John ----

Thanks for posting the pictures! I'm glad it works. How many gallons of water do you think you ended up with? Have you thought about using a pump to get the water out after you get back in? (A bailing bucket, TETHERED to the boat, would also help). That would save you an immediate trip to shore. Also, if you've got a load of camping gear, you probably won't need to add so much water to the boat in the first place in order to have it low enough so you can climb back in. If you're in conditions bad enough to unintentionally capsize a stable boat like yours, getting back to shore may be a little tougher than it is on the calm test lake, AND the closest shoreline may not happen to have anywhere where you could land (cliffs or other hazards making it unwise to attempt landing a flooded & thus less maneuverable craft.) If it were me, rather than expending effort to paddle a swamped boat to shore, I'd rather spend the effort bailing & pumping the cockpit out.

I haven't seen one in person, so I can't comment on their feasibility in your case, but I know that some people have installed battery operated bilge pumps in their boats.

Another thought is to attach a sling of nylon webbing in the middle of the side of the cockpit (securely and safely, so it doesn't become a potential entanglement trap), that you could reach & deploy when you're in the water next to your boat (after you've gotten it upright), and then use the sling as a step to help you climb back in -- that way you wouldn't have to flood your cockpit.

Julie Kanarr