Doug Lloyd wrote: > FOLLOW UP POST - Try the Southwind site for some _great information_: One problem with that info is that it assumes all bulkheads are perfectly watertight. Many kayaks have a teensy hole in the centre to allow for air pressure equalization. I put one in both front and rear bulkheads after seeing the hatch covers bulging (Kayaksport rubber). No amount of rolling or other wet practice has ever resulted in anything other than a bit of dampness in the compartment. If you're really paranoid about leaks, Doug, you're gonna have a lot of fun with an SOF. What with sewing seams making holes in the fabric that are sometimes too large (just) to completely close with paint or varnish, you're gonna have to decide whether you want a bit of a leak or go crazy finding and filling every possible hole. Since the reserve buoyancy in an SOF comes from flotation bags and not the skin's integrity, it's really a moot point, IMHO. With composite kayaks, I think you have to differentiate between a leak that constitutes a leak and one that constitutes a potential structural failure. The small one of the former is annoying, a large one or the latter, dangerous. Mike *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Apr 03 2007 - 13:24:54 PDT
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