Earlier this summer, I was working on a couple of kayaks outside in the sun. I hadn't cut out the cockpit opening yet, and experienced the air inside expanding so that it stressed the cloth and epoxy, showing the weave in a couple of places. I have since put a small relief hole in the cockpit opening of any kayak I worked on, as well as in the bulkheads to stop any further problems. I did have some water get into the "airtight" compartment, and found that the water came out a lot easier if I put another small hole so that the air would replace any water that came out. As far a covering up the holes, I think duct tape would work fine. I use it to patch holes in the liner of goldfish pond. Pamela

: I'd really like to hear how many builders feel a relief hole is necessary.
: Have many builders who do not (or just didn't) have relief holes
: experienced problems like reported in the first post of this thread. Just
: think this is an oppertunity to get a handle on the various issues of
: 'ari-tight' compartments in various conditions and experiences. Like
: condensation, vacuum, etc. Paul's wine cork idea is as usual creative and
: practical. But I wonder at least 2 things: Is a relief hole of some kind
: always 'recommended' in 'all' weather conditions and boat conditions: And
: it seems to me that if it is that the 'best' method is just a 1/32"
: hole (barring some unique 'valve' of some kind which I can't imagine). I
: like the cork idea, but don't understand it value over the simple
: 1/32" hole. I mean if the cork is in an approx. 1/2" hole but
: has in itself a 1/32" hole, what is the point in the cork? If the
: cork is to allow for opening a 1/2" hole on occasion, what is the
: point of this larger hole sometime (To 'release' a 'stuck' hatch. This
: seems ok, but dosen't allow pressur adjustment at any time except when a
: problem is noticed (like the original post - and maybe not as soon as
: would be desirable ) or when one 'can't get the hatch off'. Anyway none of
: this is all that earth shaking, but it is such a basic issue I though it
: would be aservie to the board to have the men here contribute to get he
: best answer available and have it be the way we can know from now on with
: some confidence that it is the best thinkng and experience can do. Sort of
: like hey, Yes it is always a good 'idea' to epoxy and glass you boat and
: here are the options and concerns.

: Joe

: Rod,