C-Forum

Hello Cboats
I need to borrow your brains, mine are fried! I am trying to pack a Watershed Ocoee drybag containing my camera gear into my Taureau. I can't find a solution, it certainly won't fit through the knee holes and squeezing it past footrests and hip pads doesn't really work either, strapping it to the deck is kinda my last option but it's a crap one.
Many thanks in advance for your ideas
Jame

Jame

Install a hatch on the rear deck. The hatches are cheap ($10) and take about 15 minutes to install with a dremil and screw driver. I added one to my Taureau, to access the rear deck to store lunch, dry bag , etc. There are pictures if you search the forum. I think my hatch is 8 inches in Diameter.

Cheers

Steward

The stock Taureau footpedals are bolted to the saddle. You might be able to change one side out so it's screwed, in which case you'll be able to pop the pedal off and have more room.

If you can't slide it past even with the toe pedal removed, then you'll have to add a hatch. Prices are all over the place depending on what you want.

If it's an open boat (no cockpit coaming), then I'd put a Beckson Deckplate in.

http://www.beckson.com/screwout.html

If you have a coaming and want to keep the boat bone dry, then a kayak hatch would be in order (also more $$$).

option #1 Refab the rear saddle side bracing (foam) so you can tuck it behind the saddle. Find a way to secure it in the event of a "worst case scenario"

option #2 Hatches... they work. From what I found because of the size of the area you will install it you can't go bigger than a 6" opening hatch... they make 8" opening hatches but the overall diameter of the housing and frame was too big to fit on the deck. What is the stuffed diameter of the bag though? I'm thinking it may be too tight or big to slide through anyways unless it's a small mini cam. Here's mine... http://www.cboats.net/cforum/viewtopic.php?t=5494

Lay~tah James...

Thanks guys some good ideas. The diameter of the watershed bag is 20cm approx, i was hoping that i can somehow use an 8" hatch with ID19.4cm then squeeze. just gotta find some good hatches in Europe, here goes with a string of blagging email to sea kayak companies!
thanks again i will let you know how it goes
ciao
James

James... keep in mind 6" or 8" is the internal opening... all the 8"'ers I saw would be too big for the ideal location on the deck. Get the overall outside dimension of the hatch before you purchase one and see how much room is up there.

as an example... For those who want this hatch for other kayaks here are the dimensions.
6" - Inside Flange 7" Outside Face 9"
8" - Inside Flange 9" Outside Face 11"
http://kayakfishingstuff.com/Merchant2/ ... obie-Hatch

http://www.hobiecat.com/support/pdfs/07_4-5.pdf