: I'm 6'1" and have pretty long legs but I still find that my legs are a
: good 6-7 inches from reaching the bulkhead. --- that has to amount to
: several liters of extra water in the cockpit where I could have moved to
: bulkhead back.

My Chesapeake's bulkhead is a bit far forward of my legs, too, and I'm 6'-6"!!!

: Any thoughts?? - I'm considering
: 1. cutting out all but a 1/2" rim of the bulkhead out.

Cut it all out--structurally, your new bulkhead will fully replace it. Try taking a loose hacksaw blade and running it along the hulll-bulkhead seam and just saw it out flush with the inside of the hull. Even if you leave 1/8" of bulkhead glued to the hull, it won't matter--or you can grind/sand it smooth.

: 2. trash it and rip it out?

I think that removing it "cleanly" will be easier in the long run. Too much risk of tearing the hull.

: 3. try heating it up with a torch to soften it and then take it out in pieces

You might try this. Epoxy does soften significantly with heat. Maybe use a heat gun instead of a torch--be sure to wear a respirator.

: 4. forget it and just add some closed cell foam to the cockpit side of the
: bulkhead?

With your plans to mount a footpump, you might as well go with a new, slightly larger, closer wood bulkhead. Besides, you'll gain storage space in the bow compartment. On a related note, do you find the CLC-designed front hatch too small?

: - Then - I get the challenge of fitting in a new bulkhead (I'll use 1/4"
: ply again -- I don't trust foam to stay in place and I wouldn't be able to
: mount my foot pump.

Make cardboard templates--then when one fits exactly, you simply use it as a pattern.

: The last option --- should I just sell the kayak and start over to build one
: that would be a little more suitable (I don't really need the width or the
: storage space). Figure 120hrs to build, $500 materials --- say $1500 cdn?

That's up to you. The bulkhead isn't that major a renovation project. If you really don't want to stick with the Chesapeake, though, this would be a good time to divest yourself of it. I might try to sell mine after I build kayak #3.

Shawn