A sit on top is considered self bailing, so no skirt needed. The paddler sits above the waterline, and there are holes through to the underside of the boat.
It’s not particularly common, but mostly because beginners tend to be out on sit on top boats. Although there was a fatality in Wellington Harbour a few years ago, on Christmas eve, where the paddler had a sit in boat with no spray skirt.
It’s also good information for a sea kayak with bulkheads, you won’t flood the boat completely, but it will be less stable.
They would pick a new one every sailing, if that’s the case.
It’s also possible belching white smoke is the default state of affairs when they first start up, it had more or less stopped not long after I took this.
The amount of new townhouses in lower Hutt is incredible, most notably along Cambridge terrace. Hundreds of them just along one road.
I believe there’s a lot being built along the river as well.