A Better Bulkhead

Sorry factory bulkhead.

Everything comes out!

Note the exquisite craftsmanship that Wavesport and Dagger are so famous for. Some deburring may be in order but don't weaken the bulkhead by hogging the slots out any bigger than they already are.

The fact that the two mounting holes for the center pillar are drilled off-center will not jeopardize the safety of the boat. Nor will the unused hole on the right. They may be such a distraction to the paddler that he sometimes misses crux moves on the river and ends up in a bad way, though, especially if that paddler is a machinist by trade and a little bit anal.

Put the thin factory foam pieces and the multi-adjustable foot entrapment death snares in the bin where they belong.

Now we're ready to start!

Reassemble the bulkhead two holes further forward and without the Mickey Mouse adjustable plates. Now's the time to bend the aluminum bars to they fit snug to the hull.

Show empathy and goodwill to the person who originally assembled the boat by not correcting the listing pillar. Put it back in and forget about it.

A file folder makes a good template. Do not rush this step!

Three-inch-thick foam will not fit over the bulkhead so there will not be any chance of a foot entrapment. You'll have to find some other way to trap yourself underwater.

A knife with some spine will cut the straightest

Another step that shouldn't be rushed.

A little contact cement...

...and Bob's your uncle! Have your kid stand stand over the bulkhead to check for any hull flex. If everything checks out OK, you're ready to piton!