[Paddlewise] Modern Outfitting on Kayaks: A Side Thread of a Side Thread on Boat Copying

Friends and Neighbors,
Or is that title too pejorative to kayaks not equipped with fore and aft 
recessed deck lines, a third bulkhead for a day hatch, or bulkheads at all, 
footpumps, etc? Ok, we'll call it Current Outfitting Theory on Kayaks Aimed At The 
Performance Market By Some Manufacturers. Whatever, we know what they look 
like.

Some, don't like recessed deck lines as the molding produces a bump, 
intruding on interior space. Not only that, they are hard to grab.

Some do not like deck lines at all as they mar the aesthetics of a boat.

Some do not like bulkheads as they produce stress on areas of the hull where 
an inflexible bulkhead is located. And anyway,if one fails a bulkhead can fill 
up with water quite dangerously.

Adding a third bulkhead is an intrusion on interior space yet again, and 
anyway day hatches are a fad. Damn those boats, the Coleman triple burner doesn't 
fit! What will I do with that 5L box o' wine?

Are they carrying handles or end grabs, anyway?

Black rubber hatches are ugly so it is best to create a flush cover and strap 
it down, some say. Others don't bother to gasket it, they rely on a neoprene 
slip cover, then a tightened top cover.

Some of the best hatches I've seen are on home built wood boats...and then 
some of the worst, were, too. The ones with the little turn buttons, or the ones 
where a rescuee pulls on the lid as it is only restrained by bungie and it 
fills the bulkhead up with water.

A hand pump is best. No, a foot pump is, you fool. Sorry, you're all fools, 
matey, electric is the way to go.

The traditionalists think we are all paddling kayak-like boats as a proper 
qajaq is an SOF of little volume with a sharp stick on the right gunnel, even if 
it is for fun, and not hunting.

I paddle two very different sea kayaks where one is Old School, meaning I'm 
forced to rely on a seasock, airbags and a small deck bag for lunch, snacks, 
etc. I use a handpump and my new Chillcheater spray deck has a really cool roll 
up bale hole that makes it alot safer than pumping from the side of a spray 
deck. It does have full perimeter lines so it is not entirely Old School. Many 
of my friends paddle with similar outfitting as we are bag boaters.

My New School boat has 3 bulkheads, recessed deck lines, knee tube, fixed 
seat, D cell submersible electric pump, keel strip, end toggles, color 
coordinated to deck and hull black rubber hatches.

If you've made it this far without hitting 'delete' what do you prefer and 
why? Or is it even preference? It is safety, not preference. Or is it a 
hindrance to large feet, interior space for expeditions, an anathema, El Guapo, an 
anathema to safety as broken boats in the surf line from bulkhead induced hull 
failures are jeopardizing you, me and everyone on this expedition from this 
faddish marketing gimmickry! Look, I can see your rear bulkhead filling up already 
and now I have to do a rescue described in a certain Canoeing book to empty 
out this hazard to proper navigation! Is anyone right?

Rob G
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