Re: [Paddlewise] Deck/hull seam

Chuck Holst wrote:
> My wife and I both have Romanys, so after Derek Hutchinson recommended
> drilling holes in our bulkheads, we asked Nigel Dennis about it. He
> doesn't think it is necessary, since there is plenty of flex in the
> hatch covers to allow for increased pressure. 
>

If traveling with such an air-tight boat over high mountain ranges, it
might be worth thinking about opening the hatches to let the compartments
'breathe'.  About 10 years ago I took a trip to Colorado and Utah (crossing
over the Rockies) with friends, and we brought along canoes and WW kayaks
for an intensive two week paddling vacation.  My friends' canoe had
fiberglassed-in air chambers in both the bow and stern (totally air-tight)
for floatation, and they noticed after the trip that the hull of the canoe
was not as fair as it was before the trip, as there were noticeable - and
permanent - bulges in the hull. (My FG canoe, also with glassed-in
chambers, wasn't affected).  The manufacturer gave them a really good deal
on a replacement canoe, but this incident illustrates that pressure changes
due to altitude gain are more severe than those induced by temperature
changes at the same altitude.  

I wonder what Nigel would say about traveling over high mountain passes
with air-tight hatches?  Do the hatch covers have enough flex/stretch to
assume a balloon-like appearance?  Anyone have first-hand experience?

Erik Sprenne
(at the southern end of Lake Michigan)     

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