: I may be missing the point but can you put in two bulkheads - fore
: and aft - and put watertight access plates in them?

: Sean
That would work for the aft compartment, but a float bag (or combined float/gear bag) and a few lash points inside the hull for line or shock cord to keep 'stuff' from sliding forward would be easier.

Access to the front compartment via the cockpit could be tricky.... ? Unless you are very skinny/long-limbed or have kids who are non-claustrophobic?
BTW, screw-in plates can sometimes need a bit of muscle to get moving- difficult at arms length.

I put in an inspection plate/hatch in the fwd bulkhead on one of my boats, but that was for accessing the footpeg adjustments and bolts on a boat with an 'Ocean' cockpit- access was via the front (deck) hatch, then through the bulkhead.

The big advantage of float bags is that you can pump the (whole) boat from the cockpit; there's no chance of water accumulating in a compartment - though without deck hatches you'd need to damage the boat to get a leak anyway.

BTW, for a race boat, I'd consider an Elvstrom bailer to keep the boat dry, though perhaps not a big issue if using a spraydeck...