: I'm just installing the coaming on a Coho S&G, and am having real doubts,
: mostly esthetic, about cutting hatches in. Any experience out there with
: the no-bulkhead,sea-sock approach? I've read that flotation bags allow
: much more water in than bulkheads in a capsize, but a seasock allows less
: than bulkheads. Is depending on a fabric bag safe (holes, coming off the
: coaming). Is it a real pain to have stow items from the cockpit, have them
: potentially shifting around? I've just paddled a few times. While I like
: to think I will overnight in the future, I'll be doing all day trips for a
: good while, and mostly day trips in any case.

: I've also thought about installing bulkheads,which seem more secure for
: flotation, but putting either a bought round hatch or a built oval hatch
: in at least the stern one. This really limits the size of items going into
: the larger (stern) compartment, and a bulkhead hatch in the bow seems
: pretty impractical. Any experience with these?

: thanks

Rod, I built my Osrey HP without bulkheads and hatches and felt it necessary to add them later after trying the seasock approach. The seasock is quite warm and made adjusting the foot pedals a hassle. Upon retrospect, I wish I had cut the hatches prior to attaching the deck. These additional deck holes make access so much easier in the hull/deck attaching process. We were able to make good use of the seasock in the center cockpit of the Osprey Triple. It keeps the sand and muck managable brought into the kayak by our large dog.