Hi Guys,

Paul, I will not completely rule out foam bulkhead compartments. It would be easier then what I would be doing in building solid flotation the way I would be doing it. What I don't like about the bulkhead method is that I have to vent the compartments from the heat build up to prevent possible damage from unequal air pressure. A cork in a tapered hole in the foam bulkhead that would blow out would be one easy safty measure and if placed at the top of the bulkhead, the compartment could be a drain if the yak somehow got water into the compartment, by turning the yak over and tipping it up. Sealed in fiberglassed foam, it seems to me wouldn't get any more moisture in it then would our sealed in yak strips, but if it did, it would have to be torn our and re-done. Ugg! But my reasoning goes beyound that and this may be completely faulty thinking, the amount of floatation in the stern and bow may need to be adjusted if my side floatation compartments are to work for self rescue as I envision it. As I see it, the yak needs to be flooded quite abit with water for the side floation to bite and keep the yak from rolling when I craw in from the side. If too much floation is in the bow and stern it might hold the yak too high in the water when flooded and allow to yak to roll when I try to enter. And if there isn't enough floatation then the bow and stern may be unstable and allow the ends to dip too easlily and destablize the yak. So the idea of making a solid foam floatation is because I can put it in the water and test the yak and then adjust the floatation as needed. Someone on the board mentioned that the end floatation might hold the yak up too high and that really got me to thinking about it. Floatation bags are also a choice.

Rick, I have never liked the idea of foam seats or foam on the floor as you suggested and I don't like putting foam under my seat for a good fit to the deck floor. My thinking is that since foam floats and if your kayak is flooded the foam wants to rise to the top of the water and it add an extra destablizing force of trying to roll the kayak upside down as it trys to get to the surface of the water like any piece of foam pushed under water would.

If this rescue system doesn't work I will really have egg of my face.

John