SNIP
: This is why when people on this board ask about
: bulkheads, you're crazy not putting them in. All that float bags do for
: you is allow you to recover your boat.However you take in about 4 times
: the amout of water compaired to a bulkhead kayak.

Jay,

It sounds as if your floatbags have inadequate volume, rather than being a failure of floatbags in general. You may need more than one bag in each end filling as much volume as possible, just as you would on a bulkheaded boat. I prefer bulkheads on my hardshells but I don't see how they would be practical in a traditional skin boat. I am still searching for a good floatbag system, many folks have mentioned that the floats sold by the Broze brothers (Mariner kayaks), are a good choice and come with extra-long inflation hoses. I may try these on my next (H.C. Petersen style) skin boat, or find a way to make my own.

Greg Stamer