very low cockpit rims, it can be difficult to get the Big Rand rubber seal into the cockpit gap.
The spray deck is very durable due to its choice of material. After two years, the tape on the seams started to come loose on mine. However, this can be easily and inexpensively reapplied by a repair service.
Conclusion of the Immersion Research Royale review
If you primarily paddle in challenging whitewater and enjoy paddling powerful rapids where you absolutely want to prevent your spray skirt from popping up, the IR " Lucky Charm " or the even more robust " Royale " are excellent choices. However, you will have to make compromises regarding watertightness and ease of entry. For beginners who might want to open the spray skirt with their knees, or for everyday use as a spray skirt for ease of handling, other spray skirts are more suitable.