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Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
By:Steve Solomon
Date: 10/27/2016, 4:39 pm

A discussion topic for a cold, rainy afternoon - what’s the deal with bulkheads? (on a strip kayak in particular)

What I mean is, I’ve heard some contradictory things about what jobs the bulkheads are intended to perform. They certainly help keep the stuff you drop into the forward hatch from sliding back into your lap - but some netting could do that as well. Is there more to it than that? Specifically:

Do (should) bulkheads provide structural support for the hull and/or the deck? Seems plausible, especially in regards to the deck, but a rigid bulkhead also creates a hard spot in the hull which can be susceptible to stress fractures - I’ve seen some recommend using foam or something non-rigid instead.

Do (should) bulkheads create water-tight compartments, ensuring positive flotation if the boat is swamped, or do they just protect your stuff somewhat from the errant drip and wave? I’ve noted that some people specifically don’t want the bulkheads to be water-tight and put in drainage.

Messages In This Thread

Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 4:39 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Charles Robinson -- 10/27/2016, 4:50 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 5:07 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 6:05 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 6:09 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 6:49 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 8:37 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 8:24 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 8:59 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 9:24 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Marc Upchurch -- 10/27/2016, 9:28 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks -- 10/27/2016, 10:10 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 10:20 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/28/2016, 12:37 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/28/2016, 12:35 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Thomas Duncan -- 10/28/2016, 12:27 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads? *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 10/28/2016, 1:26 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/28/2016, 4:31 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/28/2016, 5:23 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 10/28/2016, 9:37 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/29/2016, 1:06 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Etienne Muller -- 10/27/2016, 6:07 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 6:45 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 8:12 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 9:28 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Marc Upchurch -- 10/27/2016, 9:34 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 10:16 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Paul D -- 10/27/2016, 8:35 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Mike Bielski -- 10/27/2016, 10:16 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 10:33 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 10:51 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Marc Upchurch -- 10/27/2016, 11:15 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/27/2016, 11:26 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 10/28/2016, 9:19 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/28/2016, 10:27 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads? *PIC*
Rob Macks/Laughing Loon CC&K -- 10/28/2016, 11:07 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Steve Solomon -- 10/28/2016, 1:41 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/29/2016, 1:10 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Mike Bielski -- 10/27/2016, 11:11 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/28/2016, 1:01 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/28/2016, 12:41 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/27/2016, 8:29 pm
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Etienne Muller -- 10/28/2016, 6:55 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Thomas Duncan -- 10/28/2016, 9:20 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Bill Hamm -- 10/28/2016, 12:39 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Paul Sylvester -- 10/29/2016, 6:22 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads? *PIC*
Etienne Muller -- 10/30/2016, 7:43 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
Paul D -- 10/31/2016, 12:48 am
Re: Strip: What's the deal with bulkheads?
JohnAbercrombie -- 10/31/2016, 3:09 pm