Re: [Paddlewise] No bulkheads ???

No problem. Use a few big watertight gear bags that fit the kayak well. Pack
them in tight. I actually squeeze out all the extra air in the gear bags so
they look vacuum packed. I can cram in more stuff that way. I often
"compact" the load by pushing the bags forward with my feet. Using big bags
(with most kayaks) the foot pedals will keep the bags from coming out. You
can remove or stagger the footpedals when loading to get the bags in place.
The seat usually keeps the stern load from coming out. This system might
even give you more buoyancy than a bulkhead because you can't easily load
right back to your footpedals with a bulkhead. A Seasock makes this into one
of the most buoyant systems. There is a lot more information about this in
the "Flotation" manual on our website. Sounds like you have seen some of the
same problems I have with bulkheads (mostly with the hatches they require).

Matt Broze
http://www.marinerkayaks.com

original post:
>>>>>>Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 17:55:38 EST
From: MJAkayaker_at_aol.com
Subject: [Paddlewise] No bulkheads ???

I am considering buying a smaller 2nd kayak for day trips and light surfing
that has no bulkheads and no hatches.  Using airbags for floatation and not
having hatches appeals to me for a couple of reasons. One, I like the idea
of
being able to checking the integrity of the floatation easily.  I once had a
bad experience with a leaking hatch (the hatch itself not just the cover)
that started filling up the kayak in the middle of a paddle.  The problem
was
not apparent from a visual inspection. Second, I think I'll get a drier ride
without a front hatch.  Although I know this depends on the design of each
model, the kayaks that I liked from a handling standpoint did not have what
I
considered "flush" hatches.  I have also had problems with hatch cover
deterioration so that was just more reason to prefer the hatchless system.

What concerns me is that if I like this new kayak as much as I think, then I
will want to start using it for overnighter's and weekend trips.  My
experience with packing says that no matter how "stuffed" the cargo area,
there will still be considerable voids between bags. I worry that in a
capsize the voids would fill up with water and consequently there would not
be enough floatation for a self rescue.  Filling up the cargo area with
filled dry bags and no air bags strikes me the same as filling up the cargo
area in my bulkheaded kayak and not worrying about having the hatch covers
on.  I know the two situations are not really the same thing, but I just get
this "bad" feeling about my dry bags full of gear serving as my floatation.

Am I being paranoid about this?

Is there some way to be pretty sure that I'll have enough floatation from
the
dry bags without the air bags
a) before buying the kayak  ?
b) without putting a gear load in the kayak and swamping it to see if it
floats when I climb back in ?

Will partially inflating an air bag really fill in the smaller spaces
between
bags?  (I know it will help in filling up the larger spaces at the kayak
ends
or between the bags and the deck)

Do I need to have a "web" or strap of some type where the bulkheads would
normally be located to make sure bags to not come out?  (If I can get it in
what keeps it from coming out?).<<<<<<<

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