: Hi Julie,

: The sling attached to the side of the yak would only work if the yak is
: flooded, or the boat would just spin over like a log. For the side
: compartment to work as pontoons there must be water inside of the boat.
: And there must be enough water.

John, try the sling first. What will probably happen is that the 'yak will not spin like a log, but will tip exactly 90 degrees, with one of your sealed flotation units down, perhaps under water, and the other in the air. If your weight pulls the boat deeper into the water then you will flood the cockpit as you wish. No buckets needed. If not, then you can climb up to the cockpit and as you step into it, it should rotate back onto the water in the correct orientation.

A canvas bucket may get out lots of water, but if it does not fit the curvature of the boat bottom, you'll be left with lots of water in the bilge. Bailing sponges remove what remains. A pump is a better deal than a bucket.

If you really want to get water into the boat in a hurry, it sounds like you should put a hole in the bottom, and seal it with a big cork. A fill valve from a washing machine would do the same thing. Granted, this is a screwy idea to present, but I'm not too used to the idea of flooding a boat just to get it lower in the water for re-entry. But, as counter-intuitive as this concept may be, if it works, then there is no denying it.

PGJ