: Next will be the interior: seats (2), foot braces, thigh braces (?),
: floatation bags (2) and then the deck beams and stringers and cockpit.

Rehd,

I’m getting the feeling that you’re planning on installing permanent air bags fore and aft.

CAUTION! Do not install permanent airbags in a SOF.

Maybe the other SOFers can back me up or slap me silly on this. When an SOF takes on water (it can be as little as a cup from paddle splash or entry/exit) the SOF becomes greedy and doesn’t want to give up that water. I found standing water in my kayak the next day after I thought I got it all out. It accumulates against the many stringers and anywhere else where canvas and wood makes a ledge.

I fear that you’d be looking at a major case of the mildews with permanent airbags.

To get the last of the water out, I attach spring clamp fans in the cockpit pointing fore and aft. This’ll get air circulating around inside the boat and help with the drying process. Big permanent bags, no air circulation and no access to micro puddles.

Then again, you might form a new strain of bacteria under that airbag and find the cure for cancer.

Roger