After years of struggling with $20-25 cockpit covers from a variety of suppliers, which with the boat on the car at speed flew off (wound up stretching bungees across the cockpit coaming to keep them attached, they stay put but eventually cause tears in the nylon) even when tightening the internal shock cord to the point that it was nearly impossible to get the cover on. Then I found the $30 Seal Standard cover which has a non-slip covering of the shock cord which reduces the fly off problem but is still made of a water resistant(?) nylon that regardless of how may times I spray them with waterproofing, leak when the kayak is upright and there is a downpour which puddles on the cover.
I bought another used boat and went to buy another Seal Standard cover and happened to notice the Seal Deluxe Cockpit cover for $40 and found all my prayers answered. It has the same non-slip shockcord cover as the Standard, but adds the following features. It appears to be made from the same heavy duty material as river rafts and dry bags, have not had a problem with water seeping through whatsoever. There is a clip on the grab loop for attaching to front deck bungies. Finally there is a nylon strap that is attached to the middle of the deck cover and has an adjustable quick release buckle for encircling the hull to prevent the cover from being pulled off regardless of how fast you drive down the highway.
As Seal makes these in a variety of sizes, and has a fit guide for virtually any kayak ever made, as my other covers wear out or I wind up with a new boat needing a cover it will always be the Seal Deluxe Cockpit Cover. Worth the $10 premium offer the standard Seal Cover, worth ten times the typical cheapie cover.
