hi,

Thought i might post about a hatch that allows for practical pumping after the cockpit has been flooded. I have not seen this anywhere, but doubtless someone may well have a similar arrangement on his kajak, somewhere.

I put a 5" RWO screw hatch right in front of the cockpit coaming, where it is accessible and on the highest spot on the deck, which is flat at the center for ease of construction. After re-entering a capsized kayak i can set the gp as an outrigger behind the cockpit, close the spray deck, open the little hatch and insert a suitably long pump and pump most of the water out. This works even with a long keyhole cockpit, but would be easier still with a smaller one.

Normally the hatch has a bag - http://www.rwo-marine.com/products/productdetail.php?code=R4047 - attached to it, and in this bag i have another loose bag, that can be pulled out for easy access to lunch etc. I find that it does not hamper entry or exit - should one prefer one can obviously also pull the bag out before entering the kayak.

Having this or a similar arrangement makes carrying a pump more meaningful.

greetings,

risto