Can't remember exactly how Woody's thread started, but, from recent points, it sounds like the existing plastic bulkhead is sound and usable. Bob Volin's and Joan Spinner's responses line up with what I was thinking originally: before you go in there to remove a viable bulkhead (it didn't sound like fun to me), consider the least invasive option, and one which gives you the greatest ability to fine tune your solution. Assuming you have room and that you don't have foot pegs and/or rudder pegs in the way, I'd craft a minicell foam plug to fit the area at the forward end of the cockpit, making the plug a tad oversized so that it's wedged in a little, and use it as a footrest. Then, carve out a void for the footpump body --- making it a little undersized so the pump is held in place by the foam ---, "ditches" for the intake hose and the overboard hose, and maybe contact cement a piece of epoxied plywood at the front end of the plug to spread any force created by the pump acros! ! s the surface of the bulkhead (although that last step might not be necessary). I wouldn't cement the plug in, though, because it would be a bear to get it out, and you don't need to. If you cut it a little oversized to begin with, it will wedge itself into position, spreading some of the force it absorbs outward into the hull and some forward into the bulkhead; from the voice of experience, Woody, I'd definitely glue or tape in a piece of webbing across the forward end of the plug so that you have several inches of loose webbing hanging out on either side of the plug in the cockpit allowing you to pull the sucker out when/if you want to do modifications. Can't say that that kind of installation will last forever, but it's worked for me in the Pintail for about seven years, I guess. Nothing is glued or fastened in --- it's all by friction, and it works. Finally, this kind of installation gives you flexibility to move the pump location around a little, and it's easy to remove the whole deal if you want to work on the pump. (Not sure why you would --- they last forever.) Good luck! Jack *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Jan 19 2000 - 05:00:35 PST
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