When I lost the forward rubber hatch on my boat at the beach last year (due to years of exposure, etc)- I did not have any of the described bags, so I ran out and bought a couple of really cheap beach balls instead. Heck - it kept me paddling for the rest of the week :-)

> Hi Jim,

> I'm a bit hesitant about using expanding foam, it seems to be
> a little to permanent. I know if I use the foam, and then have to
> repair a hole etc in the hull, then the foam is probably going to
> be in the way (see also;Murphy's Law). Placing a patch of glass inside
> a hull with the paintbrush-on-a-stick method would be difficult enough
> without having to first invent a chisel-on-a-stick method of removing
> the foam.

> I'm thinking of going with some sort of inflatable bag, I've
> seen some used on sailing dingies, so I guess there will be some comercially
> available. Also if you inflate them in the boat they should wedge
> themselves nice and tight, and be easy to remove.

> Paul.