Hi Guys, I am new to this but have some great paddling spots here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I purchased a Thor K2 two man kayak. This is a very low end recreational boat. I soon found out with anything heavier than a 6 year old the boat does not handle well with 2 paddlers. Oh well no matter no one wants to go with me anyway. Something about being captive to my esoteric conversation. I have decided to make a few modifications and wonder if I am on the right track. 1) the forward hatch is only simulated. There is no bulkhead. I would like to make a fibre glass bulkhead that would be removeable with some sort of wing nuts. This would give me a waterproof locker give much more buoyancy in case of immersion. 2) The rear hatch cover is real but again there is no bulkhead. Here i would like to install a permanent bulkhead to give me a water tight compartment that would be accessed through the hatch cover. 3) I will remove the front seat and the foot blocks. Should I just put the bolts back in to keep water tight or should I patch the holes? If i just left the seat bolts in the boat I could put the seat in facing to the rear for a non paddling passenger. Any help or opinions would be appreciated. Bill Lee, More Guts than Brains. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hail Bill, Some great paddling on the Miss coast indeed! Good thinking, methinks, re. modifications to your Thor. A front bulkhead that will keep a dry space in the front of the boat in case (when) you needed it would be powerful. Wingnutted access might be a bit less handy and possibly less secure than a hatchcover. Assess hatches can be bought from folks like Great River Outfitters (and others) if you wanted to glass in a bulkhead and create a nonsimulated hatch. A rear bulkhead that was removable and windnutted in would potentially be more accessible and would more facilitate the loading of long bits of gear (tent poles and such) than would a front bulkhead up there in front of your feet somewhere. Bolted (and gasketted) holes should be sufficiently watertight I'd figger ... and would permit you later to change your mind (and configuration) and add the second seat back in. With the front seat out and you sitting back, will you be able to brace your thighs under some portion of the cockpit coaming should the seas get a little rough? Larry Koenig Baton Rouge,LA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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