What about putting drains on the decks near the bow and stern of the kayak to drain the water? You would have to turn it upside down to drain it and aesthics could be problem though. I think white water kayaks and maby other types use plastic screw in drains.

Chris

> The theory is that if an end compartment were to get holed, there would
> still be two compartments (the cockpit and the other end). It would affect
> performance, but one would only be in serious trouble if the cockpit and
> one end got flooded.

> There is a deckbeam at the bulkhead. I think it would be easier to install
> the drain tubes low than high. If I used flexible tube, there wouldnt be
> too much concern about it being pulled out by gear? With the tube low, in
> a pinch one could open the access port and the drain, and pump out the
> cockpit. You'd have to get out of the boat to open the access port though.
> The only way I can think of to be able to drain it while sitting in the
> boat would be a long flexible tube that you could blow into, pressurizing
> the compartment, and then let the pressure push the water out. Then you
> could just drain it overboard... If I put the hole in the bulkhead low,
> and ran the tube high, it wouldnt fill when swamping the cockpit.. That
> might work out real well.