I was going to cut the bulkheads out to do the work and add them back in after the work was done. It was suggested in a previous post that glassing the outside might make more sense so I might not do this. I would like to move the front bulkhead closer to my feet though to buy a little more storage space.

: Cutting out the 'partitions'--we call them 'bulkheads'-- would be a
: really bad idea. They provide a lot of the bracing and strength
: that your boat has. They also create watertight compartments or
: air chambers which are vital safety features on your boat.
: Removing them defeats your purposes, and poses a safety hazard.
: . Think of them acting on the hull and deck like spokes on a
: bicycle wheel. Removing the spokes to lighten a wheel only works
: for people who can replace them with some high--tech invention.
: For everyone else the wheel falls apart.

I could be wrong. I thought it was in the 44-47 range though.

: Frankly, I doubt a plain 18' fiberglass kayak weighs just 40
: pounds, but I digress.

Nice analogy, makes sense.

: Simply adding layers of glass cloth and resin to the inside of the
: boat is a lousy way to reinforce it or stiffen it. Ever carry a
: 4x8 sheet of 1/4" plywood? If you hold it flat it will sag
: considerably under its own weight. Flip it on edge, though, and
: it doesn't sag at all. Same idea applies here, but more so.
: Apply a flat layer of new glass cloth and it is under 1/10"
: thick. That doesn't do anything to add stiffness. It adds
: weight. Use the same amount of glass, but orient it so it forms
: ribs or a honeycomb, or is corrugated (like the folded middle
: layer of paper in a piece of cardboard) and now you have some
: stiffness.

I was thinking of just adding a few layers of flat glass along the keel line. I was only looking for scratch protection with this.

: What kind of keel strip? Are you thinking of a couple layers of
: flat glass running along the keel line? That adds some scratch
: and dent protection in the most likely area to get scratched but
: does little to increase stiffness. It doesn't weigh much.

Big help, Thanks! I'll have to read the reply a few more times to digest it all though.

: Just some ideas here for you. Hope this helps.

Seems like I might need to spend considerably more time thinking about this idea. It sounds like it might be outside my abilities. Better to find that out now though!

Thanks!